BlockSite vs Otto

BlockSite

• Blocking the same sites and apps on a phone and in desktop browsers
• People who want to block whole categories of sites in one step
• Students and workers who block on a fixed daily schedule

Otto

• People who do most of their work inside Chrome
• A Pomodoro timer and a site blocker in a single extension
• Buyers who prefer a lifetime license to a subscription
• People who want a gentle, game-like nudge instead of a hard lockout

BlockSite

• BlockSite's own checkout showed regional prices on the check date, so the dollar figures here are in-app purchase amounts from the US App Store.
• The App Store lists several monthly and annual amounts without saying which one applies to a new subscriber.
• Keyword blocking, unlimited category blocking and password protection need Premium, and the iOS app is for iPhone only.
• The homepage advertises a desktop app that blocks across several browsers but does not say which operating systems it runs on.

Otto

• It is a Chrome extension: there is no desktop or mobile app, and the vendor gives no date for the mobile app on its roadmap.
• The free version caps scheduled blocking at 2 rules, autoblock at 1 rule, the task timer at 3 tasks of 15 minutes and analytics at 7 days.
• The one-year license does not carry on: when it expires, Pro features stop and the extension drops back to the free version.
• There is no free trial of Pro, though refunds are given within 14 days. The web version is a plain timer without blocking.

BlockSite

Block List

Add the sites and apps you want to avoid, and BlockSite keeps them from opening while the list is active. Premium removes the limit on entries.

Focus Mode

Blocks distractions for a set amount of time. The Mac listing describes timed work sessions with scheduled breaks.

Schedule

Set the days and hours when chosen sites and apps are blocked, so the same routine repeats without being switched on each time.

Category and keyword blocking

Block a whole category such as social media or shopping in one step, or any address containing a chosen word. Both are Premium features on iOS.

Password protection

A Premium setting that puts a password in front of settings and blocked pages. The site also lists a feature that prevents uninstalling BlockSite.

Sync across platforms

The same block list applies on every signed-in device, and one purchase unlocks Premium on Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge and Safari.

Otto

Pomodoro focus timer

Work and break intervals with lengths you can change and no cap on sessions. Pro adds a reverse work and break timer and a strict lock on the timer.

Blocking during focus sessions

Sites on the blocklist are blocked whenever a work session is running. Sites can be added in one click and unblocked temporarily when you need them.

Scheduled blocking

Chosen sites can be blocked at set hours and on set weekdays without a focus session running, and rules can target specific URLs instead of a whole site.

Autoblock time limits

Instead of blocking a site at once, Autoblock starts a countdown and blocks it when the time runs out. Each rule has its own duration and the count syncs between tabs.

Task timer

Naming a session turns it into a task timer with an in-browser to-do list, single-task and sequence modes, and a record of the time spent on each task.

Analytics and the Otto character

Focus and distraction analytics cover 7 days on the free version and all time on Pro. A game mechanic builds a bond with the Otto character as you focus.

BlockSite

• Free$0

  Website and app blocking with a block list, Schedule Mode and usage limits.

• Monthly Subscription$3.99 to $19.99

  per month; the US App Store lists five amounts

  Premium paid monthly. The listing shows $3.99, $9.99, $10.99, $14.99 and $19.99 and does not say which one a new subscriber pays.

• Annual Subscription$23.99 to $47.90

  per year; the US App Store lists three amounts

  Premium billed yearly, listed at $23.99, $38.99 and $47.90. BlockSite's homepage advertises $33.50 a year as a limited-time 30% discount.

Otto

• Free$0

  Unlimited focus sessions, 4 focus block rules, 2 scheduled blocking rules, 1 autoblock rule, a 3-task timer and 7 days of analytics.

• The Friend$29

  for one year, paid once (not a subscription)

  Otto Pro for a year: unlimited blocked sites, schedules and autoblock rules, tasks of up to 90 minutes, strict lock and all-time analytics.

• The Guardian$66

  one-time purchase, lifetime license

  The same Pro features with a license that never expires, free lifetime updates and the planned mobile app at no extra cost.

BlockSite

• Other savings

  Limited-time 30% off the annual plan

  BlockSite's homepage advertises an annual subscription for $33.50, described as 30% off for a limited time. The page text gives no end date.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Access for a one-time payment

  The web checkout offers Lifetime Access with one payment and no renewals. Its US dollar price could not be read; the page showed a regional price.

Otto

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime license for a one-time $66

  The Guardian plan unlocks every Pro feature for good for a single $66 payment, against $29 for one year, and includes the mobile app once it is released.