2026-11-13
The best free website blocker for Chrome in 2026 (and how to choose one)
Disclosure: we make FocusFence, one of the blockers mentioned below. We've tried to keep this guide useful even if you pick something else. Facts about other tools were checked against public listings and reviews in November 2026. Features change, so double-check before you install.
Most "best website blocker" lists rank tools by feature count. Feature count isn't what decides whether a blocker works for you. What decides it is whether you stop bypassing it. Here is what to look for, and how the main free options compare.
1. Does blocking a site also block its subdomains?
If you block reddit.com, you want old.reddit.com, m.reddit.com and www.reddit.com gone too. Otherwise the habit just moves one address over. Before you commit to a blocker, test this.
2. Can it block *part* of a site?
This is the feature that matters most and gets mentioned least. You might need YouTube for a tutorial but not YouTube Shorts. You might need one subreddit but not the front page. A blocker that only works on whole domains forces a bad choice: lose the useful part, or keep the feed. Look for path rules (e.g. youtube.com/shorts). On sites like YouTube, check that they also catch in-app navigation, not just links you type.
3. Schedules and focus sessions
Blocking all day, every day tends to end in rebellion. Blocking during your work hours, plus short focus sprints (Pomodoro: 25 minutes on, 5 off), is easier to live with.
4. How hard is it to cheat?
Every browser extension can be disabled from chrome://extensions. No extension can prevent that, and any blocker that claims otherwise is overselling. What a good blocker can do is add friction: a waiting period and a typing challenge before you can turn it off, and timers that don't quietly run out while it's disabled. If you need a hard lock across your whole computer, a desktop app is the right tool, not an extension.
5. Privacy
A website blocker sits next to everything you browse. Prefer blockers that:
- don't require an account,
- don't send your browsing or blocklist to a server,
- use Chrome's built-in blocking engine (declarativeNetRequest) instead of reading every page,
- ask for site access only for the sites you block.
The main options at a glance
| Tool | Type | Free tier | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeechBlock NG | Browser extension | Free | Very configurable block sets, schedules and time limits |
| StayFocusd | Browser extension | Free | A long-standing, simple Chrome blocker |
| BlockSite | Browser extension (+ apps) | Freemium | Timer and scheduling with a polished interface |
| Cold Turkey | Desktop app | Free + paid Pro | Can block apps and the whole computer, not just the browser |
| FocusFence (ours) | Chrome extension | Free, unlimited sites | Partial blocking (e.g. YouTube Shorts only), calm block page, private by design |
Where FocusFence fits, honestly
- Free: unlimited sites, subdomains included, one-click "Block site" from the toolbar, and a calm block page that shows how many times you've been blocked today. No account, no analytics.
- Pro ($2.99/month or $19.99/year; €2.99 / €19.99 in the eurozone): path and keyword rules (like
youtube.com/shorts), schedules, Pomodoro focus sessions, strict mode with a 10-minute cooling-off unlock, password lock, stats, export/import. - Limits: like every extension, it can be disabled from
chrome://extensions. A timed strict session pauses while it's off, so the timer can't run out in the background. It only covers Chrome on the device where it's installed.
Which one should you pick?
- You want the most knobs and don't mind setup: LeechBlock NG.
- You need to lock down the whole computer, apps included: a desktop blocker like Cold Turkey.
- You want a calm, private Chrome blocker that can remove just the feeds (Shorts, front pages) and add friction when you're tempted: FocusFence.
Whatever you choose, start small: block three sites that steal your attention, set your focus hours, and add friction for "just this once".