BlockwellBlockwell / StayFocusd alternative
STAYFOCUSD ALTERNATIVE · CHECKED 30 OCTOBER 2026
A simpler, quieter StayFocusd alternative
StayFocusd is free and has been around for years. If you want a website blocker that asks for fewer permissions and never shows you a pop-up for another product, Blockwell does the same core job with less.
Why people look for a StayFocusd alternative
StayFocusd, now published by Sensor Tower, has about 700,000 users and a 4.4★ rating. It is free and its blocking is flexible. The reasons people switch tend to be these:
- Pop-ups. A 1★ review from 13 June 2026 reports pop-ups promoting another product.
- Permissions. It runs content scripts on every site and asks for the identity permission.
- Time budgets vs hard blocks. StayFocusd is built around a daily time allowance. Some people just want a site off during work hours.
Blockwell vs StayFocusd at a glance
| Blockwell | StayFocusd | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free core. Pro €9/year or €29 once | Free |
| Free site limit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Permissions at install | 5, no site access | All sites + identity |
| Ads or upsell pop-ups | None | Pop-ups for another product (review, 13 Jun 2026) |
| Block part of a site | Yes, paths such as youtube.com/shorts | Yes, subdomains, paths and in-page content |
| Daily time allowance | Pro (per-site daily limits) | Yes, free. Its core feature |
| Lock your settings | Pro Strict mode (1 hour to 1 week) | Nuclear Option, free |
| Usage statistics | Pro, kept on your device | Yes, free |
When StayFocusd is the better choice
If you want a free daily time allowance (say 10 minutes of Reddit) and a free lock-down mode, StayFocusd gives you both without paying, and its in-page content blocking goes further than Blockwell’s. Blockwell keeps those features in Pro and focuses the free version on clean, unlimited blocking with a schedule and a focus timer.
Switching
- Note the sites on your StayFocusd blocked list.
- Install Blockwell and add them, or start from a preset.
- Set a schedule, or start a 25-, 50- or 90-minute focus session when you sit down to work.
- Disable StayFocusd so only one extension handles blocking.
Sources
- StayFocusd on the Chrome Web Store, checked 30 October 2026: name “StayFocusd – Website Blocker & Focus Timer & Shorts Blocker”, published by Sensor Tower, 700,000 users, 4.4★ from 8.8K ratings, version 4.6.19 updated 26 October 2026, Featured badge. Features listed: usage history, configurable blocking of sites, subdomains, paths and in-page content, and the Nuclear Option. Pop-ups for another product: 1★ review dated 13 Jun 2026.
- Permissions: StayFocusd manifest (content scripts on all sites, identity permission), recorded in our October 2026 research. Am I Being Pwned (11 May 2026) lists it under “Capability”, not confirmed collection.
Questions
Is Blockwell free like StayFocusd?
The core is free: unlimited sites, path blocking, one schedule, a focus timer and backups. Pro adds time limits, Strict mode, allowlist mode and keyword blocking.
Does Blockwell have a Nuclear Option?
Pro has Strict mode, which locks your blocks for an hour, a day or a week. While locked you can add blocks but not remove them.
Why does Blockwell ask for fewer permissions?
It uses Chrome’s built-in blocking engine, which doesn’t need to read pages. Site access is only requested per site if you choose Blockwell’s own block page.
Can I block websites in Incognito?
Yes, once you turn on “Allow in Incognito” for Blockwell. Chrome turns extensions off in Incognito by default, and Blockwell shows you the two-click fix.