Effective date: May 2026 · ⏻ffline · Stew Studios Ltd
What we collect
Almost nothing. ⏻ffline has no advertising SDKs and no account system. You don't sign up. You don't log in.
The app uses Mixpanel for anonymous, aggregated analytics - session counts, feature usage, and app performance. We do not send your name, email, or identity-linked identifiers in those events. IP-based geo lookup is disabled - your IP is not sent to Mixpanel for location inference. See the full Privacy Policy on Mixpanel SDK device properties and GDPR context.
The current App Store release does not transmit personal data to our servers. Mixpanel receives anonymous analytics only.
What stays on your device
Everything the app knows about you lives on your iPhone and nowhere else:
- Your focus session history
- Your theme preferences and configurations
- Your daily targets
- Adaptive suggestions the app learns from your usage patterns
- Morning Ritual settings and completion history
- Resistance mode preferences
- Which apps you've chosen to block
None of this data is uploaded, synced, or backed up to our servers. It exists only on your device.
Our servers
The current App Store release does not send anything to our infrastructure. Mixpanel is the only third-party analytics, and that is anonymous.
Accountability Buddy is Coming Soon - it is not in this release. A later update may add a relay (offline-accountablity-buddy.fly.dev) so a contact you nominate can approve an early session end. That would be the only request to our servers. The relay would not store your name, focus history, habits, or a personal profile. Requests would expire after one hour.
Subscriptions and payments
⏻ffline offers a 7-day free trial, followed by a monthly or yearly subscription. All payments are handled entirely by Apple through StoreKit.
We never see, handle, or store your payment information. Billing, receipts, refunds, and cancellations are managed through your Apple ID. We receive only a confirmation that your subscription is active - nothing else.
Your data, your control
There's no account to delete because there's no account to create.
Delete the app and everything goes with it. All session history, preferences, adaptive data, and local settings are removed from your device. We have nothing to erase on our end because we never had it.
Contact
If you have questions about this policy or how your data is handled, reach out:
Stew Studios Ltd
offlineapphq@gmail.com
Effective date: May 2026 · ⏻ffline · Stew Studios Ltd
Acceptance of terms
By downloading, installing, or using ⏻ffline, you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, don't use the app. It's that simple.
These terms apply to the app and all its features.
What ⏻ffline does and doesn't guarantee
⏻ffline uses Apple's Screen Time infrastructure (FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, DeviceActivity) to block apps during focus sessions. This is the same system behind parental controls. During a session, it's real blocking - not a timer overlay. App nudges are a separate, optional reminder outside a session.
However, we cannot guarantee blocking will work in every iOS configuration. Screen Time behaviour depends on your iOS version, device settings, and whether you've granted the necessary permissions. If you revoke Screen Time access, blocking stops. That's how iOS works - not something we control.
We also can't guarantee the app will be uninterrupted, error-free, or available at all times. We build it to be reliable, but it's software running on a phone - things happen.
Subscription terms
⏻ffline offers a 7-day free trial. After the trial, you choose:
- Monthly: €7.99/month
- Yearly: €59.99/year
All payments are handled by Apple through your Apple ID. We do not process, see, or store your payment details.
Auto-renewal: Your subscription renews automatically unless you turn it off at least 24 hours before the current period ends. You can manage this in your iPhone's Settings → Apple ID → Subscriptions.
Refunds: We don't handle refunds - Apple does. If you need a refund, contact Apple Support or use reportaproblem.apple.com.
We reserve the right to change pricing. Any change will apply to your next renewal, not your current billing period. We'll update the App Store listing accordingly.
Accountability Buddy
Coming Soon. Not in the current App Store release. When it ships, you may nominate a contact to approve or deny an early session end via a relay. You are responsible for that choice. We don't verify, screen, or approve it. We are not liable for whether they respond, what they decide, delivery failures, or any consequence of a session ending or not ending.
Acceptable use
Use ⏻ffline as intended - for personal focus and productivity. Don't:
- Attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, or tamper with the app
- Try to circumvent blocking mechanisms outside of the app's built-in resistance modes
- Abuse, spam, or overload any servers or relays we operate
- Use the app in a way that violates any applicable law
We reserve the right to restrict access to our infrastructure if abuse is detected.
Limitation of liability
⏻ffline is a focus tool. It is not a medical device, a parental control system, or a guarantee of productivity.
We are not responsible for:
- Lost productivity, missed deadlines, or any consequence of a session being active or ending
- Any damages - direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential - arising from your use of the app
- Blocking not working as expected due to iOS configuration, version, or permission changes
The app is provided "as is." We do our best, but we make no warranties beyond what's required by law.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of Ireland. Any disputes will be resolved in the courts of that jurisdiction.
Changes to these terms
We may update these terms from time to time. When we do, we'll update the effective date at the top. If the changes are significant, we'll let you know through the app or on our website.
Continued use of the app after changes means you accept the new terms.
Contact
Questions about these terms? Get in touch:
Stew Studios Ltd
offlineapphq@gmail.com
Blocking
How does ⏻ffline actually block apps?
It uses Apple's Screen Time infrastructure - the same system behind parental controls (FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, DeviceActivity). When you start a session, the apps you chose are blocked at the system level. They show a system shield and will not open until the session ends. App nudges are separate - optional reminders when you haven't started a session. This is not something we built on top of iOS - it's built into iOS.
Can I get around the blocking?
On Easy difficulty: yes, for focus sessions - there's an escape hatch to bypass your resistance mode and end early. On Bedtime and Morning Ritual, Easy also offers an emergency unlock. It's intentional. Some people want a gentle nudge, not a hard wall.
On Hard difficulty: no escape hatch on focus sessions, Bedtime, or Morning Ritual. You have to complete your chosen resistance mode to end a session early. The only way around it is to revoke Screen Time permission in iOS Settings - and ⏻ffline will notice if you do. This isn't a loophole; it's how iOS works. We can't override the operating system, and we don't try to.
What happens if I turn off Screen Time while a session is running?
Blocking stops immediately. ⏻ffline detects the permission revocation, ends any active session, disables your bedtime schedule, and clears any morning lock. You'll need to re-grant Screen Time permission and explicitly re-enable bedtime if you want it back. We don't fight iOS - if you revoke permission, we respect it.
Does blocking work in all iOS versions?
⏻ffline requires iOS 18.5 or later. The Screen Time APIs we use (FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, DeviceActivity) are only available on recent iOS versions. We cannot guarantee blocking behaviour on beta versions of iOS or non-standard configurations. If blocking isn't working as expected, make sure your iOS is up to date and that Screen Time permission is granted.
Sessions
What is the difference between Quick Focus and a Focus Session?
Quick Focus = "Block these apps now." It's immediate, selection-based, and has no timer. You choose what to block, toggle it on, and toggle it off when you're done. It doesn't use a theme, but blocking survives app termination - shields stay on until you turn it off. Time while blocking counts toward your daily target and Progress totals (including the Hard Track hour path). Use it for blocks under 15 minutes - when you just need your phone to cooperate right now.
Focus Session = "Start an intentional session." Focus sessions start at 15 minutes. You pick a theme, set a duration, and the session is backed by Apple's DeviceActivity framework. It survives app termination, tracks time toward your daily target, and goes through your chosen resistance mode if you try to end early. It's a commitment.
What are themes?
Themes are structured focus intentions. Each theme has its own app selection, duration, resistance mode, and break configuration. Short Sprint and Intentional Delay are available from day one on the free tier - plus any personal themes you create. Even Trade and Wind Down require a subscription. Deeper starting points - Deep Focus, Flow State, Deep Work, Gym, and Spa - unlock after you reach Hard Track (three sessions completed to the timer, or one hour of cumulative focus), but starting those deeper themes requires an active subscription. Worlds are subscription-only too. Future Trade-Off and Session Downgrade require a subscription. Walk Unlock and QR Code need Hard Track, Hard difficulty, and a subscription. Starting point names and resistance are fixed; personal themes are fully yours. The app learns which setups work well for you (on-device) and can surface suggestions based on your patterns.
What is Hard Track - and how is it different from Easy / Hard?
Easy and Hard are blocking difficulties you choose in Settings (while your intentions are still good). Easy (the default) keeps an escape hatch when ending focus sessions, plus emergency unlock on bedtime and morning ritual. Hard removes those shortcuts - to end a focus session early you must complete whatever resistance flow you chose (unless Screen Time permission is revoked in iOS Settings, which ⏻ffline treats as permission off, not something we override). Hard difficulty requires an active subscription and Hard Track graduation.
Hard Track unlocks after three Focus Sessions completed to the timer, or one hour of cumulative focus - whichever comes first. Quick Focus counts toward the hour, not the three-session count. It's earned - not bought - and your progress stays on your device even if you cancel a subscription. Walk Unlock and QR Code need Hard Track, Hard difficulty, and an active subscription - not on Easy, and not before Hard Track. You still pick Easy or Hard in Settings; Hard Track is when those exit modes become available for new sessions.
What are breaks and when do I get them?
Breaks are automatic during themed focus sessions - you don't configure them per theme. When a session starts, ⏻ffline allocates breaks from the session length: 15-29 minutes gets 1 × 5-minute break; 30-59 minutes gets 1 × 10 minutes; 60-89 gets 2 × 10 minutes; 90-119 gets 3 × 10 minutes; 120+ gets 4 × 10 minutes. Sessions under 15 minutes get no breaks. When you take a break, your blocked apps temporarily unblock for that duration, then blocking resumes automatically. If you used Future Trade-Off to end a previous session early, your next session starts with one fewer break - you lose a break slot, not extra focus time.
Can I upgrade from Quick Focus to a themed session?
Yes. If Quick Focus is active and you start a theme, ⏻ffline asks if you want to upgrade. Confirm and your themed session starts - Quick Focus ends when the theme session actually begins blocking, and blocking continues without a gap. Time from Quick Focus counts toward your daily target and Progress totals. If you cancel, Quick Focus stays on. When the themed session ends, your apps unblock normally. Quick Focus does not turn back on automatically - you'd need to start it again yourself if you want it.
Resistance Modes
What is Intentional Delay?
A fixed 60-second countdown that runs before the session can end. That's it. You wait. The idea: most impulses to quit pass within a minute. Intentional Delay makes you sit with the impulse instead of acting on it. This is the default resistance mode, available on the free tier, and works on both Easy and Hard difficulty.
What is Future Trade-Off?
Ending early costs you something on the next session. If you stop a session with Future Trade-Off active, your next session starts with one fewer break. You don't wait longer for breaks to become available - you lose a break slot, period. The penalty is shown clearly before you confirm. You can still end immediately, but the trade-off sticks for that next session. This makes the cost of quitting visible, not hidden. Requires an active subscription.
What is Session Downgrade?
Instead of ending completely, your session steps down to "Light Focus." All your blocking stays in place, but specific apps you've pre-selected as allowed are exempted - so you can access things like music, podcasts, or reading apps without ending the session. The session keeps running and counting toward your daily target.
Important: Allowed apps must be individually selected. This is an iOS limitation - if you only block categories (not individual apps), allowed apps cannot be exempted. For Session Downgrade to work, make sure you've configured your allowed apps in Settings. It's for when you're hitting a wall but don't want to quit entirely. Progress over perfection. Requires an active subscription.
What is Walk Unlock?
To end a session early, you finish a short walk first - step count is verified on your phone. Friction without leaving the session entirely. This mode requires an active subscription, Hard Track (three sessions to the timer, or one hour of focus), and Hard difficulty. You can switch to a different resistance mode in Settings when not in a session.
What is QR Code resistance?
To end a session early, you have to scan a QR code. You generate the code in the app and store it somewhere else - another room, a drawer, a friend's wallet. Distance is the point. It interrupts the autopilot loop by making you physically get up and go somewhere. This mode requires an active subscription, Hard Track (three sessions to the timer, or one hour of focus), and Hard difficulty. You can switch to a different resistance mode in Settings when not in a session.
What is Accountability Buddy?
Coming Soon. Not in the current App Store release. When it ships, someone you trust will approve early session ends. You won't be able to override it yourself.
Morning Ritual
What is Morning Ritual?
Morning Ritual runs after your bedtime schedule ends and before your apps unlock. It's a gentle transition from sleep to phone use. Before the morning lock timer starts, you're shown a few intent options - hydrate, move a bit, plan your day, get some air, stay offline a little longer. You pick one (or skip). When the timer finishes, you're optionally asked: "Did you get a moment to do that?" It's not a habit tracker. It's not a task list. It's a moment of intentionality before the algorithm gets its first foothold. Enforced Morning Ritual requires an active subscription.
What happens if I skip it?
Nothing bad. The timer runs as normal and your apps unlock when it's done. If you skip the intent selection consistently, ⏻ffline will gradually stop showing it - it fades out gracefully. No penalty, no guilt, no streak broken. It comes back if you start selecting intents again.
Does it track whether I actually did the thing I selected?
No. It asks you, but your answer doesn't change anything. There's no success or failure state. No streak. No badge. Your response is used only to learn your preferences - which intents you tend to choose, so it can surface better suggestions. It never tracks what you actually did. That's yours.
Notifications
Why did I get a notification after turning off Screen Time?
⏻ffline clears scheduled notifications whenever you open the app. If you revoke Screen Time permissions and don't reopen ⏻ffline, any notifications already scheduled may still fire once. Simply open ⏻ffline after changing your Screen Time settings and it won't happen again.
How do I stop this happening?
Open ⏻ffline once after changing your Screen Time settings. The app will detect the permission change and cancel all pending notifications. That's all it takes.
Privacy & Data
Does ⏻ffline collect my data?
Most of what the app knows stays on your iPhone - focus history, themes, adaptive suggestions, and sessions are not uploaded.
⏻ffline uses
Mixpanel for anonymous product analytics only (no advertising SDK). IP-based geo lookup is disabled - your IP is not sent to Mixpanel for location inference. Separately from our explicit events, Mixpanel’s SDK may still transmit coarse device-level technical metadata by default - see our
Privacy Policy. There is no account system. The current release does not send anything to our infrastructure.
What happens to my data if I delete the app?
It's gone. All of it. Session history, theme configurations, adaptive learning data, morning ritual preferences, resistance settings - everything is stored on-device and deleted with the app. We have nothing to erase on our end because we never had it.
Subscription
How does the free trial work?
When you subscribe, the first 7 days are free - full access to everything, and you're only charged after the trial unless you cancel first. You don't have to subscribe to use ⏻ffline, though: the core stays free for as long as you want. The trial is just how you try the subscription layer.
How do I cancel?
Open your iPhone's Settings → tap your name → Subscriptions → ⏻ffline → Cancel. This is managed entirely by Apple. We can't cancel it for you, and we don't make it harder than Apple already does.
Can I get a refund?
Refunds are handled by Apple, not us. Go to reportaproblem.apple.com, find the charge, and request a refund. Apple makes the decision.
What happens when my trial ends?
You drop to the free tier - real blocking, sessions, your daily target, Bedtime, App Limits, App Nudges, and Progress keep working. Your Hard Track progress stays; you lose the subscription layer: Even Trade, Wind Down, Future Trade-Off, Session Downgrade, Walk Unlock, QR Code, enforced Morning Ritual, Hard difficulty, access to deeper themes and worlds, and multiple app lists. Your data stays on your device - nothing is deleted. Subscribe at any point and everything picks up where you left off.
Is there a free tier?
Yes. The core works free, for as long as you want - real blocking, the session timer, app selection (one list), your daily target, Bedtime, App Limits, App Nudges, Progress, Short Sprint, Intentional Delay, and personal themes you create. Hard Track itself is earned - three sessions to the timer, or one hour of focus - and your progress stays on device. A subscription adds Even Trade, Wind Down, Future Trade-Off, Session Downgrade, Walk Unlock, QR Code, enforced Morning Ritual, Hard difficulty (after Hard Track), deeper theme access, worlds, and multiple app lists. The paywall is an offer, never a wall - you're never locked out of the thing that makes ⏻ffline work.
Technical
What iOS version do I need?
iOS 18.5 or later. The Screen Time APIs that ⏻ffline depends on (FamilyControls, ManagedSettings, DeviceActivity) require this minimum version. If you're on an older version of iOS, the app won't work.
Does ⏻ffline work on iPad?
No. ⏻ffline is iPhone only. The app is designed around the device you carry with you everywhere - the one that interrupts your focus. iPad support may come in the future, but it's not planned right now.
Why is the app called ⏻ffline?
The ⏻ is the IEC power symbol - the universal sign for "off." ⏻ffline means going offline on purpose. Not disconnecting from the world. Just disconnecting from the part of your phone that wasn't helping.