How To Choose the Best Apps For Productivity
I would pose the question differently: how often do you procrastinate? Or in other words, how much do external apps or websites distract you, and how difficult is it for you to resist them? Here, I would highlight four groups of people:
First Group
These are people who don’t need much control because they have excellent self-discipline. Typically, they spend up to an hour a day on undesired apps. All they’re looking for is to make their work process more efficient (for example, quick access to background sounds) or more efficient (with a task manager, etc.).
I would definitely recommend the Momentum plugin for them. This productivity app has all the functionality needed for these goals, with minimal restrictive elements.
Second Category
These are people who have minor issues with social media or other digital distractions. Usually, they spend no more than two hours online, and they just need to see where and how much time they’re spending, become aware of it, and start reducing the time spent on undesired apps.
I would recommend the StayFree app or using the built-in digital balance features on your devices.
Third Category
These are people who spend 3–5 hours a day on social media or other undesired apps. The most effective approach for this group will be a combination with productivity apps. This is because it is necessary to both track time spent online and adjust behavioral habits:
One Sec to build an aversion to the app.
StayFree to experiment with which kind of restriction works best for you…
Fourth Category
It is highly unlikely that this group of people will be able to overcome their habits without productivity apps.
These are people who spend 5+ hours online in places where they don’t actually want to be. Five years ago, I was in this group myself, hating the amount of time I wasted on worthless social networks, etc.
You can try the Stayfree app or Freedom app. Give it a few months. Be prepared for regressions and relapses—unblocking apps again. If after a few months you see no results,
You can try the Freedom app. Give it a few months. Be prepared for regressions and relapses—unblocking apps again…
What if I enjoy procrastinating?
If you enjoy spending time in destructive apps, you’re either fooling yourself or you’re afraid to make changes. I propose an experiment:
- Spend a few hours in your favorite social network on your day off.
- Then, exit the app, lock your phone, and pay attention to yourself—your body, your feelings. How do you feel afterward? Are you happy and inspired? Or do you feel some discomfort, something not quite right? Write these feelings down. Be completely honest with yourself.
This is what I did: I played my favorite game for a few hours, turned it off, and wrote down all the emotions I felt. Then I analyzed them. Usually, it went like this:
“I played okay, but I feel a lot of anxiety from a few humiliating losses. I got some positive vibes from a few great matches. Overall, I’m too hyped up and irritated.”
Then I’d ask myself, “Was it worth the time?”
Free Apps to Combat Procrastination
I’ve already mentioned StayFree many times in this article. It’s a free app, though still “conditionally free,” because the company behind it effectively sells your behavioral habits to other companies, so they can advertise to you more effectively.
If we talk about completely free apps with no hidden agenda, those are the built-in features on your phone. Different devices name them differently; on Android, it’s called Digital Wellbeing, where you can set usage schedules and limits, view statistics, enable Focus mode, and so on. This provides nearly the same functionality as paid apps, but in my view, it’s less user-friendly. For example, on my phone, I can’t remove time spent in productive apps from my total usage, which I consider a critical feature.
Initially, I manually calculated how much time I wasted each day by checking the built-in app. But when you’re battling procrastination—which can be really tough and draining—you don’t have the energy to do this calculation manually all the time. That’s why I switched to paid apps.
On the iPhone, there’s a built-in feature called Screen Time, which shows where and how much time you spend on your phone. Overall, it has functionality similar to Android’s Digital Wellbeing, and it’s sufficient for basic needs in the fight against procrastination.
That’s why I switched to paid apps like RescueTime, which offer more automation and better insight without manual effort.
Additional Tricks
Enable Grayscale Mode on Your Phone
Android
- Method 1: Developer Options
- Go to Settings > About Phone
- Find Build number (or Firmware Version)
- Tap it 7 times until you see “You are now a developer”
- Go back to Settings and locate Developer Options
- In Developer Options, find Simulate color space (or something similar)
- Choose Monochromacy
- Your screen should switch to black and white immediately
- Method 2: Accessibility
- Go to Settings > Accessibility
- Look for Color correction or Color filters
- If you see Grayscale or Monochrome, enable it
iPhone
Usually found in Accessibility settings:
- Settings > Accessibility
- Display & Text Size (on older iOS versions, look for something similar)
- Color Filters
- Switch on Color Filters
- Select Grayscale
- Your screen should immediately switch to black and white
Single-Use Apps
This concept involves installing an app only when you actually want to use it, and then deleting it right after your session. I use this strategy a lot. As mentioned earlier, it works because it makes the app less attractive to your brain—less accessible.
In other words, the “reward” of a strong dopamine hit from using your favorite social network is no longer just 2–3 steps and 10 seconds away, but now 5–7 steps and about a minute away. It may seem trivial, but very quickly you’ll start to get annoyed—and that’s exactly what we need. Over time, this annoyance becomes associated with the app itself. And who wants to use an app that annoys them?
Conclusion on Apps to Increase Productivity
So, is there a perfect productivity app that works for everyone? Probably not. Can you individually choose one or several apps that will fully—or almost fully—meet your needs? Absolutely. There’s a huge variety of apps on the market to suit any taste or need, as well as any degree of involvement in destructive apps. There are both paid and free apps. You could even decide not to use any apps and rely on your phone’s built-in features instead.
Some good examples of blocking apps are FocusMe, StayFree App, etc.
FAQ
What can’t productivity apps track or block yet?
They still can’t track what you do on your TV. This is a major drawback of all current apps, because a lot of us spend considerable time in front of the TV—often not on the most necessary things.
What is a productivity app?
A productivity app is a tool designed to help users manage their time, reduce distractions, and improve efficiency. These apps can include task managers, focus boosters, website blockers, and time trackers. Examples include Stayfree, Momentum, and Freedom, which help users stay focused and limit time spent on distracting apps.
What is the #1 productivity app?
There isn’t a single “#1” productivity app for everyone, as the best choice depends on individual needs.
There’s no one-size-fits-all. Some users will benefit from QuStudio, which combines mindfulness and focus tools. Others may prefer the rigid blocking style of HeyFocus, especially if they’re on macOS.
What is the best personal productivity tool?
The best personal productivity tool depends on your level of digital distraction. For those with strong self-discipline, Momentum is a great choice. If you need to track and limit time spent on apps, Stayfree is effective. For severe procrastination, Freedom offers stronger blocking features. Built-in tools like Digital Wellbeing (Android) and Screen Time (iPhone) are also useful free alternatives.