Review Insights · App Store
minimalist phone ® Block Apps
Hachi Media OÜ · 258 ratings · ★ 4.6
4.6
★★★★★
258 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 13 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"nothing"
5 negative reviews mention this · 38% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Doesn’t work. Was following the steps to set everything up and after adding the widgets it wouldn’t go to the next step…. Restarted everything, removed and readded widgets…. Nothing. App doesn’t work. At least for me" - weaver2012
2
"work"
4 negative reviews mention this · 31% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Doesn’t work. Was following the steps to set everything up and after adding the widgets it wouldn’t go to the next step…. Restarted everything, removed and readded widgets…. Nothing. App doesn’t work. At least for me" - weaver2012
3
"subscription"
4 negative reviews mention this · 31% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Sketchy billing. If you subscribe to the lifetime subscription then want to cancel before the free trial ends they try to mislead you. It does not show in your apple subscriptions and when you contact them they tell you to contact apple. In addition the app…" - jedgar81
4
"screen"
4 negative reviews mention this · 31% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Sketchy billing. If you subscribe to the lifetime subscription then want to cancel before the free trial ends they try to mislead you. It does not show in your apple subscriptions and when you contact them they tell you to contact apple. In addition the app…" - jedgar81
5
"features"
4 negative reviews mention this · 31% of all complaints
★★★★★ "You Already Have These Features. Apple already has so many of these features as a part of ScreenTime. You’re just paying 5/month for this app to do it for you. The worst part is the “minimalist layout”you pay for is just a tutorial on how to edit your Home Screen. I was …" - JelloTroll
6
"widgets"
3 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Doesn’t work. Was following the steps to set everything up and after adding the widgets it wouldn’t go to the next step…. Restarted everything, removed and readded widgets…. Nothing. App doesn’t work. At least for me" - weaver2012
7
"until"
3 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Gave up on setup. Followed the setup step by step verbatim, still locked me at first step and didn’t allow me to move forward when reopening the app after placing the widgets. Definitely need to work on making the setup process clearer. Uninstalling until th…" - RichC1985
8
"subscribe"
3 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Sketchy billing. If you subscribe to the lifetime subscription then want to cancel before the free trial ends they try to mislead you. It does not show in your apple subscriptions and when you contact them they tell you to contact apple. In addition the app…" - jedgar81
9
"free"
3 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Sketchy billing. If you subscribe to the lifetime subscription then want to cancel before the free trial ends they try to mislead you. It does not show in your apple subscriptions and when you contact them they tell you to contact apple. In addition the app…" - jedgar81
10
"month"
3 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "You Already Have These Features. Apple already has so many of these features as a part of ScreenTime. You’re just paying 5/month for this app to do it for you. The worst part is the “minimalist layout”you pay for is just a tutorial on how to edit your Home Screen. I was …" - JelloTroll
11
"edit"
3 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "You Already Have These Features. Apple already has so many of these features as a part of ScreenTime. You’re just paying 5/month for this app to do it for you. The worst part is the “minimalist layout”you pay for is just a tutorial on how to edit your Home Screen. I was …" - JelloTroll
12
"without"
3 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Ok. Good app, but after your first set up the app becomes completely useless unless you pay for a subscription. Can’t edit anything or tap any button without being prompted to subscribe so if you do use it, make sure you set it up exactly how y…" - minimalistmax
📋 All 13 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Doesn’t work
Was following the steps to set everything up and after adding the widgets it wouldn’t go to the next step…. Restarted everything, removed and readded widgets…. Nothing. App doesn’t work. At least for me
Sketchy billing
If you subscribe to the lifetime subscription then want to cancel before the free trial ends they try to mislead you. It does not show in your apple subscriptions and when you contact them they tell you to contact apple. In addition the app does basically nothing you can’t already do with screen time settings. Total waste of money.
It’s Subscription-based
The app only functions if you pay each month to maintain your subscription. It’s nothing but a cash-grab.
Create an app that works, sell it once. None of this “pay me each month to keep what Im selling you”
Create an app that works, sell it once. None of this “pay me each month to keep what Im selling you”
Regretting this choice
**Updated to one star after the developer’s response. I recommend not purchasing this app. Once they have your money, you’re not getting it back if you’re unhappy or feel scammed.** I purchased this app through Kickstarter because it advertised a clean, minimal interface-especially appealing since most App Store alternatives were showing the lined design introduced with the Liquid Glass update. My first disappointment was learning the developers knew the app would not look like what was advertised, but they promoted it that way anyway.
The app stays open on your phone and relies on shortcuts to open other apps, which are often slow and visibly run in the background, creating friction. There is no customization beyond what apps you want to shortcut to (you can’t even change the name of the shortcuts), yet the price is the same as comparable apps in the App Store that do have these features. I feel stupid for buying it.
I also disabled the time-limits feature because it’s impractical if you use your phone for work. Many apps-like web browsers-serve both personal and professional purposes, and the limits don’t account for work day vs personal time.
Functionally, the app adds unnecessary steps. For example, opening Messages through the app’s shortcut brings up a blank “new message” screen instead of showing existing conversations, which means extra work every time. I no longer use the shortcut screens at all and instead rely on app search to find what I need. I will eventually remove this app from my phone.
Overall, the app is frustrating and unenjoyable to use. While the added friction might slightly discourage phone use, it hasn’t reduced my screen time in any meaningful way-only made everyday tasks slower and more annoying. I regret spending money on this app.
The app stays open on your phone and relies on shortcuts to open other apps, which are often slow and visibly run in the background, creating friction. There is no customization beyond what apps you want to shortcut to (you can’t even change the name of the shortcuts), yet the price is the same as comparable apps in the App Store that do have these features. I feel stupid for buying it.
I also disabled the time-limits feature because it’s impractical if you use your phone for work. Many apps-like web browsers-serve both personal and professional purposes, and the limits don’t account for work day vs personal time.
Functionally, the app adds unnecessary steps. For example, opening Messages through the app’s shortcut brings up a blank “new message” screen instead of showing existing conversations, which means extra work every time. I no longer use the shortcut screens at all and instead rely on app search to find what I need. I will eventually remove this app from my phone.
Overall, the app is frustrating and unenjoyable to use. While the added friction might slightly discourage phone use, it hasn’t reduced my screen time in any meaningful way-only made everyday tasks slower and more annoying. I regret spending money on this app.
Not free
“Free” version allows you to perform basic setup and restrictions for problem apps. After a day, it sneakily allows you to turn OFF restrictions, but you can’t turn them ON again without buying a subscription.
Manipulative design pattern. I see its potential and liked the features, was considering a lifetime purchase assuming it came with even more features.
Offering a taste, then allowing the user to mess it up and placing basic features behind the paywall is basic negative psychological pressure. Don’t bother with this one until they have a truly functional basic free version with a positive reason to upgrade.
EDIT: Developer feedback ignores pain point and suggests how to subscribe. The problem is offering features and then removing them to get you to make a purchase.
Nothing about this app is technically impressive or useful enough to justify a subscription, let alone at that absurd price point. Skip this one.
Manipulative design pattern. I see its potential and liked the features, was considering a lifetime purchase assuming it came with even more features.
Offering a taste, then allowing the user to mess it up and placing basic features behind the paywall is basic negative psychological pressure. Don’t bother with this one until they have a truly functional basic free version with a positive reason to upgrade.
EDIT: Developer feedback ignores pain point and suggests how to subscribe. The problem is offering features and then removing them to get you to make a purchase.
Nothing about this app is technically impressive or useful enough to justify a subscription, let alone at that absurd price point. Skip this one.
Trash
Does not work well. No widgets available even though instructions say it does.
Was great until features were revoked
I was truly liking this app. But now I can’t even change which apps are on my home screen without paying? Unfortunate. There was no notice of this prior.
L App
Got it my cuz recommended me nothing changed still use social media the same I just wait for the timer to finish then click 15 minutes
$70 for a year and you have to pay it all at once.
Robbed I feel robbed
If I was the dev I would give a options for a free trial for like a month and add monthly payments.
But no they want the moollaa
$70 for a year and you have to pay it all at once.
Robbed I feel robbed
If I was the dev I would give a options for a free trial for like a month and add monthly payments.
But no they want the moollaa
Gave up on setup
Followed the setup step by step verbatim, still locked me at first step and didn’t allow me to move forward when reopening the app after placing the widgets. Definitely need to work on making the setup process clearer. Uninstalling until that part is addressed.
You Already Have These Features
Apple already has so many of these features as a part of ScreenTime. You’re just paying 5/month for this app to do it for you.
The worst part is the “minimalist layout”you pay for is just a tutorial on how to edit your Home Screen. I was in the app for about 2 minutes before I realized what the app really was. Just because they can’t be a launcher on iOS they want you to edit your Home Screen to be one.
Refunded my purchase and wasted my time.
The worst part is the “minimalist layout”you pay for is just a tutorial on how to edit your Home Screen. I was in the app for about 2 minutes before I realized what the app really was. Just because they can’t be a launcher on iOS they want you to edit your Home Screen to be one.
Refunded my purchase and wasted my time.
Ok
Good app, but after your first set up the app becomes completely useless unless you pay for a subscription. Can’t edit anything or tap any button without being prompted to subscribe so if you do use it, make sure you set it up exactly how you want it because you can’t change it
Liquid Glass and the lie sold.
Minimal…with inherent issues the developers knew about.
Better on android
Why pay for this when you can get blank spaces…
Better to getting an android, it’s much better on that platform.
Better to getting an android, it’s much better on that platform.
Sentiment summary
90%
Positive (4-5★)
3%
Neutral (3★)
8%
Negative (1-2★)