The 8 Best Website Blockers for Focus and Studying in 2026

Key takeaways

• System-level blockers are harder to bypass than extensions: they cover every browser and can be locked.
• Freedom is the only option here that blocks your phone and computer in one session.
• LeechBlock NG is the best free blocker, with schedules and time limits in the browser.
• Blocking limits you cannot override work better than reminders: in a study of about 2,000 adults, they cut social media and browsing time by 22 minutes a day.
• For studying, a timed block during each study session is the simplest setup. Adding a Pomodoro timer splits the session into work periods and short breaks.

Comparison

1. Ascension

Platforms: Windows 10/11 (iOS in development)

Price: 15-day free trial, then $12.99/month or $50 one-time

Ascension is a powerful Windows application designed to improve digital habits and productivity. It blocks distracting content on the web and tracks your digital usage automatically to give insights on how one can improve. It is built to be hard to bypass once a block is locked.

Key features

• Four block types: always, scheduled, daily time limit or an entry delay before a site opens.
• Locks: from a password to a date, so a block cannot be undone during a study session.
• Section blocking: block YouTube Shorts or one subreddit while the rest of the site works.
• Focus timer: Pomodoro, countdown and stopwatch modes, with your own work and break lengths.

Limitations: Windows only (iOS in development), no free version.

Best for: students and workers on Windows who want blocks that hold, a focus timer and reports on their time.

2. Cold Turkey Blocker

Platforms: Windows, macOS

Price: Free version, Pro $45 once

Cold Turkey Blocker is a computer application designed to stop distractions by blocking websites, desktop apps and even the whole computer. It is known for being very hard to bypass once a lock is active.

Key features

• Seven lock types: from a timer to a delay of up to 40 days.
• Breaks and allowances: planned breaks inside a block on Pro.
• One licence: every computer you personally use.

Limitations: no phone app, schedules and locks need Pro.

Best for: strict blocking for a one-time price.

3. FocusMe

Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android

Price: 14-day free trial, then $15.95/month, $119.40/year or $449 lifetime

FocusMe is a blocker designed to control time on websites and apps in detail. Plans combine schedules, daily allowances, launch limits and forced breaks.

Key features

• Detailed time rules: allowances, launch limits and breaks on the same site.
• Enforced stopping: a plan cannot be stopped until it ends when set to Enforced.
• Screen breaks: forced time away from the computer.

Limitations: the most expensive option here, many settings to learn.

Best for: people who want fine control over time rather than simple blocks.

4. Freedom

Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chromebook

Price: Free plan, $8.99/month, $39.99/year, $199 lifetime (currently $99.50)

Freedom is a blocker designed to stop distractions on every device at once. One session blocks websites, apps or the entire internet on your phone and computer together.

Key features

• Cross device sessions: phone and computer blocked together.
• Recurring sessions: the same block every day at the same time.
• Locked Mode: stops sessions ending early, with a weekly exit you can remove.

Limitations: free sessions last up to 2 hours, scheduling and Locked Mode need Premium.

Best for: students whose phone distracts them as much as their laptop.

5. LeechBlock NG

Platforms: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi

Price: Free

LeechBlock NG is a free browser extension designed to limit time on distracting websites. It blocks sites outright or caps how long you spend on them.

Key features

• Up to 30 block sets: each with its own schedule and limits.
• Time allowances: minutes per hour or per day.
• Lockdown: block sites immediately for a chosen period.

Limitations: one browser at a time, removable in one click.

Best for: a free and flexible blocker.

6. StayFocusd

Platforms: Chrome

Price: Free to install

StayFocusd is a Chrome extension designed to limit time on distracting websites. It gives each site a daily allowance and blocks it once the time is used.

Key features

• Daily allowance: a set number of minutes per site each day.
• Nuclear Option: block sites for a set period once started.
• 700,000 users: one of the most used blockers on the Chrome Web Store.

Limitations: Chrome only, removable like any extension.

Best for: Chrome users who want daily time limits.

7. BlockSite

Platforms: Chrome, iOS, Android

Price: Free plan, Premium $3.99/month billed yearly or $14.99/month

BlockSite is a blocker designed for simple site blocking in the browser and on phones. It has 1,000,000 users on the Chrome Web Store.

Key features

• Block list: add sites to block in one click.
• Schedules: block sites at set times.

Limitations: extensions can be removed in one click, many features need Premium.

Best for: a simple blocker across browser and phone.

8. RescueTime

Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

Price: Free Lite, Solo Focus $9/month or $84/year

RescueTime is a time tracker designed to show where your time goes, with Focus Sessions that block distracting sites. It records the apps and websites you use without a timer.

Key features

• Automatic tracking: see time spent before deciding what to block.
• Focus Sessions: block selected sites and silence notifications on paid plans.
• Goals: targets for focused time.

Limitations: blocking needs a paid plan, the free plan keeps two weeks of history.

Best for: people who want to measure their time first.

Setups for studying and work

Frequently asked questions