Best StayFocusd Alternatives in 2026

Looking for StayFocusd alternatives? Start here. StayFocusd is a free Chrome extension with a strict Nuclear Option whitelist mode. If it has stopped working, the failure mode is rarely "the Chrome extension is bad." It is usually "I switch to another browser to bypass it" or "my real problem is my phone, not my laptop." The alternatives below cover both gaps: cross-browser desktop blockers and mobile-side enforcement tools. Six options.

This guide is written for people who already tried StayFocusd (or something like it) and hit the same wall: the tool works until the craving is stronger than the fence. Below are the best StayFocusd alternatives in 2026, grouped by mechanism so you can pick the failure mode you actually have.

Deep dive on the product page: StayFocusd alternatives · head-to-head: ScreenFine vs StayFocusd.

Quick answer

If StayFocusd still works when you are only mildly distracted, keep it. If you keep overriding it, switching to another friction twin rarely helps. You usually need either a harder lock (harder to disable) or a consequence (something you have to earn back). ScreenFine sits in the second camp: daily limit, OS-level lock when you go over, unlock with 25 pushups / 1,000 steps / a workout / mindful minutes. Flat $1/week. Going over never charges your card.

Why people leave StayFocusd

Most exits look the same across the category:

1. The override is too cheap (one tap, one uninstall, one browser tab).
2. The tool blocks the wrong thing (too blunt, or too narrow).
3. Price does not match the mechanism (paying premium for a soft fence).
4. You adapted -- the pause or schedule became part of the habit loop.

If that list feels familiar, evaluate alternatives by mechanism, not brand polish.

Best StayFocusd alternatives (2026)

ScreenFine

Best for: iPhone overuse when laptop is not the problem. Price: $1/week. Platforms: iOS.

ScreenFine is the mobile-side answer if StayFocusd has shown you that the real distraction has shifted to your phone. A daily total cap on your iPhone with target apps locking on overage and a verified-exercise redemption window. Built on Apple's FamilyControls API. Different surface than StayFocusd entirely. Run both if both surfaces are problems.

Pros: iOS-native app blocking (no browser extension equivalent); Real consequence on overage; 1-week behavioural redemption window; AI villain personalises the consequence. Cons: iOS only; No browser or desktop coverage; $1/week subscription (StayFocusd is free).

Get the product overview on ScreenFine or the pricing page.

LeechBlock NG

Best for: Free, multi-browser, more granular than StayFocusd. Price: Free. Platforms: Firefox, Chrome, Edge.

LeechBlock NG is a free, open-source browser extension that runs on Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. More granular than StayFocusd: multiple block sets, time-of-day rules, time-budget rules, and password protection on settings. The direct upgrade for users who like StayFocusd's mechanism but want richer rules across more browsers.

Pros: Free and open source; Multi-browser coverage (Firefox, Chrome, Edge); Highly granular rules. Cons: Browser only, no apps; No mobile coverage; Settings UI takes longer to learn than StayFocusd.

Cold Turkey

Best for: OS-level desktop strictness, not just browser. Price: Free + $39 once Pro. Platforms: Windows, macOS.

Cold Turkey is the desktop escalation from StayFocusd. Instead of running as a Chrome extension that can be bypassed by switching browsers, Cold Turkey blocks at the OS level. Frozen Turkey mode is the strictest desktop block in the category. $39 once for Pro lifetime, with a useful free tier. The right answer if your StayFocusd bypass habit is "open the same site in Safari."

Pros: OS-level blocking, not bypassed by switching browsers; Genuinely the strictest desktop blocker; $39 once instead of subscription. Cons: No mobile coverage; Older settings UI than newer competitors; Windows and macOS only.

Freedom

Best for: Cross-device blocking with synced lists. Price: $8.99/mo or ~$40/yr. Platforms: iOS, Mac, Win, Android, Chrome.

Freedom is the cross-device escalation from StayFocusd. Same website-blocking core but synced across browsers, desktops, and phones with Locked Mode for strict sessions. The right answer if you keep bypassing StayFocusd by switching browsers or moving to your phone. Subscription-only, but the cross-device reach addresses the "I just open Twitter on my iPhone" workaround.

Pros: Cross-device coverage including mobile; Locked Mode for strict sessions; Mature website-blocking story. Cons: Subscription-only (StayFocusd is free); iOS coverage is weaker than desktop; Override path exists outside Locked Mode.

SelfControl

Best for: Free macOS-only strict blocking. Price: Free. Platforms: macOS.

SelfControl is a free macOS app that blocks websites at the system level for a duration you set. Once started, the block cannot be ended (not by restarting, not by uninstalling). Strictest free option for Mac users. Single-purpose and open source. The right answer if StayFocusd's "Nuclear Option" is good but you want OS-level blocking instead of Chrome-only.

Pros: Completely free; Cannot be ended once started; Open source. Cons: macOS only; Websites only; No scheduling, only timed blocks.

Opal

Best for: Polished mobile-first blocker. Price: $80-100/yr. Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS.

Opal is the most polished mobile-first blocker if your StayFocusd usage has shown you that the real distraction is mobile, not desktop. Scheduled focus sessions, per-app limits, friend leaderboards. Pricier than the other options here, with the cleanest UI in the category. Cross-platform across iOS, Android, and macOS.

Pros: Most polished UI in the friction category; Strong iOS coverage; Per-app limits and scheduled blocks. Cons: Among the most expensive options; Override is one tap away; Weaker desktop story than browser-extension competitors.

How to choose

If your failure mode is...	Prefer
Absent-minded opens	Friction pause (One Sec / ScreenZen-style)
Scheduled deep work	Polished session blockers (Opal-style)
Late-night compulsion	Hard lock + Downtime, or consequence lock
"I ignore every timer"	Verified-exercise consequence (ScreenFine)
Need cross-platform desktop	Freedom / Cold Turkey / ScreenZen depending on OS

Product truth (ScreenFine)

• Subscription: $1/week via Apple In-App Purchase (7-day trial for new users).
• Overage: apps you chose lock until you redeem with verified effort.
• Fines are behavioural slips, not money charges. The jar is a signal.
• Redemption window: about 1 week per slip (steps, workout, pushups, squats, mindful minutes, or honor path where available).

FAQ

Why are people looking for StayFocusd alternatives?

Two main reasons. First, the bypass. StayFocusd only runs in Chrome, so opening the same site in Safari, Firefox, or Edge bypasses it instantly. Users who realise they keep doing this need OS-level blocking (Cold Turkey, SelfControl) or cross-device sync (Freedom). Second, mobile. StayFocusd is desktop-only, and many users discover their real distraction has shifted to their phone. The fix there is a mobile-side tool like ScreenFine or Opal.

What is the cheapest StayFocusd alternative?

LeechBlock NG is free on Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. SelfControl is free on macOS. Both are strict and free. Among paid options, Cold Turkey is $39 once (lifetime) and ScreenFine is $1/week. Opal and Freedom are subscription-priced.

What is the strictest StayFocusd alternative?

On macOS, SelfControl cannot be undone once started, which is as strict as it gets for free. Cold Turkey's Frozen Turkey is similarly strict and runs on Windows too. Freedom's Locked Mode is strict during active sessions. On iOS, ScreenFine has the strictest consequence model on overage but pause is allowed.

Key takeaways

• StayFocusd alternatives should be chosen by failure mode, not UI taste.
• Soft fences fail at the Ignore / override moment.
• Hard locks and consequence locks survive longer for compulsive use.
• ScreenFine is the exercise-gated option: lock on overage, earn unlock, $1/week, no money fine on overage.

Related: commitment devices, best screen time apps 2026, compare hub.