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SelfControl alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave SelfControl: mac only, with no Windows, phone or browser versions, and no scheduled or recurring blocks; each block is started by hand. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces SelfControl, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Cold Turkey Blocker currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Cold Turkey Blocker logoCold Turkey BlockerFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS4 of 466.5
2Freedom logoFreedomFree plan + paidNomacOS, Windows, iOS +25 of 562.6
3LeechBlock NG logoLeechBlock NGOpen sourceYesBrowser extension4 of 459.6
  1. Cold Turkey Blocker logo

    1. Cold Turkey BlockerTop pick

    Best for: Windows and Mac users who need a hard-to-bypass block on sites and apps

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from SelfControl

    Adds app blocking, schedules and stricter locks, and runs on Windows as well as Mac.

    Pros

    • Blocks desktop apps as well as websites in Pro
    • One-time payment covers all your personal computers on both OSes
    • Strong locking options make blocks hard to bypass
    • Free tier covers timed website blocking

    Cons

    • No Linux, ChromeOS, iOS or Android support
    • Scheduling and app blocking require Pro
    • Strict locks can't easily be undone if set by mistake
    Visit Cold Turkey Blocker Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Cold Turkey Blocker a good SelfControl alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS
    Checked Nov 1, 2026getcoldturkey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro pricing
    One-time lifetime purchase
    Checked Nov 1, 2026getcoldturkey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days of Pro
    Checked Nov 1, 2026getcoldturkey.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Refund
    30 days
    Checked Nov 1, 2026getcoldturkey.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Freedom logo

    2. Freedom

    Best for: People who want one blocking session to cover their laptop and phone together

    Free plan + paidmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from SelfControl

    Syncs blocks across Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android and Chromebook, with scheduled sessions.

    Pros

    • Syncs blocking sessions across desktop and mobile devices
    • Can block websites, apps or the entire internet
    • Scheduling and recurring sessions for routine focus time
    • One-time Forever license as an alternative to a subscription

    Cons

    • Scheduling, Locked Mode and long sessions need Premium
    • Website exceptions only on Mac and Windows
    • No Linux app
    Visit Freedom Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Freedom a good SelfControl alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 29, 2026freedom.to(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $3.33/month billed yearly
    Checked Oct 29, 2026freedom.to(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly price
    $8.99/month
    Checked Oct 29, 2026freedom.to(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Chromebook
    Checked Oct 29, 2026freedom.to(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 29, 2026freedom.to(opens source in a new tab)
  3. LeechBlock NG logo

    3. LeechBlock NG

    Best for: People who want free, fine-grained limits on distracting sites inside their browser

    Open sourceBrowser extension

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from SelfControl

    Free open-source browser extension with time limits and schedules, on any OS with Firefox or Chrome.

    Pros

    • Free and open source
    • Time limits and schedules per group of sites, up to 30 groups
    • Works in Firefox and all major Chromium browsers
    • Wildcards and exceptions for precise blocklists

    Cons

    • Only blocks inside the browser it's installed in
    • Can't block desktop apps or work across devices
    • Easier to bypass than system-level blockers
    Visit LeechBlock NG Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is LeechBlock NG a good SelfControl alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MPL-2.0
    Checked Nov 1, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Browsers
    Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Chromium browsers
    Checked Nov 1, 2026proginosko.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Block sets
    Up to 30
    Checked Nov 1, 2026proginosko.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Lockdown
    Yes
    Checked Nov 1, 2026proginosko.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best SelfControl alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Cold Turkey Blocker logo

Best SelfControl alternative for most people

Cold Turkey Blocker

Adds app blocking, schedules and stricter locks, and runs on Windows as well as Mac.

LeechBlock NG logo

Best SelfControl alternative for a free option

LeechBlock NG

Free open-source browser extension with time limits and schedules, on any OS with Firefox or Chrome.

Freedom logo

Best SelfControl alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Freedom

Syncs blocks across Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android and Chromebook, with scheduled sessions.

LeechBlock NG logo

Best SelfControl alternative for open source

LeechBlock NG

Free open-source browser extension with time limits and schedules, on any OS with Firefox or Chrome.

Cold Turkey Blocker logo

Best SelfControl alternative for Mac

Cold Turkey Blocker

Adds app blocking, schedules and stricter locks, and runs on Windows as well as Mac.

Cold Turkey Blocker logo

Best SelfControl alternative for Windows

Cold Turkey Blocker

Adds app blocking, schedules and stricter locks, and runs on Windows as well as Mac.

Freedom logo

Best SelfControl alternative for iPhone and Android

Freedom

Syncs blocks across Mac, Windows, iPhone, Android and Chromebook, with scheduled sessions.

SelfControl alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to SelfControl?

Cold Turkey Blocker ranks first right now. Adds app blocking, schedules and stricter locks, and runs on Windows as well as Mac. Freedom and LeechBlock NG follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to SelfControl?

Yes. Cold Turkey Blocker (free plan + paid), Freedom (free plan + paid) and LeechBlock NG (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to SelfControl?

Yes: LeechBlock NG.

Why do people switch from SelfControl?

The complaints we hear most: mac only, with no Windows, phone or browser versions; no scheduled or recurring blocks; each block is started by hand; blocks websites and servers, not desktop apps.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces SelfControl, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.