How to Block Websites on Mac: Every Method Compared

If you’re trying to block websites on your Mac, you have more options than you probably realize. Finding a method is easy. Finding one that actually holds up when your 2pm brain decides it needs to check Reddit is the hard part.

According to a 2023 Economist Impact study, the average knowledge worker loses over 2 hours per day to digital distractions. And research from UC Irvine’s Gloria Mark found it takes an average of 23 minutes to refocus after a single interruption. Willpower alone doesn’t fix that. Better systems do.

Here’s every method available on macOS, with honest pros and cons for each.

Method 1: macOS Screen Time

Apple’s built-in Screen Time lets you set daily time limits on websites and apps. It’s free, it’s already on your Mac, and it takes about two minutes to set up.

The catch: when your time limit hits, you see a prompt with a big, inviting button that says “Ignore Limit.” One click and the block is gone. You can also set a Screen Time passcode, but since you’re the one who set it, you also know it.

Pros:

• Free and built into macOS
• No installation required
• Works across Safari and apps

Cons:

• “Ignore Limit” button makes it trivially easy to bypass
• Doesn’t block third-party browsers effectively
• A University of Michigan study found only 36% of participants kept traditional timed lockouts active for a full day

Best for: Parents managing children’s screen time, or people who just need a gentle reminder.

Method 2: Browser Extensions

Extensions like StayFocusd, LeechBlock, and BlockSite are the most popular first attempt. Install one in Chrome or Firefox, add your distracting sites, and set your schedule.

The fundamental problem: browser extensions only work inside that one browser. Block Twitter in Chrome? Open Safari. Use incognito mode. Right-click the extension and remove it. The block exists only as long as you cooperate with it.

Pros:

• Free (most have free tiers)
• Easy to set up
• Granular URL-level blocking

Cons:

• Only blocks one browser
• Bypassed by incognito mode, other browsers, or uninstalling
• No enforcement - purely honor-system

Best for: People who need a light nudge, not a real barrier.

Method 3: Editing the Hosts File

The /etc/hosts file on macOS maps domain names to IP addresses. By pointing distracting domains to 127.0.0.1 (your own machine), you can block them across every browser and app on your system.

Open Terminal, run sudo nano /etc/hosts, and add lines like:

127.0.0.1    twitter.com
127.0.0.1    www.twitter.com
127.0.0.1    reddit.com
127.0.0.1    www.reddit.com

Save, flush your DNS cache with sudo dscacheutil -flushcache, and the sites are blocked system-wide.

Pros:

• Free
• Works across all browsers and apps
• No software to install

Cons:

• Requires Terminal knowledge
• Easy to reverse (just edit the file again)
• No scheduling - it’s always on or always off
• Must manually add every subdomain variation

Best for: Technical users who want a quick, free, system-wide block and trust themselves not to undo it.

Method 4: DNS-Based Blocking

Services like NextDNS and Pi-hole intercept domain lookups at the network level. When your Mac tries to resolve twitter.com, the DNS blocker returns nothing - effectively making the site disappear.

This works across all browsers and apps, similar to the hosts file but with a management interface and the ability to block entire categories of sites.

Pros:

• Works across all devices on your network (Pi-hole)
• Category-based blocking available
• Management dashboards and logs

Cons:

• Bypassed by changing DNS settings to 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1
• Any VPN connection routes around it
• Requires technical setup (especially Pi-hole)
• No per-user scheduling on shared networks

Best for: Network-wide blocking for households or offices, especially for filtering content rather than productivity.

Method 5: Third-Party Blocker Apps

Dedicated blocking apps go beyond browser extensions by operating at the application or system level. Here are the main options for Mac:

• Cold Turkey ($39 one-time) - The strictest option. Its “Frozen Turkey” mode locks your entire computer to a whitelist of allowed sites. No override, no uninstall during a block. Rigid but effective.
• Freedom ($8.99/mo) - Cross-platform blocking across Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome. Session scheduling and “Locked Mode” to prevent early unlocking. Subscription-based.
• SelfControl (free) - Open-source Mac app that blocks domains for a set duration. Can’t be overridden even by deleting the app or restarting. No scheduling, no cross-platform.
• Focus - Mac-only blocker with Pomodoro timer integration. Good for structured work sessions.
• one sec - Interruption-based approach. Instead of blocking, it adds a breathing exercise before opening distracting apps. Primarily for iPhone.
• Opal - Phone-focused blocker with session scheduling and screen time tracking. Limited Mac support.

Each of these tools has trade-offs. Some are too rigid (Cold Turkey), some are too easy to disable (Freedom without Locked Mode), and most don’t address the core problem: blockers fail when bypassing them has no consequence.

Method 6: System-Level Blocking with Financial Accountability

This is the approach FocusJar takes, and it’s fundamentally different from every other method on this list.

Like Cold Turkey and SelfControl, FocusJar blocks at the system level - every browser, every app, surviving restarts and force-quits. But instead of a rigid lockout with no escape, FocusJar gives you an exit: you can always unblock, but it costs money.

You set the fee yourself - $5, $25, $100 - when you start a focus session. This leverages loss aversion, the cognitive bias where losing money hurts about twice as much as gaining the same amount feels good. The result: most people see the fee, close the tab, and get back to work.

The free tier lets you block with a $1 unlock fee. No subscription required.

Pros:

• Free to start
• System-level blocking across all browsers and apps
• Financial accountability creates real consequences
• Flexible - you can always get through in an emergency
• Survives restarts, force-quits, and user-switching

Cons:

• macOS only (currently)
• Requires comfort with financial stakes model

Comparison Table

The Bottom Line

The right method depends on what you need:

• Just need a reminder? Screen Time or a browser extension will do.
• Want a free, strict block? SelfControl is hard to beat.
• Need cross-platform coverage? Freedom works across devices.
• Want total lockdown? Cold Turkey’s Frozen Turkey mode.
• Want enforcement that actually changes behavior? FocusJar’s financial accountability model means you’re not just blocked - you’re invested in staying focused.

If you’ve tried the gentle approaches and they haven’t worked, the problem isn’t your discipline. It’s that your tools had no consequences. That’s why most blockers fail - and why the ones that work all share one trait: they make distraction genuinely costly.