# Block Distracting Websites — user reviews > 78 indexed App Store user reviews of Block Distracting Websites by Pawel Urbanek, rated 4.30/5 from 227 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/block-distracting-websites/id1189844594/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/block-distracting-websites/id1189844594.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 168 · 4★ 14 · 3★ 13 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 28 ## What do users think of Block Distracting Websites? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 👍 Simple and easy to use - ✅ Works flawlessly for many - 💰 Affordable one-time purchase - ⏱️ Effective for breaking habits - ⏳ Long blocking durations possible - 🎯 Blocks specific websites - 💡 Helpful for productivity **Cons** - 🚫 Only works for Safari - 🔓 Easily bypassed/disabled - ❌ Doesn't block apps - 🐛 Inconsistent functionality - 🤷‍♂️ No developer support mentioned - 💸 Waste of money for some - 🚫 Blocks entire domains, not specific URLs **Commonly reported bugs** - Doesn't block websites or apps - Help screen unhelpful - Host name invalid for blocking endpoints - Doesn't work on iPad/phone - Too easy to turn off in settings - Websites stay blocked after unblocking - Stopped working with new iOS update - Can't enable the app (grayed out) - Blocked sites open as normal - Unable to get it to work as a content blocker - Blocks all internet access - Upper limit is 1 day for blocking - No timer function visible/obvious **Most requested features** - Scheduling feature for automatic blocking - Block specific URLs (e.g., YouTube.com/shorts) - Block apps - PIN code for changes - Block websites for specific time frames (e.g., 9-5) - Block individual websites for different durations - Allow setting end date further forward while timer is ongoing - Block longer than 24 hours (days/weeks) - Landscape orientation on iPad - iCloud sync - macOS version - Keyword pattern blocking - White list for periods - Stronger feature disallowing unlocking ## Newest reviews (13 of 78) ### 2/5 — Easy to bypass *2025-04-20* If you’re looking to manage your own browsing, this is a waste of money. When you want to bypass the restrictions, just uninstall the app and then put it back on when you’re done. Also you can’t block URLs like YouTube.com/shorts just whole domains. No really that much more than the iOS built in parental controls. ### 4/5 — Helpful! *2024-08-21* I have used this more than any other similar app. It’s simple, easy to use and effective. I wish it had a scheduling feature so the timer feature could turn on automatically. ### 4/5 — Great App with one complaint. *2024-03-14* I believe that this app is worth the money and that I am seeing improvements in my daily routine. But I have one great issue: the app can too easily be disabled by selecting “turn off content blockers” on safari. Additionally, you can just as easily disable the app by going to “Safari” in settings and deselecting “use content blocker on all websites.” I adore this blocker app, but it sadly isn’t completely on “Self Control”’s level, which was the idea and the goal. ### 2/5 — Not working *2023-05-27* Its working on my ipad bht not on my phone😬 ### 3/5 — Can be bypassed easily *2023-03-19* Only works for Safari and can be bypassed with one simple change in the Safari options. A shame there is no app like SelfControl on Mac ### 3/5 — Could use an update. *2023-01-07, version 1.11* It really needs a PIN code to allow changes to be made. ### 3/5 — Too easy to turn off *2022-04-29, version 1.11* It works, but to disable it you just need to turn off Content Blockers in settings ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2022-04-12, version 1.11* This doesn’t work for me at all. I’m still able to access all the sites I’ve “blocked” when I use Safari. ### 3/5 — Needs more features *2022-01-07* It’s basically just a content blocker with a timer for 3$. Does the job but it would nice to have other features for different use cases. For instance blocking websites from 9-5 while I’m at work ### 4/5 — Simple and effective. *2021-12-18* I like how little this app costs yet how minimalist and effective it is. A lot of other blocker apps are overly complex and bloated which makes them difficult to use. I was using another app to block the internet but it was also blocking all of my apps which use internet and that was frustrating. So I’m glad this can block the internet, remains locked, yet I can still call a Lyft or use maps or something simple at the same time. The only recommendation I’d make is to also have the ability to block certain apps, and also to set schedules. Otherwise great! ### 4/5 — Unterschiedliche Blockyeiten *2021-11-11* Die App tut genau das, was sie soll. Kontrolliert Webseiten sperren. Für mich persönlich ist die Timer Funktion sehr wichtig. Aber: es wäre toll, wenn man Webseiten unterschiedlich lange sperren könnte. Beispiel.: Seiten Wie YouTube zb. Für 8h aber Seiten mit Erotischen Inhalt etc. für längere Zeit. —> multiple blocking times for different Websites would be great! ### 4/5 — Works but limited options *2021-10-24* It works well. You can completely block any website you want. What I would like to see added is a time schedule that allows me to block websites in a certain time frame of the day because for me it’s not like I want to block YouTube completely but I just want to block it in my productive hours in the day. **Developer response:** Hi, thanks for a review! Please check out the timer feature. You can disable unblocking websites for a certain amount of time. ### 1/5 — Complete waste of money *2021-10-01* The reviews with 5stars were written by the owners of this fake software. It does absolutely nothing at all. Dont waste your time I dont know why i bothered buying this lol. my 2 last braincells cant think for themselves and have the power to restrain ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Didn’t work *2025-04-27, version 1.11* Didn’t block websites or apps for the timer that I set. The help screen did not help. ### 1/5 — It doesn’t block endpoints *2025-04-18, version 1.11* I downloaded in hope to block youtube.com/shorts but it says the host name is invalid. What a waste of money. ### 1/5 — Does not work *2024-07-29, version 1.11* Did not block what I wanted on Google or safari. I want a refund. ### 1/5 — Does not work. *2023-12-17* The work does not work on my IPad. Do not recommend. ### 1/5 — Only for safari *2023-10-29, version 1.11* Only for safari ### 1/5 — DOESNT WORK *2022-11-07, version 1.11* Don’t bother purchasing. Doesn’t work anymore. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t seem to work *2022-11-06, version 1.11* I enabled the content blocker app in Safari and added the websites and it doesn’t seem to block the sites at all. Where can I find help to troubleshoot? ### 1/5 — Useless *2022-10-20* The websites stay blocked once you’ve unblocked them ### 1/5 — Doesn't work *2022-10-18, version 1.11* It used to. Now it doesn't. Not sure what happened but I remember why I deleted it now. Maybe not compatible with iOS16? IDK. Would like it if it worked. ### 1/5 — Only blocks safari *2022-04-18* Only seems to block websites on safari. Doesn’t work on chrome and doesn’t seem to block apps either. I would’ve thought I could’ve been missing something but plenty of others complained about this and the developer is giving no response…🤷🏻‍♂️ ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Simple, useful *2026-03-24, version 1.11* I’ve used this for years now to stop myself from going to Reddit, YouTube, etc in Safari. Works flawlessly every time. I prefer it to messing with Apple settings for specific sites. ### 5/5 — Works perfectly *2025-03-02* Simple, but works perfectly. It also remembers the sites you've unblocked, so you can block them again easily. Thanks for helping me get back some of my time and energy. ### 5/5 — Great to break a *2024-12-19, version 1.11* Simple to use and a great way to break the habit of cruising websites ### 5/5 — Hello *2023-07-07* Franchement super ont peut bloquer tout les site que ont veux ### 5/5 — This app is the leading defense contractor potential app company *2023-01-03* The app does a great service that many companies fail to provide do to induced forces making other app program fold their principles to protect customer. Great app its must buy ### 5/5 — Exactly what I’m looking for *2022-10-21* Simple, easy to use, and effective. The convenience is well worth a few bucks. ### 5/5 — Simple app that does what I need it to do. *2021-07-22* List the sites you want to block, or an asterisk to block them all, say “block,” and set the timer. Boom, I can’t be distracted by Facebook or Reddit or other gremlins. I had a question and emailed the developer, who responded the next day and was helpful. The only other blocking apps I found were much more elaborate, do other things, and charge annual fees. This does what I need for a few bucks. **Developer response:** Hi. A fix for the wildcard blocking has just been released. ### 5/5 — stopped working *2021-05-25* I have no idea what the issue is but it stopped working with the new ios update… If it gets fixed I will leave 5 stars Edit: it works and helps to keep me focused **Developer response:** Hi. Please make sure to double-check that Safari content blockers are enabled. Maybe system update did reset your settings. ### 5/5 — Simple site blocker *2021-02-18* Wanted a simple app to be able to block websites for a certain amount of time without letting me unblock them again. This does exactly that. I can block website for hours, days, weeks, months or years if I wanted to for some reason. Keeps me from mindlessly scrolling and wasting time. Perfect! ### 5/5 — coool *2019-10-15* such a nice app it so helpful when i study or concentrate --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*