Break the doomscroll loop.
Curbox is an open-source Android app that curbs screen time and digital addiction. Block the apps, websites, and short-form feeds that hijack your attention and build real focus. Every line of code is open, so you can see exactly what it does.
What is Curbox?
Curbox is a screen-time and app-blocker for Android built for people who want their attention back. It uses Android's Accessibility Service to watch for the apps and websites you choose and show a configurable pause screen when you reach a limit. The app ships under the GNU GPL v3 license and is built in the open by its community, so anyone can read, audit, and improve the code.
It is organised into three areas: Usage (see where your time goes), Focus (timed deep-work sessions that block distractions), and Reducers (a toolbox of limits and gentle nudges).
What you can do
Granular blocking
Block a whole app, a single feature like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, or one URL path while leaving the rest usable.
Smart rules & schedules
Set usage limits, time windows, and unlock caps so a block applies only when you actually need it.
Unlock challenges
Choose your friction in advance: a cooldown, a QR or barcode scan, or typing out your intent before an app opens.
Focus mode
Pause distractions on demand for deep work and watch your focused time add up across sessions.
Insights & live awareness
See per-app and per-website usage, plus a live count of how much short-form content you have scrolled today.
Mindful nudges
Per-app grayscale, auto Do Not Disturb, and reflection messages that quietly tilt your habits the right way.
See the full feature breakdown for every option in depth.
Open source
Curbox is released under the GNU GPL v3 with the entire codebase public on GitHub. Because anyone can read, build, and audit the source, you never have to take our word for what the app does.
Get Curbox
Install Curbox from either source:
- F-Droid for automatic updates through the open-source app store
- The latest GitHub release for a direct APK download
New to the app? Read the documentation to set up your first block, or learn more about why Curbox exists.
Frequently asked questions
Is Curbox free to use?
Yes. Curbox is completely free and open source under the GNU GPL v3. Install it from F-Droid or download the APK directly from the official GitHub releases — there are no subscriptions, ads, or paid tiers.
Does Curbox collect any of my data?
No. Curbox never requests internet access, so it has no way to send your usage data anywhere. Everything — usage stats, blocked-app rules, focus sessions — stays on your device. There are no accounts and nothing to sign up for.
How is Curbox different from Android's built-in Digital Wellbeing?
Curbox goes deeper: it can block a single feature inside an app, like Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, without blocking the whole app, filter specific keywords and URLs in your browser, and let you choose your own unlock friction, such as a cooldown, a QR scan, or typing out why you want back in.
Is there a Curbox app for iOS?
Not yet. Building for iOS requires a physical Apple device the maintainer doesn't currently own, so there's no iOS release. Curbox does have a companion browser extension for Chrome, Brave, and Firefox that works on any desktop OS.
Can I still get around a block if I really need to?
Yes, on purpose. Every block in Curbox uses an unlock challenge you configure yourself: a timed cooldown, scanning a QR or barcode you've placed somewhere inconvenient, or typing out your reason for opening the app. The goal is friction, not a hard lock you can't escape.
What permissions does Curbox need, and is it safe to grant them?
Curbox uses Android's Accessibility Service to detect which app or website is in the foreground, which is why Play Protect sometimes flags it. Two things make it safe: it never requests internet access, so it can't transmit anything even if it wanted to, and its full source code is public, so anyone can verify what it does.
Where can I safely download Curbox?
Only from F-Droid or the official GitHub releases page. Because Curbox needs deep system permissions to block other apps, never install it from anywhere else.
Can Curbox block specific websites, or only whole apps?
Both. Reducers can block whole apps on a schedule, target one feature inside an app like Reels or Shorts, or watch your browser's address bar and block any page whose URL contains a keyword or path you've chosen.