Should I Build It Should I Build It
19 Apr 2025
iOS

An app that locks your phone from accessing some features. Like ...

...blocking access to socials or video games or porn depending on what you're trying to get rid of

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Swamp

The market has seen several mediocre solutions that nobody loves. Unless you can offer something fundamentally different, you’ll likely struggle to stand out or make money.

Should You Build It?

Don't build it.

Your are here

You're entering a crowded space in the app market with your idea for an app that locks certain phone features to help users curb specific habits. Our analysis indicates this idea falls into the 'Swamp' category, meaning there are existing solutions, but none have truly captivated users. With 23 similar products already out there, you'll face stiff competition. Engagement with these apps, as measured by average comments, is low. It's a tough market, and standing out will require a fundamentally different approach. Don't get discouraged; this just means you need to bring something truly unique to the table, or consider a different path altogether. But based on the metrics, the main issue will be how to get users to actually care about using your app for the long term.

Recommendations

  1. Begin by thoroughly investigating why existing app-blocking solutions haven't achieved widespread success. Dive into user reviews, analyze competitor strategies (and failures), and identify the unmet needs or pain points that your app could address. This will help you avoid repeating past mistakes and potentially uncover a niche where your app can truly shine. For example, research the criticism in similar apps, such as how some apps contribute to the distraction they aim to solve.
  2. If you decide to proceed, resist the urge to create a generic app for everyone. Instead, identify a specific niche or demographic that is currently underserved by existing solutions. This could be students struggling with social media during study hours, individuals recovering from addiction, or parents seeking to limit their children's access to certain apps. Tailoring your app to a specific audience will make it more appealing and increase your chances of gaining traction.
  3. Instead of directly competing with established app stores and developers, consider creating tools or features that integrate with or enhance their existing offerings. This could involve developing a plugin or extension for popular productivity apps, or partnering with existing wellness platforms to offer your app as a complementary service. For instance, you might build a feature that allows existing parental control apps to have more granular control over specific apps.
  4. Explore adjacent problems that might be more promising and less competitive. For example, instead of focusing solely on blocking apps, you could develop a comprehensive digital wellness platform that incorporates features like mindful usage tracking, personalized recommendations, and community support. Or you could look into an app that helps people build better digital habits, rather than just restricting access.
  5. Given the challenges and competition in this market, it might be wise to save your time, energy, and resources for a different opportunity. There are countless other problems waiting to be solved, and your skills and passion might be better suited to a different project. Remember that knowing when to walk away from an idea is just as important as knowing when to pursue one.
  6. Explore ways to incorporate accountability and community support within your app. Users may be more likely to stick with their goals if they have a support system or face consequences for breaking their commitments. Consider integrating features like shared progress tracking, group challenges, or accountability partners to enhance user engagement and motivation. For inspiration see the Antisocial app's penalty system.
  7. Clearly articulate how your app differentiates itself from existing app-blocking solutions. What unique features, benefits, or approaches does it offer that others don't? Whether it's a more intuitive interface, a wider range of customization options, or a more effective blocking mechanism, make sure your value proposition is clear and compelling.

Questions

  1. Given the existing solutions in the market, what is the one key, fundamental difference that will make your app stand out and become a user favorite, rather than just another forgotten app-blocking tool?
  2. Considering the low engagement observed in similar products, how will you design your app to foster long-term user commitment and prevent users from simply uninstalling it when faced with immediate temptation?
  3. How can you proactively address potential loopholes or workarounds that users might discover to bypass your app's restrictions, and ensure that your app remains effective in helping users achieve their goals?

Your are here

You're entering a crowded space in the app market with your idea for an app that locks certain phone features to help users curb specific habits. Our analysis indicates this idea falls into the 'Swamp' category, meaning there are existing solutions, but none have truly captivated users. With 23 similar products already out there, you'll face stiff competition. Engagement with these apps, as measured by average comments, is low. It's a tough market, and standing out will require a fundamentally different approach. Don't get discouraged; this just means you need to bring something truly unique to the table, or consider a different path altogether. But based on the metrics, the main issue will be how to get users to actually care about using your app for the long term.

Recommendations

  1. Begin by thoroughly investigating why existing app-blocking solutions haven't achieved widespread success. Dive into user reviews, analyze competitor strategies (and failures), and identify the unmet needs or pain points that your app could address. This will help you avoid repeating past mistakes and potentially uncover a niche where your app can truly shine. For example, research the criticism in similar apps, such as how some apps contribute to the distraction they aim to solve.
  2. If you decide to proceed, resist the urge to create a generic app for everyone. Instead, identify a specific niche or demographic that is currently underserved by existing solutions. This could be students struggling with social media during study hours, individuals recovering from addiction, or parents seeking to limit their children's access to certain apps. Tailoring your app to a specific audience will make it more appealing and increase your chances of gaining traction.
  3. Instead of directly competing with established app stores and developers, consider creating tools or features that integrate with or enhance their existing offerings. This could involve developing a plugin or extension for popular productivity apps, or partnering with existing wellness platforms to offer your app as a complementary service. For instance, you might build a feature that allows existing parental control apps to have more granular control over specific apps.
  4. Explore adjacent problems that might be more promising and less competitive. For example, instead of focusing solely on blocking apps, you could develop a comprehensive digital wellness platform that incorporates features like mindful usage tracking, personalized recommendations, and community support. Or you could look into an app that helps people build better digital habits, rather than just restricting access.
  5. Given the challenges and competition in this market, it might be wise to save your time, energy, and resources for a different opportunity. There are countless other problems waiting to be solved, and your skills and passion might be better suited to a different project. Remember that knowing when to walk away from an idea is just as important as knowing when to pursue one.
  6. Explore ways to incorporate accountability and community support within your app. Users may be more likely to stick with their goals if they have a support system or face consequences for breaking their commitments. Consider integrating features like shared progress tracking, group challenges, or accountability partners to enhance user engagement and motivation. For inspiration see the Antisocial app's penalty system.
  7. Clearly articulate how your app differentiates itself from existing app-blocking solutions. What unique features, benefits, or approaches does it offer that others don't? Whether it's a more intuitive interface, a wider range of customization options, or a more effective blocking mechanism, make sure your value proposition is clear and compelling.

Questions

  1. Given the existing solutions in the market, what is the one key, fundamental difference that will make your app stand out and become a user favorite, rather than just another forgotten app-blocking tool?
  2. Considering the low engagement observed in similar products, how will you design your app to foster long-term user commitment and prevent users from simply uninstalling it when faced with immediate temptation?
  3. How can you proactively address potential loopholes or workarounds that users might discover to bypass your app's restrictions, and ensure that your app remains effective in helping users achieve their goals?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 23
  • Engagement: Low
    • Average number of comments: 2
  • Net use signal: 20.3%
    • Positive use signal: 20.3%
    • Negative use signal: 0.0%
  • Net buy signal: 0.0%
    • Positive buy signal: 0.0%
    • Negative buy signal: 0.0%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

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