About Time Out
App limits you can override don't work.
So I built something different.
I'm Matt Pierce, and I built Time Out because I had the same problem everyone has: I'd set an Instagram limit, override it every single day, and feel mildly terrible about it.
Willpower-based limits are designed to fail. Every time you override the limit, you've practised overriding the limit. That's not a habit you want to build.
The idea for Time Out came from a different angle: what if the phone wasn't just a temptation, but a reward? What if you could make it so that every time you wanted to open Instagram, that desire worked for you instead of against you?
That's the exercise unlock mechanic. Lock Instagram behind your step count. Now every craving to open the app becomes a reason to take a walk. The app is still there — you just have to earn it.
Time Out launched in 2024 and is built and maintained from Dublin, Ireland. It's a single-product indie app — no team, no VC, no roadmap bloat. Just one thing, done properly.
What Time Out does.
The core mechanic
Locks apps behind exercise goals — step counts, schedules, or focus sessions. Uses Apple's Screen Time API, so the lock is real. No override tap.
Who it's for
Anyone who wants to move more and scroll less — and is tired of app limits they override in 20 seconds. Most users are 20–35, iOS-only, and already frustrated with themselves.
The business model
Subscription: $3.99/month or $39.99/year with a 7-day free trial. No ads. No data selling. Revenue comes from people who find the app useful.
Give it a try.
7-day free trial. Takes 2 minutes to set up.
Download on the App Store4.6 ★ · iOS only