Which browsers are supported by Focus Firewall?

Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox, Arc and Brave. Please let us know if you need support for a different browser and we'll add it in a heartbeat.

Does Focus Firewall need browser extensions?

No, Focus Firewall does not need any browser extensions. It works at the system level, blocking websites and apps regardless of the browser you use.

What happens when I visit a blocked website while Focus Firewall is active?

It looks like the internet is down just for that website.

What happens when I open a blocked app while Focus Firewall is active?

The app opens normally, but it will be blocked from accessing the internet, just like websites. Some apps may show an error message, while others just show a blank screen or a loading spinner. There are also apps that show no indication that they are offline (for example WhatsApp) since they still show your previous messages and you can still write new ones. However, messages will not be sent and you won't receive incoming messages.

Is there a way to bypass the block?

Yes, and that's by design. You can take a break by hitting the Pause button and picking a duration (1 minute, 15 minutes, etc). From the menu bar, you can temporarily turn off blocking for a category (for example, turn off Social Media) or turn off blocking entirely. You can also open the app and toggle blocking off just for the specific website or app you want, while the rest of the category stays blocked.

How to tell if the app is running?

You should see the app icon in the menu bar while it's running. When blocking is active, the app icon will have a small shield next to it.

How do I block a website?

To block a website, open Focus Firewall from the menu bar and click on a category that fits your website (for example News). Click on the + button on the bottom left of the list and enter a friendly name (for example The New York Times) and the domain (for example nytimes.com). After saving, the website will be added to the list of blocked websites, and you will not be able to access it while blocking is active and that category is blocked. Note: make sure to remove the https:// and anything after the domain. For example, if you want to block https://www.nytimes.com/section/business, you should add nytimes.com or www.nytimes.com.

Can I use Focus Firewall on my iPhone or iPad?

No. Focus Firewall is currently only available for macOS. We are considering making it available for iPhone and iPad. If you are interested, please let us know!

Is there a trial version?

We offer a 7-day free trial so you can try it out and see if it fits your needs.

How does Focus Firewall handle my privacy?

Our business is about selling great software, not selling your data. We do not collect any personal information about you, your browsing habits, or the websites you visit. We do not track you, we do not profile you and we do not share nor sell your data to third parties. When the app blocks a distracting website for you, all of your browsing data is processed locally on your device, and we do not have access to it. We kindly ask you to send us anonymous usage analytics to help us improve the app, and that is completely optional. You can say no during the installation process, or disable it later in the app settings at any time. This data is only used to improve the app. For example, we'd like to understand if folks are using the new feature we just shipped, how many hours in average do people save every day with our app, how many hours in total did all of our users save, etc. This data is completely anonymous, we have no idea who you are.

The 8 Best Apps to Help You Focus and Block Distractions on Your Mac in 2025

In today’s hyper-connected world, maintaining focus is harder than ever. Constant pings, endless social feeds, and enticing videos can chip away at our productivity. Many people are seeking tools to protect their attention span – essentially going on a digital diet to limit empty calories of mindless browsing. The benefits are clear: by blocking distractions, you free up mental space for deep work, form better browsing habits, and manage your screen time more intentionally.

Here’s a quick overview of the best focus apps for Mac in 2025:

Focus Firewall for minimalists who want a pre-configured, automated solution
Opal for community-driven users who want focus tracking and gamification
Jomo for mindful users who want screen time journaling and blocking
Flow for structured workers who want Pomodoro and web blocking
Focus for timer-lovers who want blocking with Pomodoro
Raycast Focus for Raycast users who want a flexible, goal-based focus tool
Freedom for cross-platform users who need syncing across devices
Cold Turkey for procrastinators who need strict enforcement

Before diving into the details, it’s important to understand the different types of focus tools available:

Native Mac Apps: These are full applications that run on your Mac and can block both websites and applications system-wide. They offer the most comprehensive blocking capabilities.
Browser Extensions: These only work within your web browser and can’t block other applications. They’re lighter but more limited in scope.

This guide focuses primarily on modern, actively maintained Mac apps that provide system-wide blocking. We’ll also mention some notable browser extensions and open-source alternatives for those with different needs.

Best apps in a nutshell

App	Best for	Key feature	Pricing
Focus Firewall ↗	Minimalists	Pre-configured & automated	$1.99/month, $17.99/year or $24.99/lifetime
Opal ↗	Community users	Tracking & gamification	Limited free tier, $19.99/month or $99.99/year
Jomo ↗	Mindful users	Journaling & blocking	Limited free tier, $6.99/month or $29.99/year
Flow ↗	Structured workers	Timer + web blocking	Limited free tier, $2.99/month or $17.88/year
Focus ↗	Timer-lovers	Blocking + Pomodoro	$49 one-time or $99 lifetime (future versions)
Raycast Focus ↗	Flexible focus	Goal-based sessions & snooze feature	Free
Freedom ↗	Cross-platform users	Syncs across all devices	$8.99/month, $39.99/year or $99.50/lifetime
Cold Turkey ↗	Procrastinators	Strict enforcement	Limited free tier, $39/lifetime

In-depth review for best apps

Focus Firewall

Focus Firewall Screenshot

Focus Firewall is a lightweight web and app blocker built exclusively for macOS. It works at the system level, meaning it doesn’t need any browser extensions and works with all major browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Arc, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi, and Orion). When activated, it intercepts and blocks distracting websites and apps across your entire Mac, making them appear as if the internet is down.

The app comes with a curated blocklist of 140+ distracting websites and apps pre-configured, so you can get started in less than a minute. It’s designed to be lightweight (16MB package, less than 100MB RAM usage) with zero impact on battery life.

What sets Focus Firewall apart is its mindful approach to blocking. Instead of strict enforcement, it encourages intentional browsing through its pause feature and category-based blocking. You can take guilt-free breaks when needed, and the app helps you build better habits gradually. It’s perfect for those who want to start small (e.g., 2 hours of focused work) and build up from there.

Who it's for: Minimalists who want to make focus a habit
Pricing: $1.99/month, $17.99/year or $24.99/lifetime

Opal

Opal App Screenshot

Opal is a gamified focus app available for both Mac and iOS. It turns focus into a game - you earn points for staying focused and can compete with others in the community. The app helps you block distracting websites and apps through different focus modes, from normal to deep focus.

What sets Opal apart is its large community of users and cross-platform approach - your focus settings and progress sync between your Mac and iPhone. The pro features are available on both platforms without additional cost.

Who it's for: Anyone who enjoys gamification and wants a focus solution across devices
Pricing: Limited free tier, $19.99/month or $99.99/year

Jomo

Jomo App Screenshot

Jomo is a mindful screen time app available for both Mac and iOS. It helps you build better digital habits through screen time journaling and blocking rules. The app guides you in setting up screen time rules that work for you, with features like exercise-to-unlock and dynamic limits that adjust based on your physical activity.

What sets Jomo apart is its focus on mindful screen time - it encourages you to reflect on your digital habits through daily journaling and provides personalized tips to help you stay motivated. You can also join “squads” to reduce screen time with family, friends, or coworkers.

Who it's for: Anyone looking to build mindful digital habits
Pricing: Limited free tier, $6.99/month or $29.99/year

Flow

Flow App Screenshot

Flow is a stylish focus timer that helps you manage your time effectively. It’s designed to be simple, beautiful, and intuitive, making it easy to structure your work sessions. The app helps you alternate between focused work and breaks, boosting productivity and reducing mental fatigue.

What sets Flow apart is its clean interface and seamless integration with Apple’s ecosystem. It works across iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch, and even logs your focus sessions to iCal. The basic timer features are completely free with no ads or sign-up required. The premium version adds web blocking capabilities.

Who it's for: Anyone looking for a simple timer with web blocking
Pricing: Limited free tier, $2.99/month or $17.88/year

Focus

Focus Screenshot

Focus (formerly HeyFocus) is a veteran in the space, offering robust blocking capabilities and advanced features like custom scripts. It lives in your Mac menu bar and provides granular control over your focus sessions.

Who it's for: Timer-lovers who want blocking with Pomodoro
Pricing: $49 one-time or $99 lifetime (future versions)

Raycast Focus

Raycast Focus Screenshot

Raycast Focus is a feature within Raycast that helps you stay in flow by blocking distracting apps and websites. It allows you to start a Focus Session by choosing your duration and which distractions to block, making it goal-based and adaptable to your needs.

What sets Raycast Focus apart is its ability to snooze or pause blocking for specific apps or websites during a session, providing you with control and flexibility. It works on Safari, Chrome and Firefox and a few other browsers without requiring extensions, and your browser tabs are restored after the session ends.

Who it's for: Users who want a flexible, goal-based focus tool
Pricing: Free

Freedom

Freedom App Screenshot

Block distractions across all your devices.

Freedom is one of the most popular cross-platform focus apps. It supports Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and browser extensions. You can sync distraction blocking across devices and block websites, apps, or even the entire internet. If you care about privacy on your browsing history, make sure to turn off the Insight feature.

Who it's for: People who want to block distractions on all their devices.
Pricing: $8.99/month, $39.99/year or $99.50/lifetime

Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey Screenshot

Cold Turkey Blocker is known for strict enforcement. It blocks websites and apps, supports schedules, and can’t be turned off during a session. It also includes usage stats, password-protection options and it’s open-source.

Who it's for: Procrastinators who need strong enforcement.
Pricing: Limited free tier, $39/lifetime

Honorable Mentions:

LeechBlock NG: A free, highly customizable browser extension for Chrome and Firefox.
PawBlock: A free Chrome/Firefox extension with a focus on gamification and habit building. Supports Chrome and Firefox.
SelfControl: An open-source website blocker app for Mac, with a dated UI. No app blocking or scheduling.
FocusMe: Cross-platform blocker that focuses on customization and preventing workarounds. UI is a little bit dated, but it’s available across many platforms.
One Sec: A freemium Safari/Chrome browser extension that adds a pause before opening distracting apps or websites.
Quiet: A paid-only Safari browser extension that can also block distractions system-wide on Mac.
1Focus: A simple blocker app for Mac that works on most browsers except Firefox, requires some manual configuration to get started.

Why We Built Focus Firewall - Note from the developer

Hello! We’re the developers of Focus Firewall.

We built this app because we personally struggled with online distractions and felt existing tools didn’t quite fit our needs. Before Screen Time and fancy apps, we used to edit the /etc/hosts file on our Macs to block distracting sites – a classic productivity hack. Over time, that manual habit became the inspiration for Focus Firewall.

Many apps were too complex or too rigid. So we created something simpler, faster, and more native. Focus Firewall is lightweight, private, and fully offline. It runs natively on macOS and quietly blocks the worst parts of the internet during your work sessions. We even made it auto-start on workdays so you can “set and forget.”

We hope Focus Firewall helps you reclaim your time and build better digital habits – just like it did for us.

The Verdict

We wrote this post because we believe that not every tool works for everyone. Different people have different needs, workflows, and preferences. Some might prefer a simple timer, others might need strict blocking, and some might want community features. That’s why we think it’s important for all focus apps to thrive together – each serving different needs and helping people in their own way.

Whether you need a tough enforcer or a gentle reminder, there’s an app on this list that fits your style. In 2025, taking control of your attention is one of the best gifts you can give yourself – and with the help of these apps, blocking distractions on Mac becomes a whole lot easier.