Focus website blocker app for Mac
Updated 2026-07-03 · 8 min read
A focus website blocker app for Mac should block distracting sites without making the browser useless. Nudge blocks the domains that pull a focus session off track, and Chrome or Safari keeps working for everything else.
Quick answer
Nudge blocks distracting websites inside reusable Mac focus sessions. The browser can stay open for docs, research, dashboards, or school tools, while sites like YouTube, Reddit, X, news, shopping, and social feeds stay out of the session.
Why does session-based website blocking work?
Browser stays useful
Keep the tool
Chrome or Safari keeps working when the task needs browser access.Sites stay blocked
Remove the exits
Block the specific domains that repeatedly break deep work.Rules stay reusable
Save presets
Use different blocked lists for writing, coding, studying, and admin.Website blocking examples
The best blocked list depends on the job. Nudge is built around the session, so different presets can block different websites.
| Session | Block | Stays open |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | Social feeds, video, news, inbox, analytics. | Writing app, notes, selected research tabs. |
| Coding | YouTube, Reddit, X, Hacker News, shopping, personal mail. | Editor, terminal, browser docs, GitHub, localhost. |
| Studying | YouTube, Reddit, TikTok web, games, shopping, chat. | Notes, LMS, PDFs, flashcards, research. |
| Admin | Social feeds, unrelated dashboards, shopping, news. | Calendar, billing, docs, email if required. |
The browser is usually not the problem
The problem is unrestricted access to every site while you are trying to do one job.
Many website blockers make the browser feel like the enemy. That is rarely correct on a Mac. Developers need browser docs and GitHub. Writers need sources and publishing tools. Students need LMS pages and research. Operators need dashboards and email.
Nudge takes a narrower approach: keep the browser available when it belongs in the work block, then block the domains that do not. This protects the session without breaking the workflow.
How do you set up website blocking in Nudge?
- Create a preset for the task.
- Add the apps that pull you away.
- Add distracting websites to the blocked list.
- Start the preset from the menu bar.
- Adjust the list after each session until it matches the real failure points.
Keep the list practical. Block the sites that actually pull you away. Do not overbuild a giant restriction system before the first session.
FAQ
What is a focus website blocker app?
A focus website blocker app blocks distracting websites during a work session so the browser can remain useful without leaving every site available.
Can Nudge block websites while keeping Chrome or Safari open?
Yes. Nudge blocks distracting domains during the focus session, and the browser keeps working for everything else.
Is website blocking enough for focus?
Sometimes. For many Mac users, the stronger setup is website and app blocking together, because distractions can live in both browser tabs and desktop apps.
Should I use Screen Time or Nudge?
Use Screen Time for broad built-in limits. Use Nudge when you want reusable work-session presets with allowed apps and blocked websites.
Block distracting sites without blocking the work
Keep the browser available, block the sites that derail focus, and start from the Mac menu bar. 7 days free, no card to start. Then $9.99 once for Lifetime Access.
Download for macOS