Otto vs StayFocusd

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

StayFocusd

• Chrome and Edge users who want a free blocker with daily time allowances
• People who want Shorts, Reels and comment sections hidden without blocking a whole site
• Android users who already track phone use with StayFree

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.

StayFocusd

• It runs only as a Chrome or Edge extension; the site says it is not available for Opera and links to no Firefox or Safari version.
• It limits websites only: desktop apps are not blocked, and phone usage comes from the separate StayFree app.
• Sensor Tower's privacy policy says that, with your consent, de-identified website and ad usage data is sent to its servers and used in products it sells.

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.

StayFocusd

Block or time-limit sites

Block a site completely or give it a daily time allowance. Rules can cover whole sites, subdomains, paths, single pages or in-page content such as videos and images.

The Nuclear Option

Blocks sites for the number of hours you specify on the days you choose, and cannot be canceled once it starts. It can be started by hand or on a schedule.

In App Blocking

Hides sections inside YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and other social sites, such as shorts, reels, recommended videos and comments.

Usage Metrics Dashboard

Charts and daily reports show the time spent on each website, with historical data for spotting patterns.

Require Challenge

Changing any setting can require completing a difficult task first, which makes it harder to loosen your own limits on impulse.

Pairing with StayFree

Connecting Android devices and other browsers through StayFree shows website and mobile app usage and limits in one place.

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.

StayFocusd

• StayFocusd$0

  The complete extension: site blocking and daily time limits, the Nuclear Option, In App Blocking and the usage dashboard.

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.

StayFocusd

No public discounts listed.