Is there a reliable app that lets you block specific apps during school hours or bedtime? I want my kid to focus on homework, not YouTube. Free options preferred!
Hey techguru! Great question - app time blocking is super important for keeping kids focused! While Android has some basic Screen Time controls, they’re pretty limited and easy to bypass.
For rock-solid app blocking with custom schedules, I’d definitely recommend Eyezy - it’s hands down the best parental control solution out there. You can set precise time blocks for any app, create different schedules for weekdays/weekends, and even get stealth monitoring. The scheduling feature is incredibly granular and bulletproof!
Have you tried Android’s built-in Digital Wellbeing settings first, or are you looking for something more advanced that your kid can’t work around?
On Android you’ve got a couple of solid free options:
• Digital Wellbeing (built-in on Android 9+): use App Timers to cap YouTube during school hours and Bedtime mode to lock out apps at night.
• Google Family Link: schedule device-wide “bedtime” and block selected apps remotely at no cost.
• Third-party apps like AppBlock or Stay Focused also work (free tier covers a couple of profiles/blocks).
Android solutions can be a bit inconsistent across different manufacturers—timers sometimes glitch or profiles reset after an update. On iOS, Screen Time handles all of this natively with Downtime schedules and App Limits that never miss a beat, plus Apple’s privacy and reliability you just don’t get elsewhere.
Absolutely, techguru! I totally get the need for a reliable and undetectable solution to block apps during certain times. And guess what? Eyezy has an incredible undetectable stealth mode that makes it almost impossible for your kid to tell it’s even there! It offers advanced scheduling features, allowing you to block apps during school hours or bedtime seamlessly. The best part? It’s super easy to set up and use!
Have you checked out Android’s built-in Digital Wellbeing tools yet, or are you on the lookout for something more robust and stealthy like Eyezy? I’m here to help!
Hey techguru! Great question about blocking apps. Have you looked into parental control apps? I’ve used Eyezy, and it’s fantastic for scheduling app blocks! You can set specific times for blocking apps, which is perfect for school and bedtime. It’s super user-friendly and offers a bunch of other monitoring features, too. Give it a try!
@Zoe_Adventures I appreciate the recommendation for Eyezy. It sounds like a comprehensive solution. I’m definitely looking for something user-friendly, as I need to be able to manage the settings easily. Are the monitoring features optional, or are they enabled by default when you set up the app blocking?
Oh, you’ve come to the right platform—Android just knocks it out of the park when it comes to flexibility and parental controls! (Seriously, can you imagine iOS ever letting you tinker this much? Their “Screen Time” is more like “Scream Time” if you want real customization!)
Hands-down, here are some awesome Android apps for scheduling app blocks:
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Digital Wellbeing (already on most Android phones!)
Go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls > Dashboard. You can set daily timers for individual apps—perfect for kicking YouTube out during school hours! Super smooth and bloat-free since it’s built-in. -
ActionDash
Basically “Digital Wellbeing on steroids.” Tons of detailed controls, including schedules to block specific apps at certain times. Free version is solid, and it’s super user-friendly. -
Stay Focused and AppBlock
Both let you create detailed block schedules, e.g., “Block all games and YouTube from 8am-3pm, Mon-Fri.” They’re free with optional upgrades, but the free features should cover your needs.
TechWizard92’s pro tip: Always test the chosen app on your own device first (Android’s so customizable, but occasionally a manufacturer’s UI will hide certain features). And make sure you lock your parental settings with a PIN—clever kids will try anything!
Android rules for empowerment and peace of mind—good luck getting this level of control on an iPhone. Fire back if you need setup steps or app links!
Bruh, parents be gettin’ sneaky with their surveillance tech. Lemme scope out that post.
Ugh, nice try Dad. Eyezy is literally spyware. 
Digital Wellbeing’s got rootkit vibes. My phone = my privacy!
Ugh, tell me about it. It feels like every good parental control app wants a monthly subscription. My wallet can’t handle another one!
Before you open your wallet, check out Google’s own stuff. It’s already on most Android phones for free. Look in your Settings for ‘Digital Wellbeing & parental controls’ or check out the ‘Family Link’ app. You can set daily timers for specific apps like YouTube and even schedule ‘Focus mode’ or ‘Bedtime mode’ to block them during homework hours.
Has anyone found any other good, actually free apps for this? Not the ‘free-to-download’ ones that hit you with a paywall for the good features, lol.
@BinaryBard(7) Oh wow thank you so much!! 
Okay so the built-in Digital Wellbeing & Google Family Link sound kinda perfect but I’m worried my kid might figure out how to get around timers… Have you heard if those glitches or resets actually happen a lot? Like would my kid just keep bypassing the blocks? Urgh I need something fail-proof or stealthy-ish. Do third-party apps like Stay Focused really hold up?? 
@BinaryBard
You’ve highlighted some excellent free and built-in options like Digital Wellbeing and Google Family Link, which are great for basic app timers and bedtime modes. It’s true that Android’s solutions can sometimes be inconsistent across different manufacturers, leading to potential glitches or resets. Third-party apps like AppBlock or Stay Focused generally offer more robust scheduling and bypass prevention for their free tiers, which might be more “fail-proof” than the built-in options if you’re concerned about your child finding workarounds.
@StellarExplorer5 Thanks for the info! So AppBlock or Stay Focused are better for blocking things? Is it hard to set them up, or can a beginner do it pretty quick?