I Tested the Best Android App Blockers To Regain Your Productivity

An app blocker can be a game-changer for your productivity.

Since I started using them, I feel much more focused and have more control over my time.

Think about it: How many times have you opened an app like Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, or Reddit, thinking, “I’ll just relax for a few minutes”?

Then, you have wasted an hour or more of your time.

Yes, phone distractions are a great enemy of our productivity and focus because they give us instant gratification.

How do we solve this problem?

You must block social media and other distracting apps and websites.

That’s why I decided to list the best Android app blockers that will help you stop wasting time and get closer to your goals.

These apps can block social media, forums, and adult content.

They can become your best ally when your willpower is particularly low (such as on Monday morning) and enjoy a digital detox.

Let’s dive into the best website blocker apps for Android!

Top 8 Android App Blockers

1. Freedom: My favorite one
2. Famisafe: Ideal for parental control, limiting screen time, tracking app activity, blocking inappropriate apps, filtering harmful websites, and real-time location tracking.
3. RescueTime: Monitors app usage to help users understand their habits and increase productivity.
4. AppBlock: Enforces self-control by restricting access to distracting apps at specific times or locations.
5. YourHour – ScreenTime Control: Tracks phone usage metrics such as most used apps and total screen time to encourage better digital habits.
6. Stay Focused: Helps set daily usage limits on apps and personalizes the app blocking experience.
7. StayFree: A powerful blocking software tool designed to block mobile apps, games, and websites to help increase productivity and focus.

Freedom App

Freedom App is the best app blocker for Android.

I use it daily while I work, and boy, does it work!

It is a powerful tool for blocking websites and distracting apps, scheduling focused time, and tracking productivity.

It’s also one of the best apps to increase focus and work better since you can’t access main distractions.

You can even block the entire internet, so it’s just you and your stuff.

The cool part? It offers a free version, and you can install it on any device.

Key Benefits

I love Freedom because it’s very simple to use.

You install the app on your PC or Android phone (it also works on your iPhone) and select what’s distracting you.

For example, I always block websites like YouTube, Reddit, and social media while working.

Here’s what I think makes Freedom the best tool for increasing productivity and reducing distractions:

• Custom Blocklists: You can block apps on Android devices and create custom blocklists.
• Sync Across Devices: Freedom syncs across all your devices, ensuring that your preferences and settings are consistent no matter where you work or browse.
• Scheduling Blocking Sessions: The app allows you to schedule blocking sessions in advance, helping you plan focused work periods ahead of time.
• Focus Sounds: Freedom offers an optional feature that includes ambient sounds designed to enhance concentration during work or study sessions. This is one of my favorite features!
• Reports and Insights: Users can access detailed reports and insights on their digital habits, including time spent on different websites and apps, offering valuable data for productivity improvement.
• Locked Mode: The app provides a “Locked Mode” option where users cannot change or edit the blocking sessions once they’re in progress, eliminating the temptation to override their own restrictions

Pros and Cons

Pricing

Freedom app offers different pricing options to suit your needs:

• monthly subscription: $8.99
• yearly subscription: $3.33 per month
• Forever plan: $99.50 one-time payment

If you’re a productivity enthusiast like me and know why focus is so important, you should definitely consider the Forever plan; you pay once, and you will reclaim your Freedom forever!

Famisafe

Available both on iOS and Android devices, Famisafe offers key features like location tracking, app blocking, web filtering, and screen time management.

It’s a comprehensive solution for parents monitoring and managing their kids’ online activities.

It also provides features like TikTok and YouTube history check, game/porn blocking, and detection of suspicious photos and texts from social media.

Key Benefits

1. App Monitoring: Monitors app usage and provides insights into the user’s digital habits.
2. Screen Time Management: Allows setting screen time limits to promote healthy device usage.
3. Location Tracking: Enables real-time location monitoring as well as access to location history.
4. Parental Control Options: Provides parents with tools to configure privacy settings, control content access, and monitor their child’s device activity.

Pros and Cons

Pricing

Famisafe offers a 3-day trial and flexible pricing plans to meet various needs. 

• Monthly plan:  $9.99
• Quarterly plan $19.99
• Annual plan $59.99 

Considering that Famisafe is an app you can install on various devices and track their location, block harmful apps, and ensure a safe digital environment, the price is more than justified, especially if you choose the annual plan.

Rescuetime

I know, Rescuetime is not just a distraction blocker, but a versatile control app to help you regain your time control and focus.

I consider it also one of the best anti-procrastination apps, because it offers interesting features.

For instance, when you activate the Focus session, one of the various options, you can basically block everything and prevent any distractions.

It also automatically tracks the time spent on various activities to help you make better decisions about how to use your time.

I consider Rescuetime a valuable app, but I still prefer Freedom.

Key Benefits

• Customizable screen time goals to help manage your daily digital habits.
• Real-time notifications to keep you updated on your progress and alert you when spending too much time on certain apps.
• Automatic blocking of interrupting apps using the Do-Not-Disturb Mode, allowing for uninterrupted focus.
• Detailed reports and insights to track your productivity trends and identify areas for improvement.

Pros and Cons

RescueTime is a personal assistant that nudges you towards more productive days.

It can be a game-changer, especially when swimming in a sea of apps begging for your attention. 

Pricing

Rescuetime has two types of subscriptions:

• monthly: $12 per month

• yearly: $78

So, if you choose the annual subscription, it’s as if you had six months free.

It is definitely an excellent saving, the perfect solution to say goodbye to distractions once and for all.

AppBlock

AppBlock is another powerful app blocker that allows you to block specific apps, websites, and even set up time limits for their usage.

It’s a great tool to help you stay focused and improve your productivity, with features such as quick blocking, blocking schedules, strict mode, usage statistics, and parental control.

Key Benefits

AppBlock helps me manage my smartphone usage, allowing me to stay focused on what really matters. Here are the key features of AppBlock:

• Intuitive dashboard
• Strict Mode: Once activated, you can’t change the AppBlock settings for a predetermined amount of time, making it more likely for new habits to be picked up and defeat procrastination
• Do-Not-Disturb Timer: You can set specific times when certain apps or websites are blocked, helping you manage interruptions and distractions
• Screen Time Tracking: With AppBlock, you gain insight into how much time you spend on your smartphone, enabling you to make informed decisions about managing your digital habits.
• Customization Options: AppBlock allows for customization based on location or Wi-Fi connection, giving me greater flexibility in managing when and where certain apps can be accessed.

Pros and Cons

Pricing

AppBlock  offers a free version with basic features such as app usage tracking and screen time management.

The premium version, which costs around $2 to $30 per item, provides additional functionalities like setting schedules for blocking specific apps or websites and advanced customization options to cater to individual needs.

YourHour – ScreenTime Control

YourHour is a user-friendly app that helps in managing and controlling screen time, allowing you to set limits on app usage.

It provides detailed insights into your phone usage patterns, helping you understand your digital habits better.

With features like app blocker and personalized challenges, it supports you in reducing mobile phone dependency and staying focused.

Additionally, YourHour offers a “Clock Out” feature that gently reminds users to take a break from their screens after prolonged use.

This encourages healthier screen time habits and promotes better overall well-being.

The customizable settings ensure that the app can be tailored to fit individual needs and preferences, making it an effective tool for reclaiming control over your digital life while fostering productivity.

Stay Focused

Stay Focused is a free Android app blocker that helps restrict specific apps and websites.

It also tracks app usage and sets limits on overall phone usage. With the strict mode feature, it aids in improving self-control over phone usage.

This app assists in managing screen time more effectively to increase productivity and reduce distractions.

The Stay Focused app offers a straightforward way to regain focus and manage screen time on Android devices.

Users can gain better control over their digital habits by setting restrictions on specific apps and tracking overall phone usage.

The strict mode enhances self-discipline, making staying focused during work or study sessions easier while curbing distractions from unnecessary app usage.

StayFree – Screen Time

With StayFree, you can track the time spent on different apps, set usage limits, and receive notifications when you exceed them.

This app also provides detailed reports and insights into your digital habits, empowering you to make informed decisions about your device use.

Using StayFree, users can cultivate healthier relationships with their devices while promoting better habits and mindfulness.

StayFree helps in controlling social media usage by setting specific limits for these apps. It’s like having a personal assistant keeping watch over your phone use so that you can regain control of your time and attention.

The ability to see where all the minutes go – from work emails to scrolling through social media – gives valuable insight regarding which activities consume too much of our lives.

With its user-friendly interface and customizable features for each app on the device, StayFree enables users to tailor their screen time management according to their individual needs effectively.

Accountable2You

Accountable2You is an accountability software designed to monitor device activity and provide detailed reports to accountability partners.

 It is intended to help individuals stay accountable for their online actions, particularly in the context of promoting purity and guarding against digital temptations ( especially porn and adult content)

With this app, you can set up custom alerts for specific activities or receive notifications when someone tries to access inappropriate content.

Accountable2You also offers a location tracking feature, enabling you to keep tabs on device usage even when offline.

It offers features such as the ability to set up accountability partners, report uninstall and circumvention attempts, and provide alerts for objectionable content.

The service is available for a monthly subscription starting at $7, with a 10-day free trial.

The software is designed to be non-intrusive, as it does not block websites or prevent users from their regular activities.

It is also committed to avoiding the transmission of potentially tempting content in the reports and alerts sent to accountability partners.

Do app blockers really work?

Yes, they do to work.

And the reason is very simple. You are avoiding the most common reasons you get distracted and waste time.

I know you think, “If I look at Instagram for ten minutes, nothing happens,” but you know better than me that it doesn’t work like that.

You lose focus, and you will be tempted to do it over and over again. After that, this will become a habit, and you can even waste hours of your day.

Not to mention that all this promotes procrastination and makes you lazier.

An app blocker is the solution because you can’t fall into this trap. Once you block these apps, you can’t access them.

It’s like when you’re on a diet and don’t buy chips and chocolate. If you don’t have them in your house, you can’t eat them!

The same goes with app blocker; that’s why they’re so powerful and are the solution to regain your productivity!

Why You Should Consider Using an App Blocker

We’ve all been there—phone buzzes, and you’re down the rabbit hole of social media when you should be working. 

The average person checks their phone 352 times a day; that’s tons of chances to get pulled away from what we need to do!

Apps that block Social Media help you stop wasting your time.

And an Android app blocker cuts that noise out.

You tap on your device, and suddenly, those tempting icons can’t distract you anymore.

It’s like putting blinders on a horse; all they see is the road ahead.

App blockers are brilliant for dialing down distractions and increasing your attention span, which is always lower and lower.

Imagine this: You set your phone to block apps during work hours, and guess what?

Your mind gets quieter, your focus sharpens, and stuff gets done—no more falling into TikTok holes or responding to every ding or buzz.

Just smooth sailing towards being super productive while reclaiming precious time for yourself.

Increase productivity and focus

Let’s talk about getting more done and staying sharp.

Imagine this: you’ve got big goals, but those pesky apps on your phone keep pulling your attention away.

Enter app blockers – these nifty tools cut down on the noise so you can zero in on what really matters.

I’m talking about knocking out that to-do list at lightning speed because you’re not constantly interrupted by notifications or tempted to scroll through social media.

Seriously, imagine a super-focused version of yourself; that could be you with an app blocker by your side!

By limiting distractions, we give our brains permission to dive deep into tasks – and that’s when the magic happens.

Tasks get completed faster, quality skyrockets, and hello satisfaction!

Plus, it just feels great to reclaim control over digital habits; no more being a puppet to every ping and buzz.

And there’s science behind it too – minimizing interruptions can seriously boost productivity levels.

It’s like giving yourself a promotion in time management without even asking for it!

Manage screen time

Using an Android app blocker can be a real game-changer for managing your screen time.

It lets you set limits on that oh-so-addictive screen time and encourages you to pick up other hobbies or get back to work.

Honestly, we don’t realize how often our phones hijack our attention until those notifications start getting muted—on purpose!

I’ve customized my own digital experience by setting specific hours when my social media apps just snooze.

It feels like taking control of my day without letting pixels dictate what I do next.

And let’s face it, there are moments when flipping through another album of cat memes isn’t exactly the productivity highlight.

Conclusion

By limiting our phone usage, we can reduce one of the biggest time wasters in our day, directly impacting our productivity and focus.

Sometimes, goodwill is not enough: we need external help to help us fight this sort of addiction.

And that’s why, if you find yourself in this situation, apps like Freedom or Appblock can really help you reclaim time wasted on apps like Social Media or shopping websites.

It’s time to say goodbye to bad habits and set out on the road to achieving your goals; the best Android app blockers will help you in this journey!