Review
StayFocusd review (2026)
StayFocusd is good if you want a free daily time budget for distracting sites rather than a hard block — it limits time instead of denying access outright. It only works in Chrome and Edge. If you've burned through your budget by 10am and want real friction, you'll likely need something stricter.
Disclosure: we make FutureSelf, a StayFocusd alternative. This review draws on StayFocusd’s public documentation and independent write-ups, checked in October 2026.
StayFocusd is a free Chrome extension (it also works on Edge) that limits how long you can spend on distracting sites each day, rather than blocking them outright.
How it works
You list the sites you want limited and set a daily time allowance. Once you’ve used it up, those sites are blocked until the next day. “Active Days” lets you choose which days of the week it runs. The headline feature is the Nuclear Option: trigger it and it blocks everything, including search engines and Chrome’s own settings, except a short allow-list you define in advance. It cannot be turned off early once started.
Pricing
Free, with no paid tier.
Pros
- Completely free, forever.
- The daily time-limit model fits people who want some access, not zero.
- Nuclear Option is a genuinely hard stop when you need one.
- Syncs across devices signed into the same Chrome profile.
Cons
- The settings interface is widely reported as confusing to navigate.
- Outside Nuclear mode, limits can be loosened by anyone willing to open Settings, so it relies on self-control.
- Chrome and Edge only, no iOS, Android, Mac app or Windows app.
- No work-hours scheduling or sleep-specific mode.
Who should pick it
Choose StayFocusd if you want a free tool that gives you some access to distracting sites rather than none, and you’re disciplined enough not to just change your own settings. Choose something stricter, like Cold Turkey, if soft limits don’t work for you. Choose something intent-based, like FutureSelf, if your problem is the moment you open the tab, not the total minutes you spend. See the full StayFocusd alternative comparison.
FAQ
FAQ
Is StayFocusd really free?
Yes, there’s no paid version or subscription.
What is the Nuclear Option?
A StayFocusd mode that blocks almost everything, including search engines, once triggered, and can’t be stopped early.
Does StayFocusd work on phones?
No. It’s a Chrome and Edge browser extension only.
The tab can wait.
You know it can.
Questions. Facts. Breathwork. The occasional roast. A 10-second pause. Then you decide.