Andrew John recommends four apps to help families achieve a better balance between screen time and real life, and develop healthy digital use habits

Qustudio

Platform: Android, iOS

This is a comprehensive parental control and digital wellness app designed to help parents create safer online environments for children. Web filtering, SafeSearch, and app-blocking services are included in its basic plan (Rs. 2,270 per year). The premium version (Rs.4,050 per year) adds advanced features such as blocking entire app categories, alerts for blocked websites, detailed web activity reports, and app usage insights. These tools enable parents to monitor children’s browsing and protect them from inappropriate content.
The app also includes robust screen time management features, allowing parents to set daily device usage limits for children. An integrated location tracker provides parents real-time location updates on the whereabouts of their children. In addition, the built-in SOS/Panic feature enables children to send emergency alerts to trusted contacts.

Digital Wellbeing

Platform: Android

Developed by Google, Digital Wellbeing enables users to monitor and manage their smartphone usage. It provides detailed insights into daily screen time, app usage, notifications received, and the number of times the device is unlocked, enabling users to understand and monitor their digital habits.
A standout feature is Bedtime Mode, which switches the screen display to grayscale and silences notifications at scheduled times, encouraging users to put their phones away before sleep. Focus Mode temporarily pauses selected apps, preventing access until the mode is turned off, making it easier to stay productive during work and study sessions. Digital Wellbeing can be installed and used free of charge.

Forest

Platform: Android, iOS

Forest is a gamified productivity and digital wellness app that encourages users to stay away from their phones by growing virtual trees. Users plant a seed by setting a focus timer—typically between 10 minutes and two hours. As long as they remain focused and avoid leaving the app to check messages, social media, and other websites, the seed grows into a healthy tree. Exiting the app before the timer ends causes the tree to wither, providing a simple but effective incentive to resist distractions.
A standout feature is its reward system, under which users earn virtual coins for maintaining focus. These coins can be used to unlock new tree species or contribute to real-world tree-planting initiatives through Trees for the Future. Forest is a paid app on iOS, while the Android version is free to download with optional in-app purchases.

Flora

Platform: Android, iOS

Flora works much like Forest, encouraging users to remain focused by growing virtual flowers during distraction-free sessions. Leaving the app before the timer ends causes the flowers to wither. However, Flora sets itself apart with collaborative focus sessions, where friends can co-operate to stay off their phones. Users can choose whether one person’s distraction affects the entire group or only their own flowers.
A standout feature is the option to add a real-money commitment to focus sessions. If a participant breaks focus, the penalty is used to fund real-world flowers planting. The app also includes habit and task tracking, leaderboards, group chats, and social features that promote accountability and friendly competition. Flora is free to download, with optional in-app purchases and premium features.