StayFocusd vs StayFree

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

StayFocusd

• StayFocusd$0

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

StayFree

• StayFree$0

  The complete app on every platform: usage stats, app and website blocking, schedules, daily and session limits, and cross-device sync.