If you've ever picked up your phone to check the time and found yourself doom-scrolling 45 minutes later, Sabbath Space was built for you. This app pairs with a physical NFC keychain tag to temporarily block distracting apps and notifications, leaving only the apps you choose accessible — now available on both iOS and Android.^1
What sets Sabbath Space apart is the intentional friction of its hardware-software approach. When you scan the keychain, selected apps are locked — and they stay locked until you physically scan again. You can set up custom modes like a devotional mode (Bible app only), a work mode (no social media), or a full Sabbath mode for complete rest. If you lose the tag, you get five emergency unlocks and a free replacement.^2
Founder Erick Vargas, a seminary graduate and Christian entrepreneur based in South Florida, created Sabbath Space after realizing he was spending over six hours a day on his phone — even as a new father. His deep study of Sabbath theology during seminary convinced him that true rest requires real boundaries, not just willpower. He reports an 81% personal reduction in screen time since building the tool.^3
Why Christians Love It"Helped me cut my screentime by 70% in the first week. It's become a daily habit to have my phone on sabbath space now!"^4
"I have been using a few other apps to help me control my screen time, but Sabbath Space takes that to a whole new level! I am now able to enjoy my mornings and evenings with ZERO doom scrolling."^2
Notable- Featured in Christian family safety resources as a budget-friendly tool for digital sabbaths^5
- Appeared on multiple Christian podcasts including Entrusted to Lead, The Profitable Christian Business, inHoPE Podcast, Ignite Kingdom Talk, The Collide Kids Podcast, Pure Victory Podcast, and the Carrie Bock show^6^13
- Featured in faith-and-technology conversations including Danita Cummins' "Balancing Faith and Technology" series and Nancy Sabato's coverage of Christian entrepreneurs reclaiming rest^8
- Apple reports "Data Not Collected" on iOS; Google Play declares the app collects no data, encrypts it in transit, and supports on-request deletion. Google Play also notes that data types such as payment/financial info may be shared with third parties (standard for its subscription billing), though the app itself collects none^2
- Available on iOS and Android; the physical NFC tag ships free with a subscription^1
- A desk stand tag is also available for home or office use^3
