What it does
UseLess is a screen time management app with a unique twist: social accountability. Instead of just relying on self-discipline, the app enlists your friends to act as gatekeepers. When your daily time limit on a distracting app runs out, you must send a request to your friends, who can vote to approve or deny it. This creates a system of external motivation to help users reduce doomscrolling and reclaim their time.
Where it shines
The app's strength lies in its novel approach to behavioral change. The onboarding (starting at 00:02) is a standout, using a series of founder-led videos to create an immediate personal connection. The app powerfully frames the problem by calculating the user's potential lifetime screen usage in years (00:46), making the need for a solution feel urgent. The core social loop is demonstrated clearly, where friends can approve or deny requests (00:29), making the consequences of breaking a limit tangible.
UX highlights
- Founder-Led Onboarding: The use of short, direct-to-camera videos from a founder makes the onboarding feel personal and mission-driven.
- "Rage Quit" Friction: Deleting a schedule is intentionally difficult. It's framed as a "Rage Quit" and requires a 10-second countdown (06:17), discouraging impulsive decisions.
- "Beast Mode": For maximum discipline, users can activate a "Beast Mode" (06:46) that locks in all restrictions. Escaping requires sending a photo as evidence to friends for a vote.
- Tangible Commitment: An early step in onboarding asks users to physically 'Hold to commit' (01:41), a small interaction that increases psychological buy-in.
- Public Roadmap: The app includes a public roadmap where users can vote on planned features and suggest new ones (08:28), fostering a sense of community and co-creation.
- Social Leaderboard: A leaderboard (07:18) introduces a competitive element, showing who is sticking to their limits and who is requesting more time.
Monetization & growth
UseLess presents a soft paywall (02:02) after the user has completed the onboarding and committed to a goal. It offers three plans: Monthly, Yearly (highlighted with a 70% discount), and a Lifetime option. The paywall includes social proof with user testimonials and a clear feature comparison table between the Free and Pro versions. A 3-day free trial is offered with the yearly subscription, which the user subscribes to at 02:18.
Who it’s for
The app is clearly designed for individuals who have tried traditional screen time blockers and failed due to a lack of self-discipline. It targets users who are motivated by external accountability, social pressure, and gamified challenges. The 'friends' component suggests a target audience of students, young professionals, or any group of peers looking to collectively improve their digital habits.
Notes & opportunities
While the social accountability model is strong, the app's effectiveness hinges entirely on having active friends on the platform. The initial friend-finding flow (03:28) is crucial and could be a point of friction if a new user doesn't have contacts already using the app. The UI, while clean, relies heavily on text and could benefit from more visual data representations in the main dashboard to show progress over time.