Growth · alternatives · 2026
24 alternatives to Detoxer – Neutralize Addictive Content Without Blocking
I've been trying to minimize my compulsive browsing of social media for a while, and tried a bunch of extensions and apps to block websites and such, but always ended up disabling them even if they were supposed to be "hard to disable". The fact is that sometimes you need to visit reddit for some info, but you don't want to get caught in an addictive loop. Disabling entire hostnames or trying to configure intricate block lists is annoying, and the end result is annoying. Parental controls don't work on me, and I resent them. I remembered what Tristan Harris once said on ways to prevent…
Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Detoxer – Neutralize Addictive Content Without Blocking launched in 2023; newer entries below may have overtaken it.
- 1
I'm a solo dev. A few years ago, I got addicted to Reddit. Spent months in that loop. Being a programmer, I thought I'd be clever. Redirected Reddit's domain to nowhere in my DNS file. Worked great until I'd just... open the file and undo it 20 minutes later. So I made it irreversible. Locked the DNS file so it can't be edited unless I boot my Mac in safe mode. And if I do that, there's a script that instantly locks it again. Haven't used Reddit since last year. Problem solved, right? Wrong. I just replaced Reddit with Twitch and YouTube. Started keeping streams running in the background…
Nov 2025 · chromewebstore.google.com · its alternatives →
- 2
Youtube Detox▲125Distraction-free Youtube search
2019 · youtubedetox.skynox.tech · its alternatives →
- 3
Cross-browser plugin to remove addictive features on YT like thumbnails, comments, & previews - AlexisDrain/Less-Addictive-YouTube
2021 · github.com · its alternatives →
- 4
I wanted to find a way to use Instagram without ending up scrolling for two hours every time I open the app to see a friend's story. Most screen time apps I found focus on blocking the app itself instead of the addictive feed, so I created this app to allow me to keep using the "healthy" and "social" features and block the infinite scrolling (Reels) After implementing the block on Instagram Reels, I got addicted to YouTube Shorts and Reddit feed. So, I extended the app to cover these as well. To avoid replacing the scrolling for regular feeds, I also added a feature that shows a pop-up when…
2025 · scrollguard.app · its alternatives →
- 5
- 6
- 7
Block distractions to eliminate wasteful browsing habits
2017 · selfcontrol.apki.io · its alternatives →
- 8
Nomoresurf▲87Block distracting websites & make it harder to unblock them
2022 · nomoresurf.com · its alternatives →
- 9
BlockerX▲119BlockerX helps in overcoming compulsive watching of porn.
2021 · apps.apple.com · its alternatives →
- 10
- 11
ScreenBreak▲125Hi HN, I built ScreenBreak after realizing that most app blockers failed in practice. “Hard blocks” were too rigid — I either locked myself out entirely or tapped Ignore Limit and kept scrolling. There was no useful middle state. In reality, people still need to open apps like TikTok or Instagram for specific tasks: looking something up, replying to someone, checking updates, etc. The problem isn’t intentional use; it’s the unplanned, unconscious scrolling that follows. I wanted a system that interrupts the impulse without fully preventing access. ScreenBreak uses soft blocking plus…
Dec 2025 · screenbreak.app · its alternatives →
- 12
- 13
UnDistracted▲134Selectively block features of time wasting sites in chrome
2019 · chromewebstore.google.com · its alternatives →
- 14
Social media is the next big addiction.
2016 · soundcloud.com · its alternatives →
- 15
BW_BROWSER▲62"Block" addicting websites by graying them out 🤫
2020 · bwbrowser.com · its alternatives →
- 16
X Detox▲6Hide distractions on X and take back your focus
Jan 2026 · chromewebstore.google.com · its alternatives →
- 17
- 18
- 19
Break Social Media Addiction with NFC-Powered Blocking
2025 · abhijeets-code.itch.io · its alternatives →
- 20
- 21DI
Hi HN, It's super hard to quit addicting apps. Existing solutions are non-binding, and therefore, require constant self-discipline and vigilance to be effective. Which is ironic, considering the problem we are trying to solve, is a lack of self-discipline. There exists a physical solution to this problem, in the form of a time-locked safe[1]. It’s effective for reducing app usage, but it's cumbersome and inconvenient. Fundamentally, what these lock-boxes do is impose a real-world cost on breaking your commitment. It’s not impossible to break your commitment, but it would require destroying…
2023 · discipline.io · its alternatives →
- 22
Stop your fingers from taking you to the wrong website
2020 · chromewebstore.google.com · its alternatives →
- 23
Hey HN, A few months ago I noticed I was spending way too much time on YouTube + Reddit (like 4–5 hours per day). I tried a bunch of blockers, but most of them just hard-block everything… and when I actually need a YT for debugging, I end up disabling the blocker and never turning it back on. So I built ZenBlock to solve my problem: it blocks distracting sites, but when you try to open one, it shows a short breathing exercise, After that you can choose to get temporary access (5–30 min). The goal is to make you aware of distraction. this is more inclined towards Tech-wise: it’s built using…
Feb 2026 · zenblock.app · its alternatives →
- 24
Also compare
Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →