AppBlock vs StayFree
We give AppBlock and StayFree the same GPA: 3.6 out of 4.0. AppBlock grades higher on ease of use. StayFree grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
AppBlock
App and website blocker with schedules and a strict mode
StayFree
Free cross-device screen time tracker and app and site blocker
How we grade them
| 3.6GPAAppBlockExcellent | 3.6GPAStayFreeExcellent | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A$29.99 a year works out at $2.50 a month, which is cheap for a blocker with this much in it. Monthly is $4.99, so yearly is about half. There's a pay-once Lifetime at $89.99 too. | AFree on every platform, with no paid plan or in-app purchases listed, and the Google Play listing calls it totally ad-free. The trade is your data: Sensor Tower's privacy policy says usage data is sold in anonymized, aggregated form. |
| Free plan and trial | BThere's a free plan, but it's tight. You get 2 schedules on iPhone or 3 on Android, and Strict Mode stops after 12 hours on iPhone or 24 on Android. Allowlist mode and adult content blocking are paid. | AIt's all in the free app: usage stats, app and website blocking, schedules, daily and session limits, and cross-device sync. There's no paid tier to run into. |
| Features | ABlocks apps, sites, single URLs and keywords. Schedules can start by time, day, place or Wi-Fi network, and Strict Mode adds a cooldown or makes you get another person's approval. That's the whole job for a phone blocker. | AFour ways to block: right now, at set times, by a daily cap or by a cap on each session, for single apps or whole categories. Stats combine across your devices and export as CSV, a PIN or text challenge guards your limits, and the browser extension hides Shorts, reels and comments. |
| Ease of use | A4.6 from about 6,700 App Store ratings. Quick Block starts a block right away, with no schedule to build first. | BWe have no App Store rating on record for it, so a B is as far as we'll go. The Google Play listing says devices can be connected without creating an account. On Android, website blocking relies on the Accessibility Service permission. |
| Platforms and integrations | BiPhone, Android and extensions for Chrome, Edge and Brave. No Mac or Windows app is listed, so on a computer it only blocks inside the browser. It doesn't connect to anything else. | BWindows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android and a browser extension, with stats and limits synced across them. That's nearly everything. But no integrations or API are listed. |
| Best for | blocks that switch on by time, place or Wi-Fi | free screen time tracking and blocking on every device |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: AppBlock and StayFree. How we grade
Where they differ
- AppBlock starts at $2.50 / month, billed yearly ($29.99). StayFree is free.
- Only StayFree lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- AppBlock can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- AppBlock also covers Pomodoro timer.
- StayFree also covers time tracking.
At a glance
| AppBlock | StayFree | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $2.50 / month, billed yearly ($29.99) | Free |
| Free plan | Free plan with limits that differ by platform: up to 2 schedules and 12 hours of Strict Mode on iOS, or 3 schedules and 24 hours of Strict Mode on Android. | Free on every platform, with no paid plan or in-app purchases listed. The Google Play listing describes the app as totally ad-free. |
| Free trial | 1 week free on the yearly plan, for new subscribers only | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | MobileSoft s.r.o. | ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company |
| Price read from | appblock.app | stayfreeapps.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Who each one suits
AppBlock
- Phone users who want blocks that start by time, place or Wi-Fi network
- People who need a block they cannot easily switch off
- Blocking the same sites on a phone and in a desktop browser
StayFree
- People who want screen time stats across phone, desktop and browser
- Anyone looking for an app and website blocker with no paid tier
- Trimming social media feeds without blocking the whole site
Worth knowing
AppBlock
- Free limits differ by platform: iOS allows 2 schedules and 12 hours of Strict Mode, Android 3 schedules and 24 hours.
- Allowlist mode, adult content blocking, backup and the Quick Block timer need Premium on both iOS and Android.
- On a computer AppBlock runs only as an extension for Chrome, Edge and Brave; no Mac or Windows app is listed.
- The student discount and business licences are arranged through forms, and neither page states a price.
StayFree
- StayFree is owned by Sensor Tower; its privacy policy says app and website usage data is collected and sold in anonymized, aggregated form.
- Hiding Shorts, reels and other feed sections is described for the browser extension; the iOS listing mentions only usage history, block mode and schedules.
- On Android, website blocking relies on the Accessibility Service permission.
- The Safari extension on the Mac App Store requires macOS 26.5 or later.
Key features
AppBlock
- App and website blocking
- Block apps, websites, specific URLs and keywords. On Android, Premium can also block newly installed apps and browsers the app does not support.
- Schedules
- Profiles for work, study or sleep switch on by time, day, location or connected Wi-Fi network and then run automatically.
- Quick Block
- Starts a block right away without a schedule. Free use is capped at 4 hours on iOS or 3 apps and 3 sites on Android; Premium adds a timer.
- Strict Mode
- Makes blocks harder to bypass, with a cooldown and approval by another person. The free plan caps it at 12 hours on iOS and 24 hours on Android.
- Allowlist mode
- A Premium mode that blocks everything except a set of chosen apps, which the vendor describes as a dumbphone-like setup.
- Browser extensions
- Extensions for Chrome, Edge and Brave block websites and keywords on a computer, with Quick Block and Schedules.
StayFree
- Four ways to block
- Block an app or site immediately, restrict it at set times, cap its daily use, or set a time limit for each session. Daily limits can cover whole categories as well as single apps and sites.
- Cross-device usage stats
- Charts of app and website use combined across your devices. The Google Play listing says devices can be connected without creating an account, and usage can be exported as CSV.
- In-app blocking for social media
- The browser extension hides parts of YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat, such as Shorts, reels, comments and recommendations, without blocking the whole site.
- Keyword blocking and over-use reminders
- The extension can block any website that displays chosen keywords, and StayFree notifies you when you have spent too long on a site or in an app.
- PIN and challenge protection
- Require a PIN code, password or text challenge before limits and settings can be changed, to stop impulsive edits.
- Focus mode and sleep mode
- On Android, focus mode blocks distracting apps at scheduled times and sleep mode disables all apps at the end of the day.
Plans
AppBlock
Free$0
Blocking within limits: 2 schedules on iOS or 3 on Android, schedule usage limits of up to 30 minutes a day and time-capped Strict Mode.
Premium (yearly)$29.99
per year ($2.50 / month), after a free week
Unlimited Quick Block, schedules and Strict Mode, plus Allowlist mode, adult content blocking and backup.
Premium (monthly)$4.99
per month
The same Premium features paid month to month, with cancellation at any time.
Premium (lifetime)$89.99
one-time payment
Premium features for a single payment with no subscription.
StayFree
StayFree$0
The complete app on every platform: usage stats, app and website blocking, schedules, daily and session limits, and cross-device sync.
Ways to pay less
AppBlock
- Annual discount
Yearly Premium costs about half of monthly
The pricing page lists Premium at $29.99 a year against $4.99 a month, which comes to $59.88 over twelve months.
- Lifetime license
Lifetime Premium for a one-time payment
The pricing page lists a Lifetime Premium option at $89.99, paid once.
- Education
Student discount on Premium
Students who submit their university, field of study and academic year get a link that shows a student discount in the app. The page does not state the amount.
StayFree
No public discounts listed.
