You can open Instagram.
We just won't let you doomscroll it.

Yes, free to start. The Free tier auto-closes 2 apps at a time — TikTok and Instagram by default, with one shared timer. You can swap which 2 you watch from a curated list of 8 (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, Threads). Pro unlocks all 8 watched at once, adds custom apps, per-app timers, schedules, and weekly stats. Every new install starts with a 7-day Pro trial — no credit card.

No. PullBack is Android-only and there is no iOS roadmap. Apple's app sandbox prevents the kind of mid-session app-closing PullBack does. If you're on iPhone, look at one sec, Opal, or Apple's built-in Screen Time. We focus on Android because Android lets us build something that actually works.

PullBack runs quietly in the background and notices when you've opened one of your watched apps. A timer starts. When it hits zero, PullBack briefly shows a 'Pulled back' screen and returns your phone to the home screen. Your scroll position is preserved; you can re-open if you really want. Most people don't. Built on the same Android API that powers Google's own Digital Wellbeing — full technical detail on the privacy page if you're curious.

No meaningfully. PullBack only checks which app is in the foreground every second — it doesn't use GPS, doesn't use the network, doesn't read your screen. In testing on a Pixel 8, the daily battery overhead is well under 1%. PullBack also asks Android to keep the timer running while your phone is asleep, so it survives Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus's aggressive battery management.

We collect anonymous product analytics — events like "timer set to 10 minutes" or "lockout triggered" — to understand what works and where we should focus. We do not read what's on your screen, ever, and we do not sell or share user data. The only thing PullBack reads on-device is the package name of the app currently in the foreground (e.g. com.instagram.android), and that stays in memory while the service runs.

Yes — and that's deliberate. PullBack is a tool, not a prison. After it sends you home, you can re-open the app immediately. The timer simply restarts. The point is to break the trance of infinite scroll long enough for your conscious mind to catch up. If you want a hard-block, look at AppBlock or Opal.

one sec adds breathing-pause friction before you open an app — it tries to stop you at the door. PullBack lets you in, then closes the app after the timer you set. Use one sec when you want resistance every time you reach for Instagram. Use PullBack when you've already decided you'll scroll for a few minutes but want a hard exit before the 45-minute spiral.

Free watches 2 apps at a time — TikTok and Instagram by default, but you can swap which 2 from the curated list of 8 (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X, Threads). Pro unlocks all 8 watched at once and lets you add any other app you have installed.

$39.99/year, $4.99/month, or $99.99 lifetime (USD; CAD/GBP/EUR/AUD also supported). Every new install gets a 7-day Pro trial automatically — no credit card required. After 7 days, PullBack auto-downgrades to Free unless you subscribe.