Browwwser vs SelfControl: Mac Blocker Comparison

SelfControl is one of the best free website blockers on macOS. It’s open-source, uses firewall-level blocking, and its timer is genuinely irreversible — even restarting your Mac won’t stop it. For a free tool, that’s impressive.

Browwwser takes a different approach. Instead of adding a firewall rule on top of your existing browser, it is the browser. Blocking runs inside the Chromium engine itself. No extension, no background process, no workaround.

Both tools are strong for macOS. This comparison breaks down exactly how they differ and who each one is built for.

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Quick Comparison

	SelfControl	Browwwser
Price	Free	$99/yr or $199 lifetime
Blocking level	macOS firewall	Browser engine
Blocks desktop apps	✗	✓
Lock mode (irreversible timer)	✓	✓
Scheduled blocking	✗	✓
One-click presets	✗	✓
Chrome import (passwords, bookmarks)	N/A	✓
Works across all browsers	✓	N/A (is the browser)
App blocking (TikTok, Discord, etc.)	✗	✓
Open-source	✓	✗
Free trial	N/A (free)	Yes (7 days)

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How SelfControl Works

SelfControl adds blocked domains to your Mac’s packet filter firewall (/etc/pf.conf). When a timer is running, DNS requests and TCP connections to those domains are dropped at the OS level. No browser, no app — nothing on your Mac can reach them.

The timer is the core of SelfControl. You set a duration (up to 24 hours), start it, and the block is locked. You cannot:

• Stop the timer early
• Delete the app to remove the block
• Restart your Mac to reset it
• Uninstall and reinstall SelfControl

The firewall rules persist until the timer expires. This makes SelfControl one of the hardest-to-bypass free tools available.

Where SelfControl Falls Short

No scheduling. You have to manually start a block every time. There’s no “block social media every weekday 9–5” automation. If you forget to start a session, you’re unprotected.

No app blocking. SelfControl blocks network requests to domains, but it can’t close desktop apps. If you’re trying to block TikTok, Discord, or Steam, the desktop apps will still open — they’ll have no internet for those domains, but the apps themselves keep running.

No presets. You build your blocklist manually, one domain at a time. There are no “block all social media” or “block all news sites” shortcuts.

24-hour maximum. The timer caps at 24 hours. If you want multi-day blocking (a weekend, a study week), you need to restart the timer every day.

Dated interface. SelfControl’s UI hasn’t been significantly updated in years. It works, but managing a long blocklist is tedious. There’s no search, no categories, no drag-and-drop.

No browser integration. SelfControl is completely separate from your browser. You still use Chrome, Safari, or Firefox — with all their extensions, incognito modes, and potential distractions from sites not on your list.

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How Browwwser Works

Browwwser is a Chromium-based browser with blocking built into the engine. When a site is on your blocklist, the request is killed before it starts loading. No redirect page, no countdown, no “allow once” button. The site does not exist.

Because Browwwser is the browser, the blocking can’t be separated from the browsing. There’s no extension to disable in chrome://extensions, no background process to kill in Activity Monitor. The block is part of the browser itself.

On top of engine-level blocking, Browwwser includes:

• Lock mode — lock your blocklist for 1 hour to 7 days, no override
• Scheduled blocking — automatically block distracting sites during work hours
• One-click presets — block all social media, news, or video sites instantly
• Desktop app blocking — closes blocked macOS apps (TikTok, Discord, Steam, etc.)
• Full Chrome import — bookmarks, passwords, extensions, history in one click

Limitation

Browwwser is macOS only. No Windows, no Linux, no iOS.

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The Architecture Difference

SelfControl and Browwwser both avoid the extension trap that plagues tools like Cold Turkey or BlockSite. Neither relies on a browser extension. But they solve the problem at different layers:

SelfControl blocks at the network layer. It modifies macOS firewall rules so blocked domains never resolve. This works across every app and every browser — but it’s a blunt instrument. You can’t block a site in your browser while keeping it accessible in another app. You can’t schedule blocks. You can’t block apps themselves.

Browwwser blocks at the browser engine layer. The block happens inside the rendering pipeline. This is more surgical: it only affects browsing, but it also means the blocking logic can’t be removed without replacing the browser entirely. Plus, Browwwser separately monitors and closes desktop apps you’ve blocked.

Think of it this way: SelfControl puts a lock on your internet connection. Browwwser puts a lock on the door you walk through to get to websites — and bolts the other doors shut.

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Bypass Difficulty: Both Are Strong

Most website blockers rely on browser extensions. Extensions can be disabled in two clicks, don’t run in incognito mode by default, and break when browsers update. Both SelfControl and Browwwser avoid this entirely.

SelfControl bypass difficulty: Hard. Firewall rules are written at the system level. You’d need root access and knowledge of pfctl to remove them — and even then, SelfControl re-applies the rules periodically during a session. Not impossible for a determined sysadmin, but far beyond what most people will attempt in a moment of weakness.

Browwwser bypass difficulty: Very hard. There’s no extension to disable, no process to kill, and no alternative browser to switch to during a locked session. The block is compiled into the browser engine. You’d need to quit Browwwser entirely and download a different browser — which Browwwser’s app blocker can prevent.

Both tools are in a different league than extension-based blockers. The question isn’t really “which is harder to bypass” — it’s which approach better fits how you work.

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Free vs Paid: Is Browwwser Worth It?

SelfControl is free. Browwwser costs $99/year or $199 lifetime (with a 7-day free trial). That’s a real difference, and it’s worth addressing directly.

SelfControl is worth it if:

• You need a free, reliable website blocker
• You’re disciplined enough to start a session manually each time
• You only need to block websites (not apps)
• You don’t need scheduling or presets
• A 24-hour max timer is enough

Browwwser is worth the price if:

• You need scheduling that runs automatically (block social media every workday 9–5 without thinking about it)
• You need desktop app blocking (TikTok, Discord, Steam, etc.)
• You’ve tried manual-start blockers and keep forgetting to activate them
• You want multi-day lock mode (up to 7 days)
• You want a single tool that replaces your browser AND blocks distractions

The honest answer: if you’re a student who needs to block Twitter during study sessions and you don’t have budget, SelfControl is excellent. If you need automated, always-on blocking that covers both websites and apps with no daily setup, Browwwser solves problems SelfControl wasn’t designed to handle.

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Who Should Use What

Choose SelfControl if:

• Budget is zero — SelfControl is free and genuinely good
• You only need website blocking (no app blocking)
• You’re comfortable manually starting each session
• You want open-source software you can audit
• A 24-hour max timer works for your use case

Choose Browwwser if:

• You want blocking that runs automatically on a schedule
• You need to block desktop apps, not websites alone
• You’ve tried manual blockers and keep forgetting to start them
• You want one-click presets, multi-day lock mode, and Chrome import
• You need a focus-optimized browser for Mac — not an add-on to your existing one

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is SelfControl completely free?

Yes. SelfControl is free and open-source. There are no paid tiers, no subscriptions, and no premium features. The full app is available at no cost.

Can SelfControl block desktop apps?

No. SelfControl only blocks website domains at the firewall level. It cannot block or close macOS desktop apps like TikTok, Discord, or Steam. Browwwser blocks both websites and desktop apps.

Which one is harder to bypass?

Both are significantly harder to bypass than extension-based blockers. SelfControl modifies macOS firewall rules, which survive reboots. Browwwser blocks at the browser engine level and also prevents you from switching to another browser. Different approaches, both strong.

Can I use SelfControl and Browwwser together?

You can, but it’s redundant. Browwwser already blocks sites at the engine level with no way to disable it. Adding SelfControl on top doesn’t increase protection — it adds another tool to manage.

Does SelfControl work with Chrome or other browsers?

Yes. SelfControl operates at the macOS firewall level, so it blocks domains across every browser and every app on your Mac. The trade-off: it can’t selectively block sites in one browser while allowing them in another.

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Final Verdict

SelfControl is one of the best free website blockers on macOS — and we mean that. Firewall-level blocking with an irreversible timer is a genuinely strong approach. For a free, open-source tool, it’s hard to beat.

Browwwser goes further: scheduled blocking, desktop app blocking, multi-day lock mode, one-click presets, and blocking built into the browser engine itself. It’s designed to be a complete focus environment, not a timer you start and hope you remember tomorrow.

If you’ve tried extension-based blockers and found ways around them, Browwwser is built for that problem. If budget is tight and you need solid website-only blocking today, SelfControl is a legitimate choice.