Build or Bill

Health, home and travel

PushLock alternatives

2 open-source projects that already do this job. Free to use - not free to run, which is what the numbers on the right are for.

The full assessment →

The projects

SelfControlMac app to block your own access to distracting websites etc for a predetermined period of time.Open on GitHub curbox-androidFree Open Source App & Website BlockerOpen on GitHub

What you give up either way

  • App Store polish, brand recognition, and user review base
  • Tight OS-level blocking behavior possible only with private entitlements or MDM (may not be reproducible)
  • Cross-device sync and cloud backups (not scoped)
  • Long-term trust, analytics and marketing the existing app provides

An open-source project doing the core job proves a replacement is possible. It does not prove it matches PushLock, and it does not prove anyone has run it for a month. How we decide.