For every problem, there is a solution. This is a meaningful lesson that we learn in our life. When we, for example, start to spend hours online or find ourselves checking social networking sites for the hundredth time, it can lead to severe mental, professional, or social issues.
That's why website blockers with up-to-date technologies are helpful in defeating digital distractions so we can stay more focused on our work or study. Has your project never started? Or is your concentration getting off because you stick to distracting websites? Here are the top website blockers to use for free.
1. StayFocusd
As its name indicates, StayFocusd is one of the best apps to stay focused on your study or work by limiting the amount of time you can spend on distracting websites. The app works to block time-consuming desktop applications, including Steam, Slack, and email. The users will avoid the temptation to browse the diverting online sites while focusing on working and learning.
One of the reasons to make StayFocusd attractive is an interesting feature that allows people to block all websites or specific content. Apart from this option, the app is also associated with a "Strict mode" that will lock the account. The users can disable all notifications when they want to keep away from diverting activities, whether on the web or mobile devices. StayFocusd is the best solution to restrict the users' distractions that users can use for free.
2. SelfControl
SelfControl is a popular URL-based blocking site, thanks to its simplicity. It can work efficiently to meet the users’ needs. This free website blocker permits them to temporarily block access to their chosen websites and internet distractions such as Netflix, Facebook, Instagram, and several distracting sites. This tool requires people to download the app for free, and once it is installed, they can immediately block websites by their URL to stay away from full websites or specific web pages.
The duration is from 15 minutes to 24 hours, and when the ban is active, the users won’t have access to the websites until the timer runs out, even if they delete the app. A significant feature that makes this free and open-source website-blocking application is the famous “whitelist”. With this whitelist function, instead of selecting the distracting sites, they want to ban, they do the opposite and pick the websites they want to access.
3. Cold Turkey
The free website blocker is among the popular name for both students and workers. Cold Turkey is a powerful software application designed to help people focus on their work by letting them block several online sites, including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Wikipedia, MySpace, Reddit, and other distracting platforms. To use this tool, you are first required to download the app, and once it is installed, you can directly ban websites of your choice.
Cold Turkey’s programme comes with a simple and easy layout to enable you to set up the parameters quite easily. With this scheme, you can set up schedules depending on your needs, and with the visual and interactive schedule calendar, you will be able to be blocked instantly. This well-known global blocker is an effective solution to build a discipline around the users' productivity without spending a penny.
3. GamStop
This British national self-exclusion scheme is run by the National Online Self-Exclusion Scheme Limited (NOSES) and has become influential in the UK's gambling industry. GamStop was released in 2018 to help players who want to quit gambling activities and minimise gambling addiction in this country. The players must register at Gamstop's official website by providing their personal information to use this free service.
Once their registration is confirmed, they can ban themselves from accessing licensed gambling sites and international brands for their chosen period of time. The prohibition automatically comes into effect after the registration. This duration can be six months, one year, or five years, so they won't access their gambling sites until the self-exclusion term elapses.
5. BetBlocker
Created in 2017, this UK charity offers BetBlocker for players who feel like they're developing a gambling addiction. Funded and developed by ThePOGG.com, a reputed company that reviews and recommends the best online gaming sites, this app was designed to block online gambling sites. Like almost every betting blocker, the tool can be downloaded or installed on an internet-capable device.
The first step is downloading the app on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, or Linux. Once installed, users can choose the duration they want to be prohibited, which can be from 24 hours to five years. This charity organisation also provides a practical parental control setting that enables parents to switch on and off the tool via a password. Today, more than 13,000 betting websites introduce this charity free-to-download app, which is an excellent tool to help gamblers limit their betting impulses.
6. LeechBlock
Mozilla Firefox’s users can choose LeechBlock because this website blocker is designed solely for them. This renowned blocking method is an effective solution for smoothly blocking several sites of your choosing. This tool is your ideal option if you want to limit or block access to distracting websites and other internet time-wasters. This versatile free tool is considered the best one as it permits the users to create groups of restrained websites and arrange them to six different time bans.
In each time block, the users can pick the websites they want to avoid and the ban duration. For example, they can be banned within a fixed period between 8 am and 4 pm or 20 minutes every hour, depending on their choice. An interesting feature is that the users can set up the block in a specific period of time, depending on their needs.
