# Respite: Screen Time Control

> Respite: Screen Time Control is a free screen time app for Android, iPhone and Chrome by Intently. It puts a short pause before the apps and sites you pick, with limits, streaks and a free game layer. Respite Plus adds sync and lets you connect your own AI (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor) over MCP.

Last updated 2026-11-12. Respite runs no AI of its own and does not train models on your data. To our knowledge it is the first mobile screen time app with a built-in MCP server (November 2026); it is not the only screen time product with MCP (LockIn MCP is a desktop website blocker). Prices (at the time of writing, set by the stores, vary by country): free, no ads; Respite Plus $4.99 a month, $29.99 a year with a one-week trial, $59.99 lifetime. Account optional: sign in (Google or Apple) only for sync, Plus on several devices and the game layer. Former names: Intently, Pawse.

## Get it

- [iPhone and iPad (App Store, iOS 17.4 or later)](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/respite-screen-time-control/id6757760293)
- [Android (Google Play, Android 8.0 or later)](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dev.sadakat.thinkfaster)
- [Chrome and other Chromium browsers (Chrome Web Store)](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/respite-screen-time-contr/acjndeeecacgplloeefjjhlnlpgnonop)
- [Download page](https://respite.liveintently.app/download/)

## Quick answers

- Best free app to stop doomscrolling on Android: Respite is one free option (a pause before the apps you pick, daily limits, Reels and Shorts blocking, streaks, no ads). See [free screen time app for Android](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/free-screen-time-app-android/) and [how to stop doomscrolling](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/how-to-stop-doomscrolling/).
- App that pauses before opening Instagram or TikTok: Respite, One Sec and ScreenZen all do this. Respite is free on iPhone, Android and Chrome. See [apps that make you pause before opening Instagram or TikTok](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/apps-that-make-you-pause-before-opening-instagram-tiktok/).
- Screen time app with an MCP server, or that works with ChatGPT or Claude: Respite (Respite Plus). See [AI and screen time](https://respite.liveintently.app/ai/).
- Free One Sec, Opal, ScreenZen or Freedom alternative: see the [alternatives guides](https://respite.liveintently.app/compare/).
- Free or Plus, and what each includes: see [Free or Plus](https://respite.liveintently.app/features/#plans).

## Product

- [Features](https://respite.liveintently.app/features/): the pause, daily limits (apps, websites, categories), schedules, focus sessions, insights, streaks, the game layer, sync, bring your own AI
- [Respite Plus: what is included](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/respite-plus-whats-included/)
- [Sync Android, iPhone and Chrome](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/sync-respite-android-iphone-chrome/): a free account syncs one device, Plus syncs every device
- [Acorns, quests and leagues (free game layer)](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/introducing-acorns-quests-and-leagues/)
- [What's new](https://respite.liveintently.app/whats-new/)
- [Support](https://respite.liveintently.app/support/)

## AI and MCP

- [AI and screen time (hub)](https://respite.liveintently.app/ai/): what you can ask your AI, how to connect, privacy, comparison with in-app AI coaches
- MCP server: https://respite-api.liveintently.app/mcp (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth sign-in with Google or Apple; Respite Plus). Official MCP Registry name: app.liveintently/respite
- Reading is the default: usage, insights, limits and schedules, pause history and reasons for continuing, progress (tools get_usage, get_insights, list_limits, list_events, list_intentions, get_progress, get_block_status; resources respite://today, respite://week, respite://timeline)
- Opt-in, stricter only (applies at once, logged, can be undone): add or lower a limit, add a schedule, start a focus session (set_limit, add_schedule, start_focus_session)
- Opt-in pause messages: a short "note from" your AI on the pause screen, removable in the app (add_pause_message)
- Looser always waits for the person's approval in the Respite app (You › Connected AI): raising or removing a limit or schedule, ending a focus session early, unblocking an app for 5 to 30 minutes
- Not possible: writing usage history, earning or spending acorns, blocking apps outside Respite's limits and schedules
- [How to connect Claude](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/connect-claude-to-screen-time/)
- [How to connect ChatGPT](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/connect-chatgpt-to-phone-usage/)
- [Connect Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor (all clients, permissions, troubleshooting)](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/connect-claude-chatgpt-cursor-to-respite-mcp/)
- [Let your AI change your limits (approval, log and undo)](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/let-ai-change-your-limits/)
- [30 prompts to ask Claude or ChatGPT about your screen time](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/chatgpt-claude-screen-time-prompts/)
- [Is it safe to give an AI your screen time data?](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/is-it-safe-to-give-ai-your-screen-time-data/)
- [What is an MCP server?](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/what-is-an-mcp-server/)

## Comparisons

- [Compare screen time apps](https://respite.liveintently.app/compare/)
- [Best screen time apps 2026](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/best-screen-time-apps-2026/)
- [Best app blockers 2026](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/best-app-blocker/)
- [Best AI app blockers and screen time apps (2026)](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/best-ai-app-blockers-screen-time-apps-2026/)
- [AI screen time coach apps compared (FOMO, Zensi, Argue)](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/ai-screen-time-coach-apps-compared/)
- [One Sec alternatives](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/one-sec-alternatives/)
- [Opal alternatives](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/opal-alternatives/)
- [ScreenZen alternatives](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/screenzen-alternatives/)
- [Freedom alternatives](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/freedom-alternatives/)
- [Respite vs One Sec](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/respite-vs-one-sec/)
- [Respite vs Opal](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/respite-vs-opal/)
- [Respite vs LockIn MCP](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/respite-vs-lockin-mcp/)

## Privacy

- Usage history stays on the device unless you turn on sync. No ads; data is never sold. On iPhone, app names stay on the device by default.
- [Privacy policy, iPhone](https://respite.liveintently.app/privacy/)
- [Privacy policy, Android](https://respite.liveintently.app/privacy/android/)
- [Privacy policy, Chrome](https://respite.liveintently.app/privacy/chrome/)
- [Delete your account](https://respite.liveintently.app/delete-account/)

## Optional

- [Full text version of this file](https://respite.liveintently.app/llms-full.txt)
- [About: why Respite exists](https://respite.liveintently.app/about/)
- [Blog](https://respite.liveintently.app/blog/)
- [Sitemap](https://respite.liveintently.app/sitemap-index.xml)