Best Website Blockers 2026: Extensions to Stop Social Media Scrolling

You told yourself you'd just check Twitter for two minutes. That was 45 minutes ago. The project deadline hasn't moved. Your brain is fried from context-switching. And you're somehow still scrolling.

The average person spends over 2 hours daily on social media. That's 14 hours weekly. 730 hours annually. An entire month of your life each year watching other people's curated highlight reels while your actual work sits unfinished.

Browser extensions that block social media exist because willpower fails. Not sometimes. Consistently. You can recognize that Instagram is destroying your focus while simultaneously opening it for the eighth time today. Your lizard brain wants the dopamine hit. The extension enforces the boundary your prefrontal cortex can't maintain alone.

I tested 12 major blocking extensions over six weeks. Used each one for multiple workdays. Tried to bypass them when procrastination hit. Tracked actual time saved. What follows isn't every extension that exists. It's the ones that actually work, ranked by how hard they are to circumvent when you're desperate to avoid work.

Because here's the truth nobody says clearly enough: the best blocker is the one that still works when your willpower doesn't.

The Extensions That Actually Stop You

#1: Freedom: The Cross-Device Sledgehammer

Freedom claims to give you back around 2.5 hours of time daily by stopping you from accessing distracting apps and sites. Millions of people use it. The reputation is earned.

When you start a Freedom session, blocked sites show a calming green screen. No countdown. No "unblock for 5 minutes" button. Just a wall. The site doesn't load. You can't bargain with it.

The power comes from syncing across all your devices simultaneously. Start a session on your laptop and your phone gets blocked too. You can't just switch devices to escape. This cross-platform coverage is rare and genuinely effective.

You can schedule sessions in advance. Block social media daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Set it once, it runs automatically. No daily decision-making required. Your future procrastinating self can't undo what your motivated morning self scheduled.

The "Locked Mode" feature is brutal in the best way. Enable it and you physically cannot unblock sites until the timer runs out. Even restarting your computer won't help. You've committed to focus and the extension enforces it mercilessly.

What it costs: Free trial available. Paid plans start around $3.99 monthly.

Where it works: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera. Plus iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux.

Who it's for: People who will absolutely try to bypass their blocker and need something that fights back. The cross-device syncing alone justifies the price for anyone working across laptop and phone.

Who should skip it: People who only need blocking on one device. The free options below handle single-device blocking fine.

#2: StayFocusd: The Time Warden

StayFocusd doesn't block sites completely. It gives you a daily time allowance. You get 10 minutes of Twitter. 15 minutes of YouTube. Once you've used your allotment, those sites lock for the rest of the day.

The psychological shift is subtle but powerful. Knowing you have limited time makes you more intentional about using it. You're not mindlessly checking social media every 10 minutes because you're aware the clock is running.

The "Nuclear Option" is StayFocusd's secret weapon. Enable it and all blocked sites lock immediately for hours. No exceptions. No mercy. Use this when a deadline is looming and you need to eliminate all escape routes.

Configuration is granular. Block entire domains. Block specific URLs. Block just the homepage but allow subpages. Even block specific content types like videos or images. If YouTube recommendations destroy your focus but you need the videos for work, block just the homepage and sidebar.

What it costs: Completely free.

Where it works: Chrome only.

Who it's for: People who want flexibility with limits. The time allowance approach works well for jobs where you legitimately need occasional access to social media but don't want unlimited time-wasting capability.

Who should skip it: Anyone using Firefox, Edge, or other browsers. Chrome-only support is the major limitation.

#3: LeechBlock NG: The Open-Source Power Tool

LeechBlock NG is the most customizable blocker available. It's also the most complex to configure. That complexity becomes power once you understand how it works.

You create "block sets" with different rules. Block Set 1: social media from 9 AM to 5 PM. Block Set 2: news sites all day. Block Set 3: entertainment sites except lunch hour. Each set operates independently with its own schedule and site list.

The flexibility handles edge cases other blockers miss. Need Reddit blocked except specific work-related subreddits? LeechBlock can do that. Want YouTube blocked but need access to one specific educational channel? Possible. The granularity goes deep.

Password protection prevents you from changing settings mid-session. Set a random password, save it somewhere inconvenient, and now circumventing your own blocker requires enough friction to break the procrastination impulse.

What it costs: Free and open-source.

Where it works: Chrome, Firefox, Edge.

Who it's for: Power users comfortable with configuration. People whose work requires nuanced access to sites that are also major distractions. The learning curve is steep but the control is unmatched.

Who should skip it: Anyone wanting simple one-click blocking. LeechBlock rewards investment in setup but punishes people who just want to install and go.

#4: BlockSite: The Redirection Specialist

BlockSite doesn't just block sites. It redirects you to a motivational quote or a custom page you define. This small difference matters more than it sounds like it should.

When you try to access Instagram and hit a wall, your brain registers "obstacle, find workaround." When you hit a custom message reminding you why you're blocking social media... sometimes that actually registers. Not always. But sometimes is better than never.

The Work Mode feature blocks all distractions with one click. No fiddling with lists or schedules. You need to focus right now. One click, everything locks. When the session ends, access returns automatically.

The analytics tracking shows which sites you try to visit most often and when. This data reveals patterns you might not consciously recognize. If you're hitting blocked sites most frequently at 3 PM, you know that's when willpower fails and you need extra structure.

What it costs: Free with limited features. Premium is around $2.99 monthly.

Where it works: Chrome, Firefox, Android.

Who it's for: People who respond to reminders better than brute force blocking. The redirect approach adds a psychological element other blockers miss.

Who should skip it: Anyone who finds motivational quotes annoying rather than helpful. If seeing "You're stronger than this" when you try to open Twitter makes you roll your eyes, this extension will irritate you.

#5: One Sec: The Intentionality Builder

One Sec doesn't block. It interrupts. When you try to open Instagram, it forces you to take a deep breath and count to five while looking at a calming animation. Then it asks if you still want to proceed.

This sounds weak. It's surprisingly effective. The five-second pause breaks the automatic habit loop. Mindless scrolling relies on zero friction between impulse and action. Adding even tiny friction makes the behavior conscious instead of automatic.

Studies with the Max Planck Institute and Heidelberg University show more than 50% screen time reduction on average. Governments in Germany and Denmark recommend it for digital wellbeing programs. The validation is real.

The extension works best for people whose problem is unconscious habitual opening of apps rather than deliberate procrastination. If you catch yourself opening Twitter without having consciously decided to, One Sec's intervention helps.

What it costs: Free with premium options.

Where it works: Chrome, plus iOS and Android apps.

Who it's for: People whose social media use is more habitual than intentional. If you find yourself scrolling without remembering how you got there, the interruption can reset that pattern.

Who should skip it: Determined procrastinators who will consciously click through the five-second delay. This works on habits, not on active resistance to work.

#6: Work Mode: The All-or-Nothing Approach

Work Mode blocks all social media and custom URLs with one click. When activated, the icon turns red. That's it. Everything on your block list becomes inaccessible.

The simplicity is the feature. No schedules. No time limits. No allowances. Work mode on means work. Work mode off means break. The binary nature removes decision fatigue.

Customization exists but stays minimal. Add sites to your blocklist through the options menu. That's the only configuration. The extension deliberately avoids feature creep that makes other blockers overwhelming.

What it costs: Free.

Where it works: Chrome.

Who it's for: People who want maximum simplicity. One button. Two states. No thinking required.

Who should skip it: Anyone needing scheduled blocking or time-based access. The manual toggle means you need to remember to activate it each session.

The Advanced Options for Specific Needs

#7: News Feed Eradicator: The Surgical Approach

Most blockers are sledgehammers. News Feed Eradicator is a scalpel. It doesn't block social media sites. It removes the addictive feeds while leaving the useful functionality intact.

Facebook becomes accessible for messaging and events but the infinite-scroll News Feed disappears. Twitter works for posting and checking notifications but the timeline vanishes. YouTube shows your subscriptions but hides recommendations and shorts.

This matters for people who need social media for legitimate work reasons but can't resist the feeds once they're logged in. You can respond to Facebook messages without getting sucked into doomscrolling.

The extension is free and open-source. Works on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Reddit, and more. Each site gets independently controllable so you can block some feeds while leaving others.

Who it's for: Freelancers, social media managers, community managers, anyone who uses social platforms professionally but struggles with personal usage.

Who should skip it: Anyone whose problem is opening social media sites at all, not just getting lost in feeds once there.

#8: HideFeed: The Visual Replacement Method

HideFeed blocks feeds by covering them with images. Choose a theme: puppies, ocean, mountains, whatever. When you visit a social site, everything but the header gets replaced with your selected imagery.

The psychological effect differs from complete blocking. Instead of hitting a wall, you see something pleasant. The site is technically accessible but practically useless. You can use utility features while the addictive parts remain hidden.

Configuration allows blocking specific site sections. Hide the trending sidebar on Twitter but leave your timeline. Block YouTube recommendations but allow the search function. The granularity helps tailor blocking to your specific weaknesses.

Who it's for: People who find complete blocking too extreme but need something stronger than willpower.

Who should skip it: Anyone who will just close the image overlay and scroll anyway. This requires some compliance from your side.

What Doesn't Work (And Why You Keep Trying)

Browser-based blocking only works if you only use one browser. Install Chrome blockers? You'll open Firefox when procrastination hits. The workaround is too easy.

App blockers that rely on willpower to activate are pointless. You need to remember to turn on blocking before your focus fails. That's the exact moment when you won't turn it on.

Extensions that let you easily disable blocking during sessions are theater. "Block for 25 minutes" sounds productive but when minute 7 hits and you want to check Twitter, you'll just disable the extension. No friction means no effectiveness.

Gentle reminder extensions that say "Are you sure you want to visit this site?" don't work for determined procrastinators. You'll click yes without reading. The cognitive load is too low to break the habit.

The Strategy That Actually Works

Pick one extension. Not three. Not five. One. Learn it completely. Configure it properly. Use it consistently for 30 days before deciding it doesn't work.

Block sites during your actual work hours, not 24/7. Total prohibition creates resentment and makes you more likely to abandon blocking entirely. 9 AM to 5 PM is enforceable. All day every day isn't.

Combine blocking with alternative activities. When you hit a blocked site, have something ready to replace the behavior. A two-minute stretch routine. A glass of water. Looking out the window. The habit loop needs a substitute reward, not just removal of the trigger.

Track your time saved. Use RescueTime or similar to measure actual productive hours before and after implementing blockers. Seeing "recovered 8 hours last week" reinforces the behavior.

Expect bypass attempts. You will try to circumvent your own blockers. That's normal. The goal isn't perfect compliance. It's reducing time-wasting by 50-70%, not eliminating it completely.

The Honest Truth About Browser Extensions

Browser extensions can't fix discipline problems. They can only enforce boundaries you've already decided you want.

If you don't actually want to stop using social media during work, no extension will help. You'll find ways around any tool. The extension is infrastructure for a commitment you make, not a replacement for that commitment.

They work best as friction, not walls. Complete blocking often backfires. Enforcement that makes procrastination annoying enough to quit is more sustainable than enforcement that makes it impossible.

Effectiveness degrades over time. The first week, your new blocker feels powerful. Month three, you've found workarounds or just stopped activating it. Periodic reconfiguration and renewed commitment matter more than which specific extension you choose.

The best blocker for you is whatever you'll actually use consistently. Freedom's cross-device power means nothing if you find the interface annoying and stop using it. StayFocusd's simplicity means nothing if you need blocking on Firefox.

Start Today

Install one extension right now. Not tomorrow. Right now. Freedom if you need cross-device blocking. StayFocusd if you want time limits. LeechBlock if you need control. BlockSite if redirects help. One Sec if interruption works better than blocking.

Configure your blocklist. Add the five sites that actually destroy your focus, not every site that could potentially distract you.

Set a schedule or activate work mode for the rest of today. Test it. Try to bypass it. See how it feels.

If it's too aggressive, scale back tomorrow. If it's too weak, tighten it. You're looking for sustainable friction, not perfectionism.

The 2 hours you spend on social media daily could become 10 hours of recovered time weekly. Over a year, that's 520 hours. Three weeks of waking hours. What could you build with three extra weeks annually?

That's what these extensions give you. Not by making you superhuman. By making procrastination slightly more annoying than actually working.

Install the extension. Configure it. Activate it. Now.