StayFree

Overview

StayFree tracks usage across devices and offers tools to curb distracting apps and websites. It is best suited to people who want both a broader picture of their screen time and configurable ways to intervene, rather than a single-purpose blocker. Its free plan covers the core mix of reporting and usage controls; the trade-off is that the range of controls spans several platforms and device types.

Interventions need not shut down an entire site: StayFree can hide distracting social-media elements, while website limits can block further use, send a notification, or show a dismissible popup. That flexibility is useful when a firm cutoff feels too blunt, though a dismissible prompt is a softer boundary than a block.

Key features

Cross-device reporting and controls

Usage statistics and graphs bring activity into view across connected devices. Users can link mobile, PC, and smartwatch data with a six-digit pairing code, which makes the reports more useful for someone switching among devices than a device-by-device view. Application limits, scheduled limits, and focus sessions pair measurement with action.

Blocking and focus options

Instant blocks, scheduled blocks, daily limits, and session limits cover both immediate distractions and recurring routines. Focus Mode can make selected websites inaccessible on a schedule or when manually activated. For social media, hiding distracting parts can preserve access to the rest of a site. The range suits people who want to adjust the strictness of a boundary; those seeking only a simple, single-device timer may not need this breadth.

Extension safeguards and data controls

The extension’s Backup & Restore settings can export or import usage data and settings, delete history, or reset settings. PIN Protection adds a barrier to changing significant extension settings, useful when users want their restrictions harder to undo casually. Support is offered by email at [email protected] and through a Discord community.

Pricing

StayFree: free. The free plan includes cross-device screen-time tracking and usage control, making it a straightforward fit for individuals who want reports and limits without a subscription. No paid StayFree plan is described, so there is no higher tier to compare for expanded capacity or features.

Platforms

StayFree supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Wear OS. That spread is a strength for people who use a mix of computers, phones, browsers, and a smartwatch; device linking still requires pairing each relevant device with a six-digit code.

Who it's for

StayFree suits people managing screen habits for work or personal use, particularly those who move between devices and want usage reports alongside scheduled or threshold-based controls. Its adjustable website responses and social-media element hiding fit users who prefer graduated friction over blocking every site outright. Someone who wants an uncomplicated blocker on just one platform may find the cross-device emphasis unnecessary.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Free cross-device reports and usage controls make it possible to track and act without a paid tier.
• Pros: Instant, scheduled, daily, and session controls offer several ways to set boundaries, including lighter website prompts.
• Pros: Support for desktop, mobile, browsers, and Wear OS can accommodate mixed-device routines.
• Cons: A dismissible popup or notification is less decisive than blocking, so users seeking an enforceable cutoff should choose the block response.
• Cons: The broad platform and control set may be more than someone needs for a basic single-device limit.

Alternatives

Screen Time Management Apps is the broader category to browse if StayFree’s combination of reports and controls is not the right fit.

Freedom is worth considering for users who want app, website, or internet blocking with multi-device sync and custom blocklists; its free plan has limited features.

Opal may suit someone who wants a basic free app-blocking option with timers and soundscapes across iOS, Android, and Mac; its free plan is limited to one rule and today-only Opal Score.

ScreenZen is another free option, across Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows; its core app is free and donations are optional.

YourHour is an Android- and iOS-only alternative with a free download that contains ads and in-app purchases.

AppBlock is an alternative for readers looking for an app blocker on Android, iOS, or as an extension.

Focusly may appeal to users who want a free, offline-capable extension or desktop app with no account and an MIT license.

one sec is an alternative for users considering a freemium option with a paid Pro plan at $6.99 a month.

Hikage is a macOS alternative whose free plan records app and website usage locally and includes data export, iCloud backup, and statistics.

Verdict

Choose StayFree if you want free usage reports and a range of ways to set limits across a varied device lineup. Its strongest reason to choose it is the blend of cross-device visibility with flexible interventions; look elsewhere if a simpler, narrower tool better matches how you manage distractions.