StayGray

What it does

StayGray is an iOS app that automatically switches your iPhone or iPad screen to grayscale to reduce screen time and mindless scrolling. It offers flexible controls: timed color breaks (tap to enable color for a set duration), app-specific exceptions (allow color in Maps, photo editors, etc.), time-based scheduling (grayscale during focus hours or bedtime), and location awareness (auto-color at stores or restaurants). Usage analytics track your screen time reduction and color break patterns. The app is privacy-focused: no accounts, no tracking, and all data stays on-device or in your personal iCloud.

Who it is for

StayGray is designed for anyone looking to cut down on habitual smartphone use, especially those who scroll out of boredom or feel addicted to social media and games. It suits digital wellness enthusiasts, productivity seekers, and people who want to reduce screen time without completely blocking access to their phone. The app’s smart exceptions make it practical for users who need color for specific tasks like photo editing, navigation, or shopping.

Why it matters

Multiple peer-reviewed studies cited on the website show that grayscale can reduce daily screen time by an average of 38 minutes, with habitual users seeing reductions of about one hour per day. By removing colorful visual stimuli that trigger dopamine responses, grayscale makes apps less addictive and acts as a gentle friction point that increases awareness of device use. StayGray’s approach is ethical disengagement—it doesn’t block functionality but breaks the immersive color experience that drives compulsive scrolling.

Launch signal

StayGray launched on the App Store for iPhone and iPad with system-wide control, location awareness, app-specific rules, and timed color breaks. The website also mentions a browser extension and Android app as “coming soon,” but no release dates are given. The app is bootstrapped by founder Matthias Neuwirth, and the website includes a blog with articles on digital wellbeing and research.

Brand and naming

The name “StayGray” directly communicates the core function—keeping the screen in grayscale—and positions the app as a tool for mindful, distraction-free phone use. The tagline “Graustufen, weniger scrollen” (German for “grayscale, less scrolling”) reinforces the benefit. The brand is clean, minimal, and research-oriented, appealing to users who value evidence-based solutions for digital wellness.