Blocker costs $39 (USD) once. It is a website and app blocker for Mac with no subscription or app account. If your distractions are on your Mac, it is a pay-once alternative to Freedom. If you need one session to cover your phone and computer, Freedom is the better fit.
I build Blocker. This comparison explains the tradeoffs; there are no affiliate links.
Freedom also has a lifetime option
On October 7, 2026, Freedom’s pricing page listed Premium at $8.99 a month, or $3.33 a month on its yearly plan. Forever was advertised at $99.50 on sale, against a $199 list price. So choosing Freedom does not have to mean a subscription.
Blocker’s current website price is $39, paid once. Launch tiers can change as places are taken; check the pricing section and checkout before buying. Both apps offer a 7-day trial. Blocker’s trial includes every feature and does not ask you to create an account.
Mac focus or focus across devices?
| What matters | Blocker | Freedom |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS 14 or newer | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Chromebook |
| Website and app blocking | All Mac browsers and native Mac apps | Websites and desktop apps; coverage varies by platform |
| Recurring sessions | Weekly schedules | Premium recurring sessions |
| Payment | $39 once | Subscription or Forever plan |
| One session on several devices | No | Yes |
Blocker keeps a single Mac blocklist across browsers, without browser extensions. Freedom’s main advantage is wider coverage. If you close a blocked site on your laptop and immediately open it on your phone, a Mac-only app will leave that habit untouched.
What happens when you want to quit early?
Blocker gives each block or schedule an Off, Strict, or Hardcore lock mode. Off allows a short wait before stopping; Strict adds a longer wait and a sentence to type. Hardcore removes the normal pause and stop controls until the timer ends, with one emergency pass a week. Read the Hardcore guide before using it.
Freedom Premium includes Locked Mode to prevent quitting during a session. Try each app with your usual browser and work tools rather than assuming the two locks behave identically.
Choose for the devices you actually use
Choose Blocker if you want to block websites and apps on a Mac, set a weekly routine, and pay once without managing another account. Choose Freedom if shared sessions across your phone and computers matter more than keeping the setup local to one Mac.
If you also need Windows desktop blocking with a one-time licence, compare Cold Turkey. Blocker’s Windows version is still a waitlist.
Recreate your Freedom routine on Mac
There is no automatic Freedom import. Start with one list and one short session so you can compare the result before replacing your routine.
- Note the distracting domains, installed Mac apps and hours in the Freedom routine you want to reproduce.
- Install Blocker and create a blocklist. Add the domains individually and select the apps installed on this Mac.
- Plan the Mac part only: Blocker does not recreate Freedom’s shared sessions on your phone and other computers.
- Test a short Off-mode session. Avoid overlapping blocks from both apps while checking which one produces the restriction.
- Recreate the weekly days and start/end times, then choose a lock mode based on its actual rules.
Need a starting list? Choose a focus setup and adapt it. Keep Freedom if its features match your needs better; trying Blocker does not require a purchase.