Pray Focus is a Christian habit-building iOS app that blocks distracting apps until you complete a daily prayer session, helping believers build a consistent prayer routine while reducing screen time.
What is Pray Focus?
Pray Focus is a mobile app that combines prayer guidance with app blocking. Users set a daily prayer time and select which apps to block (e.g., social media). Until the prayer session is completed, those apps remain inaccessible. The app offers guided prayers from Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions, as well as an open prayer mode for personal prayer. It runs on iOS using Apple's Screen Time API and is developed by Pyros Labs.
Key Features
- App blocking — Blocks selected apps until a prayer session is finished, using iOS Screen Time controls.
- Daily scripture and traditional prayers — Bible verses and prayers organized by category (gratitude, peace, guidance, etc.) from three Christian traditions.
- Prayer journal with mood tracking — After each prayer session, users can write reflections and log their emotional state before and after praying.
- Gamification — Daily streaks and streak repair motivate consistent prayer habits.
- Open Prayer Mode — A custom timer that locks distracting apps while users pray, read scripture, or meditate in their own words.
- Multi-language support — Available in English, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French, including all prayers and interface.
- Home and Lock Screen widgets — Display prayer streak, daily intention, and reminders directly on the iPhone screen.
- Privacy-first design — No account needed; all journal entries and mood data stay on device or private iCloud, never shared with developers.
Who is it for?
- Christians struggling with phone addiction — Replace mindless scrolling with intentional prayer by blocking social apps until prayer is completed.
- Believers wanting a daily prayer habit — Use guided prayers and streak tracking to build consistency without pressure.
- Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians — Access prayers and scripture from all three traditions, organized for different life situations.
- Anyone seeking screen time reduction — The app’s core mechanic naturally limits distracting app usage while fostering spiritual focus.
What can you do with Pray Focus?
- Set a daily prayer time and block apps — Choose a time, select apps like Instagram or Facebook, and they stay locked until you complete a short prayer session.
- Reflect after every prayer — Write in the prayer journal and track your mood over time to see spiritual growth.
- Use Open Prayer Mode for personal prayer — Start a timer (e.g., 5–30 minutes) during which distracting apps remain blocked while you pray or meditate in your own words.
- Track streaks and earn rewards — Build a consecutive prayer streak; if you miss a day, streak repair helps you get back on track without losing progress.
How does Pray Focus work?
- Download the free app and grant Screen Time permissions. 2. Select a daily prayer time and choose which apps to block (e.g., social media, games). 3. At the scheduled time, blocked apps become inaccessible. 4. Open Pray Focus to start a prayer session—either choose a guided prayer (by category or tradition) or use Open Prayer Mode with a personal timer. 5. After praying, optionally write a journal entry and log your mood. 6. Once the session ends, blocked apps unlock automatically.
FAQ
Does Pray Focus work offline?
Yes, all prayers and journaling functionality work offline. Only streak syncing across devices requires an internet connection.
Is my prayer journal and mood data private?
Absolutely. No account or sign-up is required. All data stays on your device or is synced only to your private iCloud. The developers never have access to your journal entries or mood history.
What Christian traditions does Pray Focus support?
The app includes daily scripture and traditional prayers for Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions. You can browse prayers by tradition or by life situation.
How do streaks work?
Streaks track consecutive days you complete a prayer session. If you miss a day, streak repair allows you to restore progress by completing an extra prayer the next day, reducing frustration.
What is Open Prayer Mode?
Open Prayer Mode lets you set a custom timer (e.g., 5 minutes) during which your distracting apps remain locked while you pray, read scripture, or reflect in silence. It’s ideal for personal, unstructured prayer time.
