SideMission
Locks the apps you choose until you complete a real-world "side quest", like going for a walk or catching up with a friend.
Swaps screen time for real life by making the offline task the key that unlocks the phone.
SideMission turns cutting back on your phone into a game you play offline. You choose the apps to lock, and to get back in you complete a side quest: get outside, move your body, or spend time with people. You add a photo as proof, and the apps unlock.
Most blockers only take something away. SideMission gives you something to do instead, which is why it's on this list. The hard part of screen time is often the gap the phone fills, and a quest fills that gap with something better.
The quests are simple on purpose. Nothing needs special gear or a gym, so it works on a normal weekday, not just when you're feeling motivated.
The core app is free on iPhone. A paid plan adds more quests and features, and it's priced higher in Australia than in the US, so check the App Store before you subscribe.
Best for
- People who reach for the phone when bored
- Getting outside more often
- Anyone who likes a game to keep them going
Skip it if
- You're on Android
- You need a quick unlock for work apps
How to set up SideMission
- Install SideMission and allow Screen Time access.
- Choose the apps you want locked.
- Accept a quest when you want back in, like a 15-minute walk.
- Add a photo when you finish, and your apps unlock.
SideMission pricing
- Free
- FreeCore quests and app locking
- SideMission+ yearly
- $49.99 / yearAustralian App Store price. A monthly plan is also offered
Prices in Australian dollars unless noted, checked November 2026. Prices change, so check SideMission's own site before you pay.
SideMission is one of several picks in Best Focus and Screen-Time Apps for Australians in 2026, if you want the full comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does SideMission unlock my apps?
You accept a quest, like a walk outside or time with a friend, do it, and add a photo as proof. Once the quest is done, the apps you locked open again.
Is SideMission free?
Yes, the core app is free. SideMission+ is an optional paid plan, $49.99 a year on the Australian App Store as of November 2026.
Does SideMission work on Android?
No, it's iPhone only (iOS 16.4 or later).
How is it different from Latch?
Latch makes you walk across the room to scan a sticker. SideMission asks for a bigger real-world task. Latch adds friction, SideMission swaps the scroll for something to do.
Alternatives in the stack
Latch
NewLocks distracting apps until you physically walk to an NFC sticker or printed QR code and scan it.
Puts the unlock across the room, so getting distracted takes effort and staying focused takes none.
Squirrel
NewBlocks the apps you choose and asks you to set a few dollars aside every time you open one anyway.
Turns every impulse to scroll into money saved, so cutting screen time quietly builds a buffer in the background.
One Sec
Adds a brief mindful pause before you open a distracting app, backed by a peer-reviewed study showing it cuts how often you open the paused app.
A tiny bit of friction at the moment of temptation, the same principle as automating price-checks so you're not the one doing the tempting re-check.
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