The StayFree Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about StayFree 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.
StayFree
The Insider’s Guide
Free cross-device screen time tracker and app and site blocker
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among focus apps, read from StayFree’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 StayFree’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on StayFree’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
3.2
GPA, above 59 of the 65 other focus apps we grade
StayFree tracks how much time you spend in apps and on websites and blocks the ones that distract you, with stats and limits that sync across phone, desktop and browser. A block can start at once, follow a schedule, cap daily use or cap each session. It is free on every platform and is owned by Sensor Tower, whose privacy policy says it sells anonymized, aggregated usage data.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about StayFree, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The catch is the owner: Sensor Tower's privacy policy says your usage data is collected and sold in anonymized, aggregated form.
- 1
Best for free screen time tracking and blocking on every device
StayFree tracks your screen time and blocks the apps and sites that eat it, across phone, desktop and browser, free on all of them.
- 2
It is free
StayFree has no paid plan at all. Free on every platform, with no paid plan or in-app purchases listed. The Google Play listing describes the app as totally ad-free.
- 3
It runs on 5 platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android, with a browser extension too.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
A 3.2 GPA, above 59 of 65
That is against the other focus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
StayFree is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
StayFree at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company
- Category
- Focus Apps
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for free screen time tracking and blocking on every device
StayFree tracks your screen time and blocks the apps and sites that eat it, across phone, desktop and browser, free on all of them. The catch is the owner: Sensor Tower's privacy policy says your usage data is collected and sold in anonymized, aggregated form. Feed trimming is extension only, Android site blocking needs the Accessibility permission, and the Safari extension needs macOS 26.5.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free on every platform, no paid plan or in-app purchases listed, and the Google Play listing calls it totally ad-free. The category's middle price is about $4 a month, and this costs nothing. The trade is your data, which Sensor Tower's policy says it sells anonymized and aggregated. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright with no paid tier to run into. Usage stats, app and website blocking, schedules, daily and session limits and cross-device sync are all in it. |
| Features | B | It covers the blocker's job: four ways to block (now, on a schedule, a daily cap, a cap per session), whole categories as well as single apps, keyword blocking, a PIN over your own limits, and stats that combine across devices. Nothing here its rivals can't do, though, and feed-trimming is extension-only. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and the thing it's sold on takes setting up: devices have to be connected to each other, and on Android website blocking only works once you grant the Accessibility Service permission. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Android and a browser extension, synced. The listing shows no API and no integrations, which is what an A needs. |
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 StayFree is for
- Fits if you want screen time stats for your phone, desktop and browser in one place
- Works for people who want an app and website blocker with no paid tier at all
Who it is not for
- Skip it if selling usage data bothers you, as Sensor Tower's privacy policy says it does that in anonymized, aggregated form
- Not for you if you want feeds hidden on your iPhone, since that's described for the browser extension
- Tight if your Mac is behind on updates, because the Safari extension requires macOS 26.5 or later
- Not for you if you'd rather not grant the Accessibility permission on Android, which website blocking relies on
- Watch out: linking your devices to each other takes setting up, and no API or integrations are listed
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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.
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
StayFree is free to use.
Free on every platform, no paid plan or in-app purchases listed, and the Google Play listing calls it totally ad-free.
StayFree
$0
The complete app on every platform: usage stats, app and website blocking, schedules, daily and session limits, and cross-device sync.
The free plan
Free on every platform, with no paid plan or in-app purchases listed. The Google Play listing describes the app as totally ad-free.
Read from stayfreeapps.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
6
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension
Free cross-device screen time tracker and app and site blocker. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: site & app blocker, time tracking.
Nothing here its rivals can't do, though, and feed-trimming is extension-only.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
StayFree 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
59/65
Other focus apps it is graded above
StayFree's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 59 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 53 of 65) and worst on ease of use (C, above 0).
StayFree has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 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. StayFree’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 40 of 65
- AFree plan and trialAbove 53 of 65
- BFeaturesAbove 48 of 65
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 65
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 39 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. StayFree 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
StayFree is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 59 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.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. StayFree’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
ScreenZen, Freedom, AppBlock, Stay Focused and Cold Turkey Blocker
The 5 tools StayFree is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
ScreenZen
Free
Free app that delays and blocks distracting apps and sites.
- Only StayFree lists a Linux app.
- Only StayFree lists a browser extension.
- 2.2GPA
Freedom
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
Website and app blocker that runs across computers and phones.
- Only StayFree lists a Linux app.
- Freedom can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- StayFree also covers time tracking.
- 2.8GPA
AppBlock
Free plan · from $2.50/mo
App and website blocker with schedules and a strict mode.
- Only StayFree lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- AppBlock can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- StayFree also covers time tracking.
- 2.4GPA
Stay Focused
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
App and website blocker with schedules, limits and Strict Mode.
- Only StayFree lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Stay Focused also covers Pomodoro timer and focus music.
- 2.8GPA
Cold Turkey Blocker
Free plan · from $45 one-time
Website and app blocker for Windows and Mac with strict locks.
- Only StayFree lists Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Cold Turkey Blocker can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- StayFree also covers time tracking.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
9
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 StayFree free?
Yes. StayFree is free to use.
How much does StayFree cost?
StayFree lists one plan. StayFree: $0.
What platforms does StayFree work on?
StayFree is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. It also has a browser extension.
Is StayFree open source?
StayFree is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Who makes StayFree?
StayFree is made by ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company.
What are the alternatives to StayFree?
The closest alternatives to StayFree in our directory are ScreenZen, Freedom, AppBlock, Stay Focused and Cold Turkey Blocker.
How does StayFree compare with other focus apps?
StayFree's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 59 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 5.
Is StayFree good value for money?
ToolGPA grades StayFree A for value for money. StayFree has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of StayFree?
StayFree is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from StayFree’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 StayFree's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-28.
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 stayfreeapps.com before you buy.
- stayfreeapps.com/
- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.burockgames.timeclocker&hl=en_US&gl=US
- apps.apple.com/us/app/stayfree-block-apps-sites/id1631132311
- apps.apple.com/us/app/stayfree-track-block-sites/id6468659272
- chromewebstore.google.com/detail/stayfree-website-blocker/elfaihghhjjoknimpccccmkioofjjfkf
- apps.microsoft.com/detail/9n51fgrv6nhg?hl=en-US&gl=US
- sensortower.com/panel-privacy
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
- StayFree, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/stayfree
- 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, "StayFree: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/stayfree
Know someone choosing between focus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/stayfree/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded focus apps after StayFree, 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 StayFree’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. StayFree 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 stayfreeapps.com before you buy.