Top 6 Best URL Blockers for Mac, Windows, iOS and Android

There are several common scenarios where you may need to block URLs. By blocking distracting websites for studying or working, one can become more focused and productive. Many people, especially parents, have the need to block access to inappropriate URLs and websites. This article provides a list of 6 best URL blockers to block unwanted websites on desktop and mobile. I hope it can help you choose the URL blocker that suits you best.

 

Top 6 URL blockers

#1 AppCrypt

Compatibility: Mac, Windows

If you are a Mac or Windows user, you can use Cisdem AppCrypt.

Step 1. Download and install AppCrypt.

Free Download macOS 10.12 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7

Step 2. When you open this URL blocker for the first time, set a password. (It’s recommended to select the Launch at System Startup checkbox.)

Step 3. On a Mac, click the lock icon in the menu bar to choose Open Main Window. On a Windows PC, click the AppCrypt icon in the taskbar.

Step 4. Enter your password to access the main window.

Step 5. Click the Web Block tab in the main window.

Step 6. To block a specific URL, just enter it in the URL field and click Add.

To block all URLs of a certain domain, just enter the domain (like youtube.com). To block all URLs with a certain word (like game), just enter the word.

When you try to visit a blocked URL, the page won’t open. Instead, it will show you the following image, telling you that the access is blocked.

To unblock a URL, you can remove it from the list under Web Block, disable AppCrypt’s web block feature, or quit AppCrypt. Any of these actions requires the password.

Tips

If you want to use this URL blocker for self-control or productivity, you can ask a family member or someone else that you trust to set the password for you. Without knowing the password, you won’t be able to bypass the blocking.

If you turn on the Block all websites option, click Exceptions, and then add specific URLs or domains to the Always Allow list, this URL blocker will block the entire web except the ones on the allow list.

By default, the blocking is permanent as long as this URL blocker is running. If you want, you can set a general schedule or custom schedule to apply the blocking only during certain times, for example, work hours.

 

#2 URL Blocker

Compatibility: Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10

Looking for free URL blocker software for Windows? This one can be a good choice. With it, Windows users can easily block access to specific URLs on web browsers like Chrome and Firefox.

Step 1. Download and install URL Blocker. Open it.

Step 2. Click Add in the bottom right corner of the interface. Enter a URL. Click Add again. You can add URLs one by one.

Step 3. When you finish adding, click Apply in the top right corner.

The URLs that you have blocked will immediately become inaccessible.

Here's how to unblock URLs. In this URL blocker for Windows 10, select the checkbox before a URL and click Delete.

There is no option for you to create a password. As a result, this tool may not be effective enough if you want to block URLs for productivity at work. You can effortlessly unblock a distracting website or just quit the blocker itself. There isn’t any restriction. But it can be useful in some scenarios. For example, you can install this free website blocker on a family computer to prevent kids from visiting inappropriate URLs. It’s likely that kids can’t figure out how to get rid of the blocking.

 

#3 BlockSite (app)

Compatibility: 5.0 and up

How to block websites on Chrome mobile on Android? When it comes to URL blocker for Android, one can consider BlockSite. This app provides a basic URL blocking feature and some other useful features.

Step 1. Download and install this free URL blocker for Android. You can get it from the Google Play Store.

Step 2. In the app, enable BlockSites first. Tap Block List at the bottom of the screen. Tap the plus icon.

Step 3. By default you are under the Website tab. There, you can add one or more URLs to block. Once a website or URL is blocked, it will appear in the Block List screen where you can easily delete or edit it.

Tip

By tapping the alarm clock icon in the top right corner, you can create a schedule, which allows you to block URLs for a period of time. There, you can set the Start/End time and select the days of the week. Note that the schedule will be applied to all the blocked websites and apps (if any). If you want to block a website permanently, you can enable the Always block this site option for that particular website.

 

#4 Screen Time

For macOS

Compatibility: macOS 10.15 or later

Included with macOS Catalina or later, Screen Time can be used as a URL blocker for Mac.

Step 1. Open Screen Time. You can find it in System Preferences or by using Spotlight.

Step 2. Navigate to the bottom left corner of Screen Time main window. Click Options.

Step 3. Click Turn On to enable Screen Time. Enable Use Screen Time Passcode and set a 4-digit passcode.

Step 4. On the left sidebar, select Content & Privacy. Click Turn On to turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions.

Step 5. Click the Content tab. Select Limit Adult Websites. Subsequently, the Customize button will show up. Click the button.

Step 6. Now go to the Restricted section. Click the plus icon there. Enter the URL that you want to block in the URL box. Click OK.

Step 7. Click OK and quit Screen Time.

For iOS

Compatibility: iOS 12 or later

Screen Time is also included with iOS 12 or later. So if your iPhone or iPad is running on iOS 12, iOS 13, iOS 14, iOS 15 or iOS 16, then you can use Screen Time as URL blocker.

Step 1. On your iPhone, open Settings. Tap Screen Time.

Step 2. Tap Turn On Screen Time to enable it. You will be presented with some details about Screen Time. Tap Continue to continue.

Step 3. Confirm whether it's your iPhone or your kid's iPhone.

Step 4. Select Use Screen Time Passcode. A new screen will appear letting you set a passcode.

Step 5. Tap Content & Privacy Restriction. Enter the passcode.

Step 6. Enable Content & Privacy Restrictions and select Content Restrictions > Web Content > Limit Adult Websites.

Step 7. Now you will find two options: Always Allow and Never Allow. To use the URL blocker to block access to a specific URL, tap Add Website under Never Allow.

Step 8. Enter the URL that you'd like to block, say, https://www.youtube.com/. Tap Done. Likewise, you can continue to add more URLs.

 

#5 BlockSite (extension)

Compatibility: Chrome, Firefox, Edge

The above-mentioned Android app BlockSite also has an extension version, which supports multiple browsers. If you prefer installing a free URL blocker extension on your web browser, then you can consider BlockSite.

Is BlockSite safe? Based on my experience, it’s safe to install and use. It’s also easy to uninstall. You can remove it from your browser at any time.

Step 1. Go to the Chrome Web Store. Enter "blocksite" in the Search Extensions box. Hit the Enter key. You should find this URL blocker extension in the results. The extension is offered by https://blocksite.co/.

Step 2. Add it to your Chrome. Once the installation is finished, the extension's icon will appear in the Chrome toolbar.

Step 3. There are two ways to add an unwanted website to this URL blocker. Here I will take facebook.com as example.

• Visit Facebook on your computer. Click the BlockSite icon in the toolbar. In the box that pops up, click Block this site.

• Perform a right-click, hover your mouse over the BlockSite option and choose Block this site.

Now facebook.com is blocked. The steps are similar on Firefox.

Note that it's easy to remove this URL blocker extension from a browser if even you have added password protection.

Tips

After the extension is installed on your Chrome, you can still bypass the blocking by opening an incognito window where the extension doesn’t work. To prevent this, right-click the extension, choose Manage Extensions and enable Allow in incognito.

Click the URL blocker extension in the toolbar and choose Edit block list. Now you have access to all the settings and options and can easily edit your block list.

 

#6 Block Websites for Google Chrome

Compatibility: Chrome

If you are not happy with the fact that the URL blocker extension mentioned above only allows users to block three URLs for free, you can check out another extension, which is totally free to use. Dedicated to working with Chrome, this extension is very easy to use due to its simple and easy-to-understand interface.

Step 1. Add the extension called Block Websites for Google Chrome to your browser.

Step 2. Pin the extension to the toolbar.

Step 3. Click its icon in the toolbar and then click the settings icon in the top right corner.

Step 4. In its settings, choose the Block Sites tab.

Step 5. Add the specific URL that you want to block. Add more URLs if needed.

You can access and customize other settings like schedule and white list in the settings.

 

Conclusion

Hopefully, you can find the best URL blocker that suits you from this list. By using a URL blocker, you can easily block access to URLs and websites contain distracting or inappropriate content. You can use it to get rid of distractions such as social media while working or studying. Parents can also use URL blocking software for parental control purpose.