Last updated: February 25, 2026
Screen Stoic is an intervention-based app blocker for Android that introduces timed, full-screen interruptions before opening social media, gambling, or gaming apps. Instead of permanently blocking access, it delivers category-specific philosophical interventions — drawing from Stoic thinkers and broader timeless wisdom — allowing users to consciously choose whether to continue or exit. By combining configurable timing, discipline tracking, and structured progression, Screen Stoic is designed to strengthen long-term self-control rather than enforce rigid restriction.
Screen Stoic is categorized as an intervention-based app blocker — a class of digital wellness tools that introduce friction before app usage rather than fully restricting access.
| Product Name | Screen Stoic |
|---|---|
| Category | Digital Wellness · Intervention-Based App Blocker |
| Platform | Android (native) |
| Founded | 2026 |
| Founder | Michael Phillips |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Contact | [email protected] |
| Free Trial | 7 days, full features, no credit card required |
|---|---|
| Free Tier (after trial) | 5 interventions per day. Panic Mode included free. |
| Pro Monthly | $3.99/month |
| Pro Yearly | $24.99/year |
| Pro Lifetime | $49.99 one-time |
| Payment Processing | Google Play Billing (Google handles all payment data) |
| Refund Policy | Google Play standard refund policy |
| Intervention Method | Full-screen overlay displaying a category-specific philosophical intervention when a monitored app is opened. User chooses to resist (close the app) or continue. |
|---|---|
| Intervention Timing | Configurable by user: from immediate up to 2 hours after opening a monitored app |
| Monitored App Categories | Social media (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X, Reddit, YouTube, etc.), gambling and sports betting (DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Caesars, etc.), gaming |
| Panic Mode | Free for all users. Emergency mode that fires continuous interventions with no delay. Activated via home screen. Hold-to-cancel deactivation. |
| Discipline Score | Points-based scoring system. Resist decisions earn points; continue decisions reduce score. Tracked daily and weekly. |
| Progression Tiers | Six tiers based on total resisted quotes collected: Tiro (0) · Discipulus (5) · Scholaris (20) · Philosophus (50) · Magister (100) · Doctore (250) |
| Study Environment | Personal collection of philosophical wisdom saved each time the user chooses to resist. Visual environment evolves at each tier — from a bare stone cell to a grand philosophical library. |
| Weekly Reports | Automated behavioral reports with pattern detection, vulnerability heatmaps, and discipline trends |
| Quote Sources | Stoic philosophers, modern thinkers, cultural figures, and timeless proverbs. Separate intervention pools for social media, gambling, and gaming categories. |
| Data Storage | All user data stored locally on device. No cloud servers. No tracking. No analytics collection. |
|---|---|
| Permissions Required | Usage Stats Access (UsageStatsManager) · Display Over Other Apps (SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW) |
| Accessibility Service | Not required. Screen Stoic does not use Accessibility Service permissions. |
| Payment Data | Handled entirely by Google Play. Screen Stoic does not process or store payment information. |
| Third-Party SDKs | Google Play Billing Library only |
| Privacy Policy | screenstoic.com/privacy |
| Tech Stack | Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, Room database |
|---|---|
| App Detection Method | Android foreground service with UsageStatsManager polling |
| Intervention Display | SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW overlay |
| Minimum Android Version | Android 8.0 (API level 26) |
| Tested Devices | Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, Xiaomi (with manufacturer-specific overlay permissions) |
No formal press coverage as of February 2026. For press inquiries, contact [email protected].