Roundup

The best free website blocker with no subscription.

Plenty of blockers are free to start, then ask for a monthly fee the second you want anything useful. The ones below actually block sites without a subscription, and the table shows where each one stops.

Pricing changes often. Check each tool's site for the current price.

What counts as no subscription?

For this list, "no subscription" means you can block the sites you care about without a recurring fee. That rules out tools where blocking is locked behind a monthly plan. It includes fully free tools and tools with a one-time purchase or a free tier that still does the core job. The goal is simple: keep distracting sites out while you work, without paying every month for the privilege.

The shortlist

GoFlow Focus Guard

A free browser extension paired with the GoFlow focus app. You set your blocklist in GoFlow, and Focus Guard blocks those sites the moment a work round starts, then unblocks them when it ends. No subscription, no account, data stays on your device. Best for: people who want blocking tied to a focus timer instead of running all day. Limits: desktop Chrome, Edge, and Brave only, websites not phone apps, and no cross-device sync. See how it works.

LeechBlock NG

A free, open browser extension with detailed time rules: block sites at certain hours, after a daily limit, or on a schedule. Best for: people who like fine-grained rules and tinkering. Limits: setup can feel fiddly, and blocking is not tied to a focus timer, so it runs on its own schedule.

SelfControl

A free, open Mac app that blocks a list of sites for a set time and cannot be undone until the timer ends, even if you restart. Best for: Mac users who want a hard, time-boxed block. Limits: Mac only, no Pomodoro timer or tracking, and once it is running you truly cannot stop it.

Cold Turkey free tier

The free version of Cold Turkey blocks sites on Windows and Mac, with the strongest locks and scheduling reserved for Pro. Best for: a free desktop blocker you may upgrade later. Limits: the best features are paid, and it is a single-computer tool.

BlockSite free tier

A popular browser extension with a free tier for basic blocking and a paid plan for more. Best for: quick, simple site blocking in the browser. Limits: features like scheduling and password locks lean paid, and the free tier is limited.

Quick comparison

This is a snapshot, not gospel. Features and prices move, so confirm details on each tool's own site.

Which one should you pick?

If you want blocking to switch on and off with your focus sessions, GoFlow Focus Guard is the natural fit since the timer triggers it. If you prefer rules by time of day, LeechBlock NG. If you want a hard Mac block you cannot escape, SelfControl. If you are on a single desktop and might pay later for tougher locks, Cold Turkey. Match the trigger style to how you actually work.

Common questions

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