The StayFocusd Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about StayFocusd in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
StayFocusd
The Insider’s Guide
Free Chrome and Edge extension that limits time on distracting sites
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among focus apps, read from StayFocusd’s own pages.
Made by ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from StayFocusd’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on StayFocusd’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 51 of the 65 other focus apps we grade
StayFocusd is a free browser extension for Chrome and Edge that restricts the time you can spend on distracting websites. A site can be blocked outright or given a daily time allowance, and a stricter Nuclear Option blocks sites for a set number of hours with no way to cancel. It is published by Sensor Tower and pairs with the StayFree mobile app to show desktop and phone usage together.
To get you started, here are 7 things to know about StayFocusd, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Its publisher, Sensor Tower, says that with your consent it collects de-identified usage data for products it sells.
- 1
Best for a free daily time allowance for distracting sites
It only covers websites in those two browsers: no Firefox, Safari or desktop apps.
- 2
It is free
StayFocusd has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
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.
- 4
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.
- 5
In App Blocking
Hides sections inside YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and other social sites, such as shorts, reels, recommended videos and comments.
- 6
A 3.0 GPA, above 51 of 65
That is against the other focus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 7
Keep it
StayFocusd is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
StayFocusd at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Browser extension
- Made by
- ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company
- Category
- Focus Apps
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for a free daily time allowance for distracting sites
StayFocusd is a free Chrome and Edge extension that gives distracting sites a daily time allowance or blocks them outright, and its Nuclear Option shuts sites for set hours with no way to cancel. It only covers websites in those two browsers: no Firefox, Safari or desktop apps. Its publisher, Sensor Tower, says that with your consent it collects de-identified usage data for products it sells.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free 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. |
| Features | C | It 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Two 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who StayFocusd is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
StayFocusd is free to use.
Free from the Chrome Web Store and Edge Add-ons, with no paid plan on the site or the Chrome listing.
StayFocusd
$0
The complete extension: site blocking and daily time limits, the Nuclear Option, In App Blocking and the usage dashboard.
The 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.
Read from stayfocusd.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Browser extension
Free Chrome and Edge extension that limits time on distracting sites. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: site & app blocker, time tracking.
It does the website half of the job, right down to blocking just the videos on a page.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Browser extension
What it works with
- StayFree
StayFocusd is made by ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
51/65
Other focus apps it is graded above
StayFocusd's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 51 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 7.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 53 of 65) and worst on features (C, above 3).
StayFocusd has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 focus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. StayFocusd’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 40 of 65
- AFree plan and trialAbove 53 of 65
- CFeaturesAbove 3 of 65
- BEase of useAbove 17 of 65
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 of 65
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 56 focus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. StayFocusd is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
StayFocusd is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 51 of the 65 other focus apps we grade.
What you could make
- Time tracking: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Blocking that reaches every browser and app and is hard to switch off.
What this rests on. StayFocusd’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
LeechBlock NG, BlockSite, StayFree, Cold Turkey Blocker and Freedom
The 5 tools StayFocusd is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
LeechBlock NG
Free
Free browser extension that blocks time-wasting sites on a schedule.
- LeechBlock NG is open source, according to its own site.
- StayFocusd also covers time tracking.
- 2.2GPA
BlockSite
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
Website and app blocker for browsers and phones.
- Only BlockSite lists iOS and Android apps.
- BlockSite can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- StayFocusd also covers time tracking.
- 3.2GPA
StayFree
Free
Free cross-device screen time tracker and app and site blocker.
- Only StayFree lists Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- 2.8GPA
Cold Turkey Blocker
Free plan · from $45 one-time
Website and app blocker for Windows and Mac with strict locks.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Cold Turkey Blocker can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- StayFocusd also covers time tracking.
- 2.2GPA
Freedom
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
Website and app blocker that runs across computers and phones.
- Only Freedom lists macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps.
- Freedom can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- StayFocusd also covers time tracking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is StayFocusd free?
Yes. StayFocusd is free to use.
How much does StayFocusd cost?
StayFocusd lists one plan. StayFocusd: $0.
Does StayFocusd have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. StayFocusd is listed for no platform we could confirm.
Does StayFocusd have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. StayFocusd is listed for no platform we could confirm.
Is StayFocusd open source?
StayFocusd is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
What does StayFocusd integrate with?
StayFocusd's listing names StayFree. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes StayFocusd?
StayFocusd is made by ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company.
What are the alternatives to StayFocusd?
The closest alternatives to StayFocusd in our directory are LeechBlock NG, BlockSite, StayFree, Cold Turkey Blocker and Freedom.
How does StayFocusd compare with other focus apps?
StayFocusd's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 51 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 7.
Is StayFocusd good value for money?
ToolGPA grades StayFocusd A for value for money. StayFocusd has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of StayFocusd?
StayFocusd is free, so making your own would save you nothing. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.0 is higher than 51 of the 65 other focus apps we grade.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from StayFocusd’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from StayFocusd's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-04-08.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company. Prices change, so check stayfocusd.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- StayFocusd, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/stayfocusd
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "StayFocusd: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/stayfocusd
Know someone choosing between focus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/stayfocusd/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded focus apps after StayFocusd, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Focus Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 66 focus apps we grade, compared
- ScreenZen Insider's GuideFree app that delays and blocks distracting apps and sites3.6 GPA
- Flora Insider's GuideFree focus timer that grows trees, alone or with friends3.2 GPA
- Flow Insider's GuideMinimal Pomodoro timer for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what StayFocusd’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. StayFocusd is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company. Prices and plans change: check stayfocusd.com before you buy.