Website Blocking
Distracting websites are a constant pull for anyone who works on a computer. The right blocking method depends on your platform, your technical comfort level, and how seriously you need to enforce the block.
Website blocking methods exist on a spectrum. At the simplest end, you have DNS-level blocking and browser extensions — quick to set up, but trivially easy to bypass by switching browsers or toggling settings. In the middle, standalone apps like Cold Turkey and Freedom install system-wide and survive browser changes. At the strongest end, browser-engine blocking bakes restrictions directly into the tool you use to access the web, removing the bypass vector entirely.
All articles on website blocking
Best Browser With a Built-In Website Blocker for Mac (2026)
Which Mac browsers can block websites on their own? Five ways to block sites inside your browser, from built-in blocking to Chrome policy, compared.
Opal App Review: Screen Time Control for iPhone
An honest 2026 review of Opal for iPhone: how its VPN-based app blocking works, pricing, strengths, weaknesses and better alternatives.
One Sec App Review: Does the Pause Trick Work?
An honest 2026 review of One Sec: does a breathing pause before opening apps actually reduce screen time? We test it and compare alternatives.
Best Apps to Limit Social Media (2026)
Apps that limit social media time in 2026, from pause-before-opening tools to hard blockers, compared by platform and approach. Checked Oct 2026.
FocusMe Review: Is It Worth It in 2026?
An honest 2026 review of FocusMe: website blocking, Pomodoro timer, usage tracking, pricing, and whether it actually stops you procrastinating.
How to Block Instagram Without Deleting It (2026)
Stop scrolling without deleting your account: how to block Instagram on every device, at browser, app and network level, while keeping your account.
How to Block Reddit During Work Hours
Block Reddit on a schedule in Chrome, on Mac, Windows, phones or your whole network, with the exact syntax each tool needs to catch old.reddit.com.
How to Block TikTok on Every Device (2026)
Step-by-step guide to blocking TikTok on Mac, Windows, Chrome, iPhone, Android, and your router — including the desktop app and web player.
Best Game Blockers for PC and Mac (2026)
How to block games on PC and Mac in 2026: built-in tools and game blockers compared by platform, lock strength and price. Vendor pages checked Oct 2026.
How to Block Websites on Chrome: 7 Methods Compared
Block sites in Chrome with an extension, Chrome policy, hosts file, DNS, router or Family Link, and see which blocks you can undo in five seconds.
How to Block Websites on Mac: 5 Methods Compared
Block websites on a Mac with Screen Time, the hosts file, a DNS filter, your router or an app, and see what gets around each method.
Bypass resistance is the single most important metric when choosing a blocker. If you can disable it in 10 seconds when the urge to procrastinate hits, the tool is theater, not protection. The best blockers have lock modes that prevent you from changing settings during a focus session, even if you're the admin on your own machine.
Scheduling matters more than most people realize. Always-on blocking works for sites you never need (social media during work hours, for example), but many people need access to certain sites at certain times. A good blocker lets you create time-based rules — block Reddit from 9 to 5, allow it after. Without scheduling, you'll either over-block and get frustrated, or under-block and get nothing done.
App blocking is the often-overlooked companion to website blocking. Blocking twitter.com in your browser is pointless if the Twitter desktop app is one click away. The best blocking setups cover both websites and native apps, including mobile apps if you're prone to picking up your phone when the computer says no.
The desktop vs. mobile split is real. Most serious blockers work on desktop (Mac and Windows), but mobile blocking is harder because iOS and Android restrict what third-party apps can do. Some tools use VPN-based blocking on mobile, others rely on Screen Time or Digital Wellbeing APIs. None are as strong as desktop options.
This collection covers every approach — from quick Chrome extensions to browser-level blocking that's genuinely impossible to bypass. Start with the overview, then dive into the guide that matches your setup.