In addition, because I'm thinking about productivity at work, I only considered apps that work on computers-there are no mobile-only tools here. I think that the best distraction blocking apps should do the following:īlock a list of websites and/or apps (determined by you)Īllow you to set a schedule and/or a timerīe annoying (at the very least) to disable I researched this category extensively and considered dozens of options, then evaluated them against my criteria.

No, these tools are for you, and they hopefully help you build better habits. Which is probably why I've tested just about every distraction blocker that's come out in that time, and relied on them to get things done for over a decade.ĭon't confuse website blocker apps with parental control software-that's not what they're for. I've written about productivity, in some form, since 2009, and have been very public about my personal productivity struggles over the years. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog. We're never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site-we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. We spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it's intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. PawBlock for distraction blocking with cute animal picturesĪll of our best apps roundups are written by humans who've spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. One sec for adding a little friction to every distraction Session for a combination Pomodoro timer and distraction blocker RescueTime for time tracking with built-in website blocking LeechBlock NG for free browser-based website blocking The 8 best focus appsįreedom for blocking distractions on all your devices at onceĬold Turkey Blocker for scheduled system-wide blocking I've been updating this list every year for several years, and this year, after testing all the top focus apps out there, I found some new options. Instead, you'll see a reminder that you set up software to block apps, and you'll be encouraged to get back to work. Turn these focus apps on, and you can't open anything distracting-it won't work. This is where distraction blocking software shines. Which is why there's no shame in using tools to help you build discipline. The greatest minds of our generation are working around the clock to 'increase engagement,' which is a tech term that means 'getting you to spend every waking moment scrolling and liking things.' Trying to fight this with willpower alone is like bringing a water gun to a thermonuclear war. The internet is, at this point, a dopamine slot machine. You could say this is a matter of discipline, and it is, but the odds aren't in your favor.

Yes, the internet is a place where work happens, but distractions are always a click away.

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