You've probably heard of NFC — it's the technology that lets you tap your phone to a payment terminal. But NFC isn't just for paying for coffee. A new category of products uses that same technology to help people do something harder: put their phones down.
An NFC screen time card is a small physical card embedded with an NFC chip. When you tap your iPhone to the card, it instantly activates a Focus Mode — silencing notifications, hiding distracting apps, and creating a phone-free environment with zero friction. No app to open. No settings to navigate. Just tap.
iPhone's built-in Focus Mode lets you define which notifications are silenced, which apps are hidden, and which people can still reach you. You might set up a "Prayer" mode, a "Family Time" mode, or a "Sleep" mode — each with its own settings.
A small setup process in the Be Still Card app connects the NFC card to your chosen Focus Mode. This only needs to be done once. After that, the card remembers the connection.
Hold the top of your iPhone near the card. Your phone reads the NFC signal and activates your Focus Mode instantly. The whole interaction takes about one second.
Notifications are blocked. Distracting apps move off your home screen. Your phone is still reachable for emergencies (based on your Focus Mode settings), but the stream of pings and buzzes stops. You can be present without having to fight for it.
| Feature | NFC Card (Be Still Card) | Screen Time App |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription | None — one-time purchase | Usually $3–10/month |
| Works without internet | Yes | Requires connection |
| Works for kids too | Yes, with family setup | Varies by app |
| Requires willpower to activate | No — physical tap is a ritual | App requires opening phone |
| Graceful — preserves emergency access | Yes, via Focus Mode | Varies |
| Faith-based design | Yes — built for Christian families | Generally not |
NFC screen time cards work with iPhone 7 and later, running iOS 14 or newer. That covers the vast majority of iPhones in use today. Android support varies by product — Be Still Card is currently optimized for iPhone.
No. The card activates a Focus Mode, which silences notifications and can hide app icons — but it doesn't block apps at the OS level. You can still open any app if you choose to. The purpose is to remove friction toward distraction, not to make your phone unusable.
Yes. Focus Mode allows you to whitelist contacts who can always reach you — even when your Focus Mode is active. Most people allow immediate family members. If someone calls twice in a row, it can also be set to break through the Focus Mode automatically.
Yes. Silent mode silences audio but still shows notifications on your screen. Focus Mode silences everything — the banner, the badge count, the lock screen — so there's nothing to glance at. It also hides app icons, which removes visual temptation from your home screen.
No. Be Still Card is a one-time purchase. There is no monthly fee, no app store subscription, and no lock-in. You buy the card and use it as long as you want.
The physical card creates a ritual. The act of picking up a card and tapping your phone is a different kind of commitment than navigating three menus on your phone — which means most people never get there in the moment. The card makes the right thing the easy thing.
Be Still Card is designed for Christian families who want to reclaim their attention — for prayer, for family, for the things that actually matter.
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