8 Tools to Help You Block Content and Websites on Your Devices | Software

If you wish to keep your devices away from any unwanted services or websites, you should consider installing a content or ad blocker that will keep the unwanted items out of your way. Many of these tools let you define what you would like to block and do their work accordingly.

In this week’s roundup we cover eight tools from our Software Discovery section that help you block content or websites on your devices. Some of these tools will limit your access to websites, while others will completely block access to certain content on your device. Let’s check them out.

1. SelfControl

SelfControl is a free and open-source application for macOS that lets you block your own access to distracting websites, your mail servers, or anything else on the Internet.

• Block access to websites
• Set a time period for blocking websites

2. AskBlocker

AskBlocker blocks overly-eager permission requests for notifications, location, etc., such as the requests made before you interacted with the page.

• Block notifications and location-sharing requests
• Unblocks when you interact with the webpage

3. Block Facebook

Block Facebook allows you to block all things Facebook, which includes any web addresses associated with Facebook.

• Block everything having to do with Facebook

4. 3P Request Blocker

3P Request Blocker prevents your browser from connecting to third-party domains without your consent. It increases your privacy, security, and speed by blocking unnecessary requests.

• Block all third-party requests
• Wildcard for source/destination domain
• Configurable options

5. Blokada

Blokada efficiently blocks ads, tracking and malware. It saves your data plan, makes your device faster and protects your privacy. It’s free, open source and secure.

• Works across all apps
• Works on non-rooted phones as well
• Supports both WiFi and mobile networks

6. PawBlock

PawBlock helps you block websites to prevent procrastination and excessive web surfing so that you can get something important done first.

• Blocks distracting websites
• Helps improve productivity
• Configurable list of blacklisted websites

7. uBlock Origin

uBlock Origin is a free and open-source, cross-platform browser extension for content filtering, including ad-blocking.

The extension is available for several browsers: Safari (Beta), Chrome, Edge (Beta), Firefox, and Opera.

uBlock Origin has received praise from technology websites and is reported to be much less memory-intensive than other extensions with similar functionality. uBlock Origin’s stated purpose is to give users the means to enforce their own (content-filtering) choices.

• It is a wide-spectrum blocker
• Block ads, trackers and malware sites
• Has own filter lists
• Free and open source

8. Adblock Plus

Adblock Plus is a free extension that allows you to block annoying ads, disable tracking and block domains known to spread malware. Available for Android, Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Maxthon, Opera, Safari, and Yandex, Adblock Plus allows you to choose filters to block all unwanted elements.

• Block Ads
• Allow Acceptable Ads
• Disable Tracking
• Disable Malware Domains
• Disable Social Media Buttons

The tools above help you block access to a variety of things such as websites and mail servers. If you find these tools helpful and would like to learn more about other useful apps, consider checking out our Software Discovery section that is loaded with tons of apps you can use on a daily basis. Do let us know what you think about our software section in the comments below.