StayFocusd vs Unhook (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, StayFocusd and Unhook share a 3.0 GPA, both are free, so the choice depends on which features you need.
Checked Oct 6, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
They get the same grade on all five counts.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
StayFocusd
Free Chrome and Edge extension that limits time on distracting sites
Free
Which one is for you
Pick StayFocusd if
- Fits if you use Chrome or Edge and want a free blocker with daily time allowances
- Works for people who want Shorts, Reels and comment sections hidden without blocking a whole site
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Firefox, Safari or Opera, as it only runs in Chrome and Edge
- Not for you if desktop apps are your distraction, since it limits websites only
- Not for you if you'd rather no usage data left your browser, because Sensor Tower's privacy policy says de-identified data goes to its servers with your consent
- Too light for your phone, which needs the separate StayFree app
Pick Unhook if
- Fits if you open YouTube for one video and leave
- Works for people who want the home feed and comments gone
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to block sites other than YouTube
- Skip it if you use Safari, as no version is listed
- Watch out: settings live in each browser and do not carry between devices
- Too light for a phone, since it is an extension for desktop browsers
How we grade them
| 3.0GPAStayFocusdVery good | 3.0GPAUnhookVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AFree from the Chrome Web Store and Edge Add-ons, with no paid plan on the site or the Chrome listing. Most blockers in this category want about $4 a month. | AFree with no paid plan, only a voluntary contributions request on its Firefox page. |
| Free plan and trial | AFree outright, and nothing is held back: blocking, daily limits, the Nuclear Option, In App Blocking and the dashboard are all in the one free extension. | AEverything is free and toggled from the popup. |
| Features | CIt does the website half of the job, right down to blocking just the videos on a page. But its own notes say desktop apps aren't blocked at all, and phone usage has to come from the separate StayFree app, so a good chunk of what a focus tool is for sits outside it. | CHides the home feed, related videos, comments, Shorts and other parts and turns off autoplay. It does that one job fully, but it is only YouTube. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating to go on, but there's nothing to set up: install it, add a site, pick block or an allowance. No account needed to start. | BNo rating on record, but you install it and flip switches with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | CTwo browsers and nothing else. The site says it isn't available for Opera and links to no Firefox or Safari version, and StayFree is a separate app for the phone side. | CBrowser extension only, for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. |
| Best for | a free daily time allowance for distracting sites | cutting YouTube recommendations |
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: StayFocusd and Unhook. How we grade
Price against what you get
StayFocusd has no paid plan and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Unhook has no paid plan and scores 2.3.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other focus apps on the chart, none scores higher than StayFocusd for less, and none scores higher than Unhook for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- StayFocusd also covers time tracking.
In commonFree planBrowser extensionSite & app blocker
At a glance
| StayFocusd | Unhook | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | The extension is offered as a free download from the Chrome Web Store and Edge Add-ons; the site and the Chrome listing show no paid plan. | The extension is free. The developer asks for voluntary contributions on its Firefox add-on page. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company | Unhook |
| Price read from | stayfocusd.com | addons.mozilla.org |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
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.
Unhook
- Works only on YouTube.
- Settings live in the browser, so they do not carry between browsers or devices on their own.
- Its privacy policy says extension data stays in the browser's local storage and nothing is transmitted.
- No Safari version is listed; the site links Chrome, Firefox and Edge.
Key features
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.
Unhook
- Hide the home feed
- Removes homepage recommendations, the trending tab and the Explore section.
- Hide related videos
- Removes the sidebar suggestions and the end-screen video wall and cards.
- Hide comments
- Removes the comments section, with options for profile photos and live chat.
- Hide Shorts and more
- Options cover the Shorts tab, notification bell, top header, video description and buttons bar.
- Turn off autoplay
- Disables autoplay and annotations.
Plans
StayFocusd
StayFocusd$0
The complete extension: site blocking and daily time limits, the Nuclear Option, In App Blocking and the usage dashboard.
Unhook
Free$0
All options, toggled from the extension popup; no paid plan is listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, StayFocusd or Unhook?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both StayFocusd and Unhook are free to use.
Which has a free plan, StayFocusd or Unhook?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both StayFocusd and Unhook have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.