Screen time tracker · Website blocker · Free
A StayFocusd alternative that
shows you what to block.
StayFocusd is a strong, well-loved blocker. TabInsights starts one step earlier: it tracks where your Chrome time actually goes, then lets you block the worst offenders in one tap. No account, and no all-sites access.
Which one should you pick?
Pick StayFocusd if you already know exactly what to block and want maximum strictness: granular rules down to paths and page elements, an irreversible "Nuclear Option", and limits that sync across devices. It is hard to beat at that job.
Pick TabInsights if you aren't sure where your time goes yet, want the data first, and want to turn it into blocking rules without typing in domains.
Data first, then block
TabInsights logs time per site automatically. When it sees social or entertainment sites taking a big share of your day, the insight lists the exact sites and offers a Block these button. One tap creates the rules, and an Undo stays available for a few seconds.
What you get
Automatic time tracking
Daily, weekly and all-time charts of where your browser time went, with no timers to start.
Blocking and focus
Block sites permanently or during a Pomodoro-style focus session, with an optional challenge before a block comes down. Pro ($9.99 lifetime) adds daily site time limits and scheduled blocking.
A smaller permission footprint
TabInsights has no content scripts and no host permission for the sites you visit; its only host permission is the license check for Pro. It does use the tabs permission to see tab URLs and titles (Chrome describes this as reading your browsing history), and the optional Read Aloud feature reads page text only when you use it. Details are in the privacy policy.
StayFocusd vs TabInsights
| StayFocusd | TabInsights | |
|---|---|---|
| Granular blocking (paths, page elements) | Yes | Site-level only |
| Irreversible "Nuclear Option" | Yes | No (type-a-phrase challenge instead) |
| Settings sync across devices | Yes | Pro: block list and settings via Chrome Sync |
| Automatic time tracking and charts | See their listing | Yes, core feature |
| One-tap block from an insight | See their listing | Yes |
| Host access to the sites you visit | Broad, per its store listing | None (license check only) |
| Account required | No | No |
| Price | Free | Free; optional $9.99 lifetime Pro |
StayFocusd details come from its Chrome Web Store listing and can change, so check it for the current feature list.