How the locking really works
Enforcement is how Earnest actually locks reward apps, and we are candid about its limits. A Basic mode works on any Android phone with no special setup, while an optional Max protection mode adds uninstall-blocking and a device-wide allowlist that a determined older kid cannot easily get around.
Coming to Android. Free during early access, no card required.
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How enforcement works
Earnest enforces limits with the tools Android gives an ordinary app, and asks only for the permissions it truly needs. No app on a stock phone has total control, so we build the best experience within that reality and tell you where the edge is.
Accessibility re-bounce
With your consent, an accessibility service watches for a reward app coming to the front after time is up and bounces back to the home screen with a brief overlay.
Foreground countdown
A special-use foreground service runs the live countdown while a reward app is open, and usage stats reconcile the time so the bank stays accurate.
Device Owner, if you want it
Max protection uses Device Owner, set up through a factory-reset flow. It is the only way any Android app can block its own uninstall, and it is entirely optional.
Basic mode vs Max protection
Both are honest. One trades a little strength for zero setup.
| Capability | Basic mode | Max protection |
|---|---|---|
| Setup required | None, works out of the box | One-time Device Owner provisioning |
| Soft-lock reward apps | Yes | Yes |
| Bedtime device lock | Yes | Yes |
| Re-lock a reopened app | Re-bounces via accessibility | Enforced system-wide |
| Block uninstalling Earnest | No | Yes |
| Device-wide app allowlist | No | Yes |
Set up Max protection later from the Device Owner guide. It is never required to earn and spend screen time.
Coming to the first release
The enforcement engine, the accessibility re-bounce, the foreground countdown service, and Device Admin bedtime lock are coming to the first release. The data model and permissions plan behind them are already in the app. We will keep this page matched to exactly what ships.
Common questions
Can a kid get around Basic mode?
A determined older child sometimes can, because on a stock non-rooted phone no app has full system control. Basic mode re-locks reopened reward apps and handles bedtime, but it cannot block its own uninstall. We say so plainly.
What does Max protection add?
Max protection uses Device Owner to block uninstalling Earnest and to lock the whole device to an allowlist. It needs a one-time factory-reset setup and is completely optional, never required to use the app.
Why be so upfront about the limits?
Because every non-enterprise parental app hits the same ceiling on a stock phone, and many are not honest about it. We would rather set the right expectation than promise control the platform does not allow.
Be there for the first release
Earnest is Android first and free during early access. Join the list and we will tell you the moment it is ready to install.