Focus website blocker app for Mac
Updated 2026-07-03 ยท 8 min read
A focus website blocker app for Mac should block distracting sites without making the browser useless. Nudge lets you keep Chrome or Safari available for work while blocking the domains that pull a focus session off track.
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 session-based website blocking works
Browser stays useful
Allow the tool
Keep Chrome or Safari available 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 work modes can have different website boundaries.
| Session | Keep available | Block |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | Writing app, notes, selected research tabs. | Social feeds, video, news, inbox, analytics. |
| Coding | Editor, terminal, browser docs, GitHub, localhost. | YouTube, Reddit, X, Hacker News, shopping, personal mail. |
| Studying | Notes, LMS, PDFs, flashcards, research. | YouTube, Reddit, TikTok web, games, shopping, chat. |
| Admin | Calendar, billing, docs, email if required. | Social feeds, unrelated dashboards, shopping, news. |
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 to set up website blocking in Nudge
- Create a preset for the work mode.
- Choose the apps that should stay available.
- 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 can keep the browser available for work while blocking distracting domains during the focus session.
Is website blocking enough for focus?
Sometimes. For many Mac users, the stronger setup is website blocking plus app boundaries, 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-day free trial, no card.
Download for macOS