Alternative

A free StayFocusd alternative.

StayFocusd is one of the most popular site blockers around, with a focus timer baked in. It is free, but it lives inside Chrome and its setup can feel fiddly. GoFlow pairs a focus timer with a real site blocker, runs in any browser, and adds cross-day tracking so you can see your work add up.

Prices and features change. Confirm current details on each app's site.

What do people want from a StayFocusd alternative?

People reach for StayFocusd to keep themselves off the sites that eat their day. It does that job. But two things send folks looking for an alternative: it is tied closely to Chrome, and its settings can take a while to dial in. If you bounce between browsers or you want something that just works the moment you start a round, a lighter option helps.

GoFlow takes the same core idea, blocking distractions while you work, and makes it timer-driven. You pick your sites once, start a round, and they are gone until you finish. On top of that, you get a record of what you did, not just a wall that keeps you out.

How does GoFlow compare to StayFocusd?

• Any browser, not just Chrome. GoFlow is a web app that runs anywhere. The Focus Guard blocking extension covers Chrome, Edge, and Brave on desktop.
• Timer-gated blocking. Sites block automatically when a round starts and unblock when it ends, so you are not locked out all day.
• Cross-day tracking. Tasks and focus time carry across days, with a dashboard and streaks to keep you honest.
• No account, fully private. Open and go. Your block list and stats stay on your device.
• Free, with nothing paywalled. The timer, the blocker, and the tracking all cost nothing.

GoFlow vs StayFocusd at a glance

Features can change over time. Check StayFocusd's listing for the current details.

Where does StayFocusd win?

Credit where it is due: StayFocusd has been around a long time and has a loyal following. Its allowance feature, which lets you spend a set number of minutes on blocked sites before they shut, is genuinely useful for people who want a softer limit. Its nuclear option, a hard lockout with no escape, is great for crunch days. GoFlow does not copy those exact controls; its blocking is tied to your timer rounds instead. If allowances or an unbreakable lockout are what keep you on track, StayFocusd may still be your best bet. If you want a timer, tracking, and blocking that travel across browsers, GoFlow is the lighter, broader option.

Who should switch from StayFocusd to GoFlow?

You should try GoFlow if you like the idea of StayFocusd but feel boxed in by its Chrome-only home or its fiddly setup. You are the right fit if you switch between browsers, you want blocking tied to your work timer rather than running all day, and you want a record of what you actually did. GoFlow lines blocking up with your rounds, so distractions disappear only while you are working and come back the moment you take a break.

Keep StayFocusd if you depend on its allowance feature or its nuclear option for hard lockouts, since GoFlow does not match those exact controls. The two tools overlap on the basics: pick your sites, block them, get work done. Where they differ is flexibility and tracking. If you want something that travels across browsers, keeps your data local, and shows your progress over time, GoFlow is worth a real trial. Run a few work rounds with your usual distractions on the list and judge it by how your week feels.

Questions people ask

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