App Showcase: Unrot

What it does

Unrot is a digital wellbeing app designed to combat mindless scrolling, a phenomenon it calls "brainrot." Instead of just blocking apps, it introduces a gamified system where users must first complete positive, real-world habits—like exercising, reading, or meditating—to earn a currency called "braincells." These braincells are then spent to unlock a set amount of time on distracting social media apps, turning screen time into a deliberate, earned reward rather than a default behavior.

Where it shines

Unrot's strength lies in its masterful onboarding narrative. The app doesn't start with features; it starts with a story about procrastination that every user can relate to (00:21). It cleverly defines this problem as "Brainrot" (00:49), making an abstract feeling tangible and positioning the app as the clear solution. Another standout moment is the tactile commitment screen (05:01), which asks users to hold down a fingerprint icon to pledge their commitment, a powerful psychological primer just before the paywall.

UX highlights

• The app uses a friendly, recurring brain mascot throughout the experience, which makes the potentially judgmental topic of screen addiction feel approachable and supportive.
• At 01:52, Unrot provides an interactive breathing exercise. This tangible demo gives users an immediate taste of the app's benefits before asking for any commitment.
• The "Living vs. Scrolling" graph at 03:35 is a compelling visualization of the app's long-term promise, showing a clear, positive outcome.
• Social proof, including user testimonials and ratings, is strategically placed at 04:32, late in the flow, to build trust right before the final decision-making stages.
• The core loop is explained with simple diagrams (01:22), making the novel concept of earning and spending "braincells" easy to understand.

Monetization & growth

Monetization is handled through a hard paywall presented at the end of a very long and engaging onboarding flow (05:20). The app doesn't offer a free trial. Instead, it invests heavily in selling the user on the concept and building commitment before asking for payment. The paywall offers two subscription plans, annual and monthly, with a prominent "SAVE 80%" tag on the annual option to anchor the user to a higher value choice. The app also includes an in-app rating prompt (04:33) and a notification warmup (04:48) to drive App Store visibility and re-engagement.

Who it’s for

Unrot is for digitally-native individuals, likely Gen Z and millennials, who are aware of their problematic scrolling habits but struggle with self-discipline. They are looking for more than a simple app blocker; they want a system that helps them build better habits. The app's gamified, supportive, and non-judgmental tone is designed to appeal to users who feel guilty about procrastination but are resistant to purely restrictive solutions.

Notes & opportunities

The onboarding flow is exceptionally long, which could be a point of drop-off for less patient users. While the narrative is strong, its length is a significant investment of user time before they even see the pricing. The app could potentially test moving the interactive demo or a key value prop visualization earlier in the flow to secure user buy-in faster. The lack of a free trial might also be a barrier, though the detailed onboarding is clearly designed to mitigate this by thoroughly selling the concept upfront.