Best Website Blockers (2026): 11 Apps to Block Distractions

You sit down to write a proposal, check one message, and forty minutes later you're deep in someone's holiday photos. Willpower isn't the problem. Every feed you open has been designed to keep you scrolling, and a blocker simply takes the decision away for a while.

The eleven blockers below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the tool's own website, read this week. If you'd like ideas for the rest of your day too, my roundup of productivity tips that work is a good place to start.

Website blockers side by side

I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
AppBlock	App and website blocker for phones	Blocking apps on Android and iPhone	Not stated
BlockSite	Site and app blocker for browsers and phones	Blocking sites in the browser	Not stated
Cold Turkey	Hard-to-bypass website and app blocker	Blocks you can't easily undo	Not stated
Focus	Distraction blocker for Mac	Focus sessions on a Mac	Trial only
FocusMe	Website and app blocker across devices	Strict limits on every device	Trial only
Freedom	App, website and internet blocker	Syncing blocks across all devices	Not stated
LeechBlock NG	Free browser extension for blocking sites	Free time limits in the browser	Yes
one sec	Pause-before-opening app for phones	Breaking the reflex to open apps	Not stated
Opal	Screen time app for phones and computers	Automatic focus rules on your phone	Not stated
ScreenZen	Donation-supported screen time app	Cutting scrolling without a subscription	Yes
SelfControl	Free open source site blocker for macOS	A free Mac blocker with a timer	Yes

Eleven website blockers worth trying

AppBlock

Best for: Phone-first people who want to block distracting apps and websites on their handset and take back control of their screen time.

BlockSite

Best for: Anyone who wants a simple browser extension and phone app to block specific sites and apps while they work.

Cold Turkey

Best for: Determined procrastinators who want a strict blocker for their computer that's deliberately tough to switch off once a block starts.

Focus

Best for: Mac users who want to block distracting apps and websites during set work sessions and build a calmer daily routine.

FocusMe

Best for: People who want strict blocking rules across their computer and phone, with limits they can't quietly talk their way out of.

Freedom

Best for: Busy professionals who want one schedule of blocked sites and apps that runs on their computer, phone and tablet together.

LeechBlock NG

Best for: Thrifty workers who want a free browser add-on that blocks chosen sites at set times or after a time limit.

one sec

Best for: People who open social apps on autopilot and want a short pause before each one opens, rather than a total ban.

Opal

Best for: Phone users who want focus rules and app blocks that switch on automatically around their working day and evenings.

ScreenZen

Best for: Anyone who wants to block distracting apps and websites with a donation-supported app rather than another monthly plan.

SelfControl

Best for: Mac users who want a free, open source app that blocks chosen sites until a timer runs out, with no way to cancel early.

Where to start for your situation

• Free on a Mac: SelfControl.
• Free inside your browser: LeechBlock NG.
• The same blocks on your computer and phone: Freedom or FocusMe.
• A strict block you can't talk yourself out of: Cold Turkey.
• A pause before you open social apps: one sec or ScreenZen.

What your phone can already block

Google's Android Help explains that Digital Wellbeing's focus mode pauses the apps you choose. While it's on, you can't use those apps and you won't get notifications from them. Many phones have something similar built in.

So try the free option you already own first. If you keep switching it off, or you need blocks on your laptop as well as your phone, that's the point where a dedicated blocker earns its place.

Hard blocks versus gentle nudges

Hard blockers lock you out completely until a timer runs out, and some make it deliberately difficult to cancel early. They suit deadline days and anyone who knows they'll find a way round a softer rule.

Gentle tools add a pause, a breathing exercise or a reminder before an app opens. They're better for changing a habit over weeks, because you still choose, but you choose on purpose rather than on autopilot.

What to check before you install a blocker

1. Does it work on every device I use?
2. Can I schedule blocks for my working hours?
3. How easy is it to cancel a block early?
4. Can I allow one site while blocking the rest?
5. Does it block apps as well as websites?
6. What data does it need from my browser?

Signs distractions are costing you working time

• You open social apps without deciding to. Add a pause first.
• Simple tasks take all morning. Block feeds during deep work.
• You check the news between every email. Schedule news for lunch.
• Evenings vanish on your phone. Set an evening block too.

Do you make a website blocker or screen time app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on choosing a website blocker

Block the two or three sites that eat most of your time, not the whole internet. A short, honest list is easier to live with, and you won't be tempted to switch the whole thing off the first time you need to check something for work.

Then pair the blocker with a plan for the time you win back. A blocked feed with no task waiting just sends you looking for the next distraction. My article on the things that undermine productivity covers the other habits worth tackling.

Frequently asked questions

What is a website blocker?

A website blocker is an app or browser extension that stops you opening chosen websites or apps, either on a schedule or for a set length of time.

Are website blockers free?

Several are free or open source, and others offer free versions or trials. The free plan column above shows what each tool's own site says.

Can I block apps on my phone and computer at the same time?

Some blockers sync the same rules across your computer, phone and tablet, while others only work in one browser or on one device.

Can I get round a website blocker?

With most blockers you can, if you try hard enough. Some are built to make cancelling difficult, which helps when you know you'll be tempted.

Do phones have a built-in website blocker?

Many do. Android's Digital Wellbeing and the screen time settings on other phones can pause chosen apps or set time limits.

Will a website blocker slow my computer down?

Most are light and run quietly in the background. If one causes problems, try a browser extension instead of a full desktop app.