The Commons: Students

The Commons App

About this app

The Commons™ – Airplane Mode For Schools

Let’s be real phones are amazing. But at School? They can be a total distraction.

The Commons helps students stay focused during the school day without giving up their phones. No pouches. No locks. Just fewer distractions.

Built with privacy first, The Commons automatically pauses access to distracting apps like social media, games, and other non-academic content during school hours while keeping school-approved, medical, and essential communication apps available.

The result? More focus. Better learning. Stronger habits.

Features
• Automatically activates when you arrive at school
• Restricts distracting apps during school hours
• Keeps approved educational and essential apps available per your school's phone policy
• Automatically turns off when the school day ends

Why The Commons uses VPNService:
The Commons uses Android's VPNService as a core part of its functionality to help schools reduce digital distractions during the school day.

When School Mode is active, VPNService creates a secure device-level connection that enables The Commons to apply your school's distraction-reduction policy by limiting access to distracting apps and websites while continuing to allow approved educational, safety, medical, and communication resources.

The Commons does not function as a consumer VPN, does not route traffic for anonymity, and does not collect or sell browsing activity. VPNService is used solely to enable school-approved focus policies during school hours.

Privacy First
Your privacy matters.

The Commons never accesses your messages, browsing history, photos, social media content, or location history.

Learn more about our privacy commitment: the-commons.app/privacy-policy

Ratings and reviews

This app constantly runs in the background even when your not on school campus. It drains your battery by running in the background and your battery dies even faster then normal. The app claims that it's "inactive" while your not on campus but that is false. If it was really "inactive" it SHOULDN'T be running in the background while your OFF campus.The only thing it doesn't do while your off campus is track how long your on your phone. It runs secretly without you even knowing.

The Commons is a great app that helps students learn how to properly manage their smartphone instead of punishing them for simply owning one. Plus, it just blocks the distracting apps while they're at school, so I can have peace of mind knowing my kid can still text or call me if they need to. That's much better than schools locking up students' phones for the whole day!

Under two party consent states this app should be illegal since it can record you without consent. The app also prevents your phone from going to sleep constantly draining your battery.

What’s new

This update makes it easier than ever to get connected with improved school sign in, enhancements to School Mode, and performance improvements designed to create a smoother, more consistent experience throughout the school day.