Project and task management decision
Freedom
A narrow, single- or small-device blocker with scheduling and server sync is realistic for a small team to build and run; reproducing Freedom’s polished cross-platform clients, locked-mode anti-bypass, and large user trust at scale is not practical without more engineering and time.
Visit website↗Open-source builds that already do this
Every project below is open source and already does this job today. Fork one, self-host it, or take the parts you need - the build prompt further down assumes an empty file, and this is the shortcut past that. Licences differ; check the one on each card before you ship. All Freedom alternatives, with the arithmetic →
What a replacement has to do
- Create a blocking session (select devices + blocklist + length), enforce blocking locally, and (optionally) sync session state across devices so the same block applies everywhere.
What it still won’t have
- Polished cross-platform native clients and deep OS-level blocking integrations (esp. mobile)
- Robust anti-bypass/locked-mode implementation across all OSes
- Large installed userbase, analytics, and ongoing product polish
- Focus audio catalog and partner perks
What remains hard
- Brand trust
4M+ people block distractions with Freedom
First-year cost
Keep paying
Paying is—cheaper in year one.
On cash alone, building overtakes the subscription at 11 seats.
Money you would actually spend
Time you would spend
—
What you would spend
What we assumed
The verdict above measures whether you could build it. This one is only about money.
Runnable build prompt
Build a minimal cross-device focus blocker using Node.js + SQLite for the server, a small REST API on a single t3.micro-equivalent host, and an Electron desktop client (Mac/Windows/Linux) plus a browser extension. In scope: user sign-up/login, create/edit/delete blocklists, start/stop scheduled sessions, locked-mode toggle, local enforcement of website blocking (hosts file or proxy) and basic desktop app blocking, session sync between clients, and a simple web UI to manage schedules. Out of scope: native mobile apps, advanced anti-bypass OS integrations, payment and perks marketplace, and proprietary focus audio catalog. Include error handling, unit tests for the API, and automated backup of the SQLite DB.
How we checked
How the score was reached
- Partly verdict base52
- An open-source build was found+5
- 5 cited sources+3
- Price verified on pricing page+3
- 3/3 assessment runs agreed+4
- Evidence score67
The base comes from the verdict. Everything under it is a check that either happened or did not, and each one is a fact frozen in this record rather than a judgement made at render time - so the same evidence always produces the same number.
How scoring works →Cited sources · 5
Every page the run actually retrieved.
- official productFreedom | Block Websites, Apps, and the Internet
- official pricingFreedom Premium | Plans & Pricing
- official docsFreedom Features | Block Distractions, Build Better Focus
- open sourceM66B/NetGuard
- open sourcepi-hole/pi-hole
Integrity checks
What held up, and what did not.
