SelfControl for Chrome: 5 Alternatives That Work (Windows Too)

SelfControl doesn't work on Chrome or Windows — it's a free, open-source app for macOS only, and it blocks at the system level rather than inside the browser. If you're on Windows, or you want blocking that lives in Chrome, the closest equivalents are Bouncer (nuclear mode, friction unlock, $25 one-time), Cold Turkey Blocker (strongest Windows lockdown), Freedom (cross-device sync), LeechBlock NG (free, open source), and StayFocusd (simple daily allowances). Below: what each one does, what it costs, and how hard it is to bypass — because a blocker you can disable in two clicks isn't blocking anything.

How Do the 5 SelfControl Alternatives Compare?

SelfControl's core idea is a block you can't quietly undo until a timer ends. Here's how each alternative stacks up on that standard.

1. Bouncer — the Closest Chrome Equivalent

If what you actually want is SelfControl's enforcement inside Chrome, Bouncer is the direct match. Nuclear mode is the flagship: you add sites, start the timer, and everything blocked stays blocked until it ends — no friction challenge, no PIN, no early unlock, exactly like SelfControl's core promise. Around it sit the tools for days when full lockdown is overkill: schedules (block sites 9–5 on weekdays), daily allowances (15 minutes of Reddit, then it's gone), friction unlock (type a sentence to break a rule), and an accountability PIN so future-you can't casually change the rules.

Price: free tier covers up to 5 active sites; Pro is $25 one-time — no subscription, lifetime updates. Platforms: Chrome, Edge, Brave, and per its listing, Firefox. Honest limit: it's a browser extension — desktop apps (Slack, Steam) need an OS-level tool like Cold Turkey.

2. Cold Turkey Blocker — the Strongest Windows Lockdown

Cold Turkey is the Windows power tool. Its Frozen Turkey mode is the most uncompromising lockdown in this list: it survives uninstalls and restarts, meaning the timer wins even if you try to remove the software mid-block. It blocks websites and desktop applications, which browser extensions can't touch. Price: free tier covers basic blocking; the Pro license is a one-time payment. Trade-off: the interface is utilitarian and the free tier is limited compared to Bouncer's. If your problem is "I disable blockers when I get uncomfortable," Cold Turkey's persistence is the point — the same thesis as blockers you actually can't bypass.

3. Freedom — Cross-Device Sync

Freedom's strength is reach: the same block session runs across Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and Chrome simultaneously. If your distraction hops devices — laptop to phone the moment the laptop is clean — Freedom closes the loop. Locked Mode makes sessions unbreakable once started. Trade-off: pricing is a subscription, which adds up against one-time licenses, and its blocking is session-based rather than an always-on rule set. Choose Freedom when multi-device coverage matters more than per-site granularity.

4. LeechBlock NG — Free and Open Source

LeechBlock NG is the closest thing to SelfControl's spirit in a browser extension: free, open source, and deeply configurable. Six independent block sets, each with its own sites, time periods, and rules — block a site all day, another after 6pm, a third to 10 minutes per hour. Trade-off: the interface takes time to learn, and like any extension it can be removed or disabled in seconds. There's no true lockdown mode — it's a scheduler, not an enforcer. It works in Firefox, Chrome, and Edge.

5. StayFocusd — Simple Daily Allowances

StayFocusd is the gentlest option: give yourself a daily time allowance per site, and when it runs out the site is blocked for the rest of the day. It's free and has been a Chrome fixture for years. Trade-off: no schedules in the true sense, no lockdown mode, and the "nuke" option resets are well within reach of a motivated 11pm self. Best for mild habits, not hard ones.

Which One Should You Pick?

• You want SelfControl's enforcement in the browser: Bouncer — nuclear mode is the closest equivalent, with schedules and allowances on top.
• You're on Windows and keep disabling blockers: Cold Turkey's Frozen Turkey.
• The distraction hops devices: Freedom.
• You want free and open source: LeechBlock NG.
• You just need a nudge: StayFocusd.

One honesty check before you choose: every tool in this list — including SelfControl — can be beaten by a determined person with admin access. The realistic goal is a tool that makes the impulse expensive at the moment it hits. If that framing helps, the full reasoning is in our honest comparison of website blockers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does SelfControl work on Chrome or Windows?

No. SelfControl is a free, open-source app for macOS only. It doesn't run on Windows and it isn't a Chrome extension — it blocks at the system level on a Mac. On Windows or in Chrome, use one of the alternatives above.

What is the closest Chrome equivalent to SelfControl?

Bouncer is the closest match: nuclear mode enforces the block with no early exit until the timer ends, plus friction unlock and an accountability PIN. Free tier covers up to 5 sites; Pro is a $25 one-time payment.

Which website blockers can't be bypassed?

The tools with real lockdown modes: Bouncer's nuclear mode (no early exit until the timer ends) and Cold Turkey's Frozen Turkey (survives uninstalls and restarts). Chrome managed policies are also hard to undo from inside the browser. Anything you can disable in two clicks isn't enforcement.

How do I lock sites for a fixed period on Chrome?

Use a lockdown mode. In Bouncer: add the sites, start nuclear mode (or focus mode) with a timer, and the sites stay blocked until it ends — no override. That's the same model SelfControl uses on a Mac.

Is there a free alternative to SelfControl for Windows?

Yes: LeechBlock NG (free, open source, works in browsers on any OS) and Bouncer's free tier (up to 5 sites with friction unlock). The Windows hosts file is also free and system-wide, though without scheduling.

Related Guides

• 7 Best Website Blockers in 2026: Honest Comparison
• Website Blockers You Actually Can't Bypass
• How to Block a Website on Chrome (5 Ways, 2026)