# Liberate: Screen Time Control — Block Apps & Websites to Focus

> Block distracting websites in Safari for a chosen duration. (iPhone/iPad app by Jordan Carney.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/liberate-screen-time-control/id1214636633 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Jordan Carney](https://appshunter.io/developer/549518152)
- Category: Productivity, Utilities
- Price: Free (on sale, was $4.99)
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 866 App Store ratings · 83 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 11 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2017-03-20
- Data updated: 2026-10-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/liberate-screen-time-control/id1214636633/reviews.md

## What is Liberate?

Do you want to quit being distracted by your phone? Liberate will help you unshackle and start producing more than you consume.

Pick the sites and apps that steal your time, then choose how strict to be:
• Block: everything stays blocked until the end time you set
• Schedule: blocks start and stop by themselves on the days and hours you choose
• Limit: give apps a set amount of time, or a number of opens, each day or week. Use it up and they're blocked until it resets

Blocked means blocked. You can't visit those sites in Safari or open those apps until the block ends or the limit resets. For real emergencies there's one Emergency Unblock every 7 days; otherwise, no take-backs ~(‾▿‾)~

One purchase. No subscription, no account, no data collected.

## Key features

- Block websites in Safari
- Set end dates for blocking
- Create custom blacklists
- Reduce web distractions
- Increase productivity

## What do users think of Liberate?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 💻 Simple app
- 💰 Cheap
- ✅ Works well
- 🔒 Blocks websites effectively
- 📆 Allows setting time limits
- 🆕 Blocks subdomains
- 🆕 Helps curb phone addiction
- 🆕 Brutally effective

**Cons**

- 🔧 Limited customization options
- 🔓 Easy to bypass
- 🚫 Doesn't block in Chrome
- 🚫 Doesn't block apps
- 🚫 Only blocks in Safari
- 🐛 Not working after iOS updates
- 🐛 Greyed out extension in Safari
- 🐛 Crashing issues

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Not blocking websites as configured
- Stopped working after iOS 18.4 update
- Incompatible with iOS 18.4

**Most requested features**

- Allow setting different block times for each website
- Add password protection
- Implement allow lists instead of block lists
- Add iCloud sync and automation features
- Provide more blocking options (e.g. block by keyword)
- Add app blocking functionality

## Recent user reviews (10 of 83)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/liberate-screen-time-control/id1214636633/reviews.md

### 5/5 — This really helps.

*2026-10-06*

**UPDATE** I hate the upgrade!!! It’s super confusing. Tried to set it for 9:00 pm tonight through 6pm tomorrow and get a message “ the end time must be after the start time” . So it appears I’d have to set it till 11:59 pm tonight, then set another one for Tuesday midnight to 6pm. It was so wonderfully simple before!! I’ve used this daily for probably 10 years, but now I don’t know if I can keep using it. I am very upset!!! I don’t use weekly schedules I use daily schedules. 

Original review below.

I don’t really do social media but there’s a forum I’ve been on for years that I fall down the rabbit hole all too often. I’d spend hours obsessively checking to see if my latest brilliant post (lol) got any “reps”, or I’d be at work and suddenly think of a good comeback I should have posted, then I’d go in the bathroom for 20 minutes to post and read posts. I’d waste hours a day. I’d be at family birthday parties with my face in my phone. Then I’d feel all kinds of shame afterward. This app has really helped me get it under control. I set it to unlock yesterday when I went to the hairdresser. So while I’m waiting for my color to process I could be on the site, but then I lock it again afterwards. On normal days I made a rule that I could only be on the site while I’m on the recumbent bike. So I set it to lock until that time I was planning to exercise. It’s not perfect, once I broke down waited 2 hours for AAA and couldn’t pass the time on the site cause it was locked and there’s no way around it (while Freedom app has a button to unlock it early, defeating the purpose IMO). Sometimes I still stay on a bit too long but that’s now the exception. My screen time is a fraction what it was. I’ve been using this app for several years now and absolutely need it. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do.

**Developer response:** Hi OCNJGirl, thank you for 10 years with Liberate, and I'm sorry the update made your routine harder. You're right that the schedule should handle overnight ranges like 9pm to 6pm the next day, and I'm adding that in the next update. In the meantime, the Block button just above the tab bar works exactly like before, so you don't need to use the schedule at all. If anything else feels off, tap the settings gear → Send Feedback and it comes straight to me. Thanks for sticking with it!

### 5/5 — This really helps.

*2026-06-05, version 1.0.10*

I don’t really do social media but there’s a forum I’ve been on for years that I fall down the rabbit hole all too often. I’d spend hours obsessively checking to see if my latest brilliant post (lol) got any “reps”, or I’d be at work and suddenly think of a good comeback I should have posted, then I’d go in the bathroom for 20 minutes to post and read posts. I’d waste hours a day. I’d be at family birthday parties with my face in my phone. Then I’d feel all kinds of shame afterward. This app has really helped me get it under control. I set it to unlock yesterday when I went to the hairdresser. So while I’m waiting for my color to process I could be on the site, but then I lock it again afterwards. On normal days I made a rule that I could only be on the site while I’m on the recumbent bike. So I set it to lock until that time I was planning to exercise. It’s not perfect, once I broke down waited 2 hours for AAA and couldn’t pass the time on the site cause it was locked and there’s no way around it (while Freedom app has a button to unlock it early, defeating the purpose IMO). Sometimes I still stay on a bit too long but that’s now the exception. My screen time is a fraction what it was. I’ve been using this app for several years now and absolutely need it. It does exactly what it’s supposed to do.

### 5/5 — Simple app

*2026-02-23*

Blocks websites for a specific time. Cheap. Works well. I wish it had some options. It is too barebones. I can’t really customize anything. Still better than paying a subscription when you just wanna block a few websites.

### 5/5 — Does what it says on the tin

*2026-02-02*

Works perfectly, no issues at all.

### 1/5 — Not blocking

*2025-12-02, version 1.0.10*

Have websites on a list, but it’s not blocking them. Was working before

### 5/5 — Does exactly what it says

*2025-08-23*

This app blocks websites. That’s it. It’s also one of the only apps that allows you to block subdomains, which is a godsend if you only have problems with one specific part of a whole platform.
It doesn’t block them forever or something like that cause you can’t do that on ios. Use screen time instead and give your friend the password or something.

### 1/5 — Blocks website I did not configure

*2025-08-03, version 1.0.10*

I was enjoying this app for a few days and then I tried accessing Reddit and I was blocked despite never adding this site to the list. What other sites are ghost blocked?

### 5/5 — Does exactly what it says

*2025-07-21, version 1.0.10*

This app blocks websites. That’s it. It’s also one of the only apps that allows you to block, which is a godsend if you only have problems with one specific part of a whole platform.
It doesn’t block them forever or something like that cause you can’t do that on ios. Use screen time instead and give your friend the password or something.

### 5/5 — God-sent app

*2025-07-04, version 1.0.10*

Clean layout, intuitive timer, no quick circumvent-button on the websites. I love it.

### 1/5 — Can’t be used on iOS 18.4

*2025-05-17*

Yeah I this app worked great, but it no longer works on iOS 18.4. There haven’t been any updates to the app in 2+ years. The developer doesn’t seem to care to update and won’t contact back about it. Don’t waste your money unless you’re NOT running iOS 18, because if you’ve got 18, it won’t work.

## Frequently asked questions about Liberate

### What does Liberate do?

Liberate is designed to help users reduce distractions from the web. It allows you to block access to specific websites in Safari for a predetermined period, encouraging you to consume less and produce more.

### How do I use Liberate to block websites?

Using Liberate is straightforward. First, add the websites you find distracting to your blacklist. Then, set an end date for when you want the blocking to stop. Finally, start blocking, and you won't be able to access those sites in Safari until the selected date has passed.

### Is Liberate free to use?

Yes, Liberate is a free application. It does not have any in-app purchases or advertisements, meaning you can use its full functionality without any cost.

### What platforms is Liberate available on?

Liberate is a mobile application designed to block websites within the Safari browser. While the description doesn't explicitly state compatibility, it is implied to be for iOS devices where Safari is the primary browser.

### What are the main benefits of using Liberate?

The primary benefit of using Liberate is to combat web-based distractions and improve personal productivity. By temporarily blocking access to time-consuming websites, users can regain focus and dedicate more time to important tasks or activities.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.2.1 — 2026-10-09

Liberate 2.2.1 is here, with your block on your Lock Screen:
• Live Activity: watch your block count down on your Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island.
• See what you're blocking: the sites and apps a block covers now show before you slide and on the Schedule tab.
• Better notifications: they now show while Liberate is open, take you to the right tab, and warn you 5 minutes before an open ends.

Thank you for the support!

### 2.2 — 2026-10-08

Liberate 2.2 is here, with a way out for real emergencies:
• Emergency Unblock: sometimes you really do need that app. Emergency Unblock lifts everything until you're ready to block again. You can use one every 7 days, so save it for when it counts.
• Overnight schedules: time ranges can cross midnight again, so 9 PM to 6 AM works as a single range.
• iPhone Duo: Liberate is ready for it on day one.

Thank you for the support!

### 2.1 — 2026-10-07

Liberate 2.1 adds Limits: give apps a daily or weekly time limit, or cap how often you open them, and Liberate blocks them once you hit it. Also new: schedule presets, block lengths in hours and minutes, and a choice of which notifications you get. And there's a new Tip Jar in Settings, where you can chip in toward the continued development of Liberate. Thank you for the support!

### 2.0 — 2026-10-03

Liberate 2.0 is the biggest update yet. It blocks apps now too, not just sites, using Screen Time. Set up a weekly schedule and your sites and apps block themselves on the days and hours you choose. Plus a fresh look, site icons, and a new Settings screen.

### 1.2.2 — 2026-09-02

Bug fixes

## Apps similar to Liberate

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Ochi: Block Websites & Apps](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ochi-block-websites-and-apps/id1603024803) | 4.5 (153) | Free | Productivity |
| [Bx Website Blocker,Block Sites](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bx-website-blockerblock-sites/id6741067501) | 4.6 (263) | Free | Productivity |
| [BlankPage - stay focused](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blankpage-stay-focused/id1571638750) | 4.5 (339) | Free | Productivity |
| [UnTrap for YouTube](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/untrap-for-youtube/id1637438059) | 4.1 (506) | $4.99 | Productivity |
| [SocialFocus: Hide Distractions](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/socialfocus-hide-distractions/id1661093205) | 3.9 (314) | $4.99 | Productivity |
| [BlockSite: Block Apps & Focus](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blocksite-block-apps-and-focus/id1474967653) | 4.2 (6,186) | Free | Productivity |

## More apps by Jordan Carney

- [The Orb: AI Magic Ball](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-orb-ai-magic-ball/id6760272310)

All apps by Jordan Carney: https://appshunter.io/developer/549518152

## Related topics

[distraction blocking](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/distraction-blocking) · [blocking app distraction](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/blocking-app-distraction) · [website blocker for parents](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/website-blocker-for-parents) · [website blockers](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/website-blockers)

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*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 2026-10-10.*