Smartphone Free Childhood. The better childhood.
We support the movement of families who stand together to delay smartphones and social media, beyond tapping out. Because the longer we wait, the more time children have to learn, play, grow and develop - away from addictive algorithms.
Less screentime starts with setting the right example
Tap Out helps you create a shared ritual around phone usage, and sets boundaries around your own and your children's smartphone use (once they have one).
See how Tap Out works
Step 1: Select apps & websites
Choose the apps (Android & iOS) and websites (iOS) you want to block, and save them. You can make up to 6 modes, from work to sleep.
Step 2: tap out and stay in flow
Tap Out to block your apps by long pressing the button in the app or tapping a Tap Out Point. Get ready to focus!
step 3: Tap in when you're ready
If you're truly ready to use all your apps again, walk back to a Tap Out and scan it. You can choose whether you want to use your apps for 3, 7, 15 minutes, or without a timer.
Smartphone Free Childhood in a nutshell
Delaying smartphones and social media: a plan we stand behind.
Tapping Out is a great solution to manage your own phone use - but young children's brain's should not yet be exposed to the risks.
That’s why the Smartphone Free Childhood says: delay, delay, delay.
They organize themselves around school communities to sign A Parent Pact - and propose four steps, backed by science and experience of teachers and parents:
Because... Let's be honest
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1. Screentime limits are too easy to bypass
Unfortunately, we all know what happens. A quick pincode and "ignore" button makes them ineffective in 2 seconds.
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2. Leaving your phone at home is unrealistic, most of the time
Yes, we've been there, and it's just too extreme. You might even get lost in the woods. We literally did.
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3. Dumb phones lack the tools we love
Nokia, we see you. You're amazingly cool and deserve a spot, but we love our maps, great camera, and a few fun & stupid videos just too much to make the switch
The Dutch movement's book is here - endorsing Tap Out
The book offers conrete tools to make an informed decision about the smartphone for your child. It contains science-backed facts, feasible alternatives (including Tap Out), but above all: practical advice about how parents can set a new norm.
Het idee van de tool is goed,en hoewel mijn schermtijd omlaag is gegaan zijn er ook veel verbeterpunte/tegenvallers. 1) dat je de tapout applicatie ook moet openen bij het scannen is m.i. een designfout 2) soms ben ik tapped out, maar kan ik alsnog op social media. Dit omdat de accessibility op mijn telefoon weer op uit gaat. Bij een Google Pixel kan dit nauwelijks aangepast worden. Al met al 3/5 sterren en zou nog even wachten met kopen tot het product is verbeterd.
Great tool does the trick and makes me much more aware of my phone use
De Tap Out helpt mij om veel minder op Instagram te zitten. Ik had al van alles geprobeerd, maar dit werkt echt. Onderweg in de trein lees ik weer heerlijk een boek. Ik heb tijd over :)!
Ik gebruik Tap Out nu zo'n 3 weken. Snelle levering en installeren is zo gedaan. Tot nu toe zeer positief over het gebruik ( en juist het minder gebruiken van m'n telefoon) Tap Out point hangt op zolder en heb sowieso geen zin om elke keer naar boven te lopen en hierdoor is het mechanisme om even insta bv te checken al een stuk minder geworden. Er zijn 3 kant en klare opties om weer in te tappen met een max van 15 minuten. (Je kan ook zelf een timer instellen, wat ik soms weleens doe wanneer ik de krant wat rustiger wil lezen bijvoorbeeld). De helft van de tijd heb ik niet eens 15 minuten nodig. Kortom ik ben fan en raad iedereen aan om hier gebruik van te maken!
Ik heb geaccepteerd dat ik er als persoon niet tegenop kan dat er honderden mensen een fulltime baan hebben om mij zo verslaafd mogelijk te houden aan mijn telefoon en prikkels. Daar kan ik gewoon niet tegenop. Maar dit apparaatje wel! Ik ga gewoon werken en laat mijn tap out thuis. Even een paar minuutjes thuis bewust social media kijken en dan weer iets anders doen. Ik raad het iedereen aan!
find the answer to frequenly asked
Questions
What's the difference between Tap Out and other app blockers?
Tap Out makes it impossible to open blocked apps through your phone: the only way to unlock them is to physically tap your Tap Out.
That little bit of physical friction is everything. Screen Time Limits and other app blockers don’t work, because however well designed, the key or code to bypass them is always within reach.
It’s like cookies. If you’re trying to eat better, you don’t keep those seductive chocolaty boys on your desk, let alone in your pocket. You keep them somewhere faaaar out of town!
Can I use Tap Out on both iOS and Android?
Yes!
- iOS: You can download the iOS app here.
- Android:
Can I also block websites?
- iOS: Yes, absolutely! Instagram.com? Not today.
- Android: As of now, you can only block apps, but we're working hard to add website blocking functionality soon
Can I use Tap Out with multiple phones?
Yes, you can (and great idea to force your partner to use it too). As long as the phone has the Tap Out app installed, it works on any Tap Out.
Am I tied to a subscription to use the app?
Nope! Your purchase includes both the physical Tap Out and full access to the Tap Out app — no subscriptions, no extra fees.
Buy once, use forever.
And even better, you get to share your Tap Out with an unlimited number of phones, as long as the app is downloaded on their phone.
Do you ship internationally?
Yes! We ship to most European countries and to the United Kingdom. If you can not ship to your address but are still very eager to get a Tap Out Point: please shoot us a message!
What if I lose my Tap Out?
In the unlikely case that you lose your Tap Out Point, you will always be able to access your apps with an emergency Tap In (you have 3). But to use the Tap Out app again, you will need another Tap Out Point.
Do you have access to data of which apps I block?
Nope - all information about which apps you block is stored only on your phone.
Because humans are meant to do much more.
First launched in 2024 in Amsterdam, we want to revolutionise the way people interact with their phones. Because truly - nothing worries us more than addictive apps holding people back from becoming their best self.
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About us
We founded Tap Out because we felt we spent way too much time on addictive social apps, in stead of on the things that mattered. And unfortunately nothing - screentime limits, gray mode, Opal, OneSec, two different phones - had worked for us.
And so we went to work and came to an amazing new idea: a physical key to lock and unlock your apps. With the help of AI, a 3D printer, and Renée as design advisor, we were able to develop a working prototype within a week, next to our day-to-day jobs. That prototype is what became Tap Out v1.0 - an actual solution against mindless phone addiction that is helping hundreds of people already.
If you have come to read this far - thank you so much for coming to our website and supporting our mission. We hope you'll find Tap Out and the Tap Out community just as valuable as we do.
Although we hate email - we'd love to hear for you. Will you let us know your thoughts or ideas on Whatsapp?
-Xan & Tobi
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Tap Out
Tap Out Company
KVK: 95339256
BTW-ID: NL867092658B01
Rijnstraat 121-3, 1079HB, Amsterdam