SelfControl

★ 4.3

Free, open-source Mac blocker with an unbypassable timer — no account, no data, no fluff

Last verified: April 2026

Install SelfControl →
Type
app
Pricing
free
Platforms
mac
Targets
all

Strengths

  • ✓ Completely free and open source — no upgrade prompts, no premium tier
  • ✓ Timer is truly unbypassable — restarting, uninstalling, or deleting the app does not end the block
  • ✓ Operates at the system network level — works across every browser, every app
  • ✓ Zero data collection, no account required
  • ✓ Has worked the same way for over fifteen years

Weaknesses

  • ✕ Mac only — no Windows, no iOS, no Android
  • ✕ No scheduling — must manually start each block session
  • ✕ No allowance / time-limit features — block is binary
  • ✕ UI looks like macOS 2009 because it largely is from then
  • ✕ No keyword filtering — site-level only

Best for

Mac users who want a free, completely unbypassable site blocker with zero subscription and zero telemetry

#distraction-blocker#mac#free#open-source#unbypassable#hard-blocker

SelfControl is a free, open-source Mac-only site blocker whose timer cannot be cancelled — not by quitting the app, deleting it, or restarting the computer. As of May 2026 it remains the simplest and strictest free option for Mac users who want a binary "block these sites until the timer ends" tool with zero account and zero telemetry.

At a glance

FieldValue
PricingFree, open source
PlatformsMac only
Sync across devicesNo
UnbypassableYes — true network-level block
Last verifiedMay 1, 2026

What SelfControl does well

  • Free, forever. No subscription, no premium tier, no upsell.
  • Truly unbypassable. Once started, the block runs until the timer expires. Uninstalling SelfControl, restarting your Mac, or even reinstalling macOS while a block is active will not end it.
  • Cross-browser by default. Because the block lives at the network layer (/etc/hosts + packet filtering), Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Arc, and every other browser are all blocked at once.
  • No account, no data. Nothing to sign up for. Nothing leaves your machine.

What SelfControl doesn’t do

  • Schedules. Every block is manual. You start it; you set the timer; you walk away.
  • Allowances. No “30 minutes of Reddit per day” — it’s blocked or it’s not.
  • Mobile. Mac only. If your problem is your phone, this isn’t it.
  • Modern UI. SelfControl looks like Mac OS X 10.6. This is a feature: every minute spent on UI polish is a minute not spent breaking a working blocker.

Best for

Mac users who want the simplest possible “block X for Y minutes, no escape” tool, free, with no telemetry and no account. If that’s a complete description of your need, you’re done.

Setup in 60 seconds

  1. Download SelfControl from selfcontrolapp.com.
  2. Drag into Applications. Open it.
  3. Click Edit Blocklist, add sites (reddit.com, news.ycombinator.com, whatever).
  4. Drag the slider to your block duration (max 24 hours).
  5. Click Start. Authenticate. Walk away — you cannot end this block early.

Alternatives

  • Cold Turkey — one-time $39, adds schedules and allowances. Same desktop-only limitation.
  • Freedom — paid, but syncs across all your devices.
  • LeechBlock — free Firefox-only equivalent with schedules.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions — click any to expand.

No. That's the entire point. Deleting the app, restarting your Mac, changing your system clock, or reinstalling macOS will not end an active block. Only the timer expiring will.

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