The Best App Blockers for Android, Compared

By Fred Smith, maker of Drill Sergeant / Updated October 19, 2026/ 8 min read

The short answer

For hard blocks, AppBlock (10M+ installs, Strict Mode) is the default pick, with Stay Focused and Lock Me Out close behind. For a gentle pause, one sec, which can also remove just Reels or Shorts. To make each scroll cost effort, Pushscroll, Push Up Time or Drill Sergeant. For free and built in, Digital Wellbeing.

Android gives blockers more power than iPhone does: they can see which screen you're on, lock settings and even block their own uninstall. That's why the strongest blockers live here. Below are the ones with real track records on Google Play, with installs and ratings as of 19 October 2026, and what each does best. We make Drill Sergeant, one of them; we've kept to the facts.

The comparison

App	Installs	Rating	Best at
AppBlock^[1]	10M+	4.7 (247K)	Hard blocks, schedules, Strict Mode
Stay Focused^[2]	5M+	4.4 (173K)	Strict Mode, a Shorts blocker, a study timer
one sec^[3]	1M+	4.8 (46K)	A breathing pause; removes only Reels or Shorts
Lock Me Out^[4]	1M+	4.5 (11K)	Password-protected settings and uninstall
Pushscroll^[5]	500K+	4.7 (15K)	Exercise to unlock; levels and streaks
Push Up Time: AI App Blocker^[6]	500K+	4.7 (6.3K)	Exercise to unlock, free with ads
Drill Sergeant^[9]	New	Too new to have one	Push-ups or real work to unlock; daily objectives; a squad
Digital Wellbeing^[7]	Built in	n/a	Free app timers; an app limits PIN

Best for hard blocks: AppBlock

The most installed blocker here. Block apps and sites on schedules, and turn on Strict Mode to lock your block settings, stop AppBlock from being uninstalled and keep you out of the settings where you'd switch it off^[8]. Pick your way out first: a PIN, a charger, a timer, a schedule or a trusted contact.

Best all-rounder: Stay Focused

App and site blocking with a Strict Mode, a Shorts blocker, a pomodoro study timer, location-based blocking and an alarm that keeps ringing until you solve a challenge^[2]. Lots of features; the lowest rating of the big three.

Best gentle option: one sec

A short breathing pause before your chosen apps, the approach with the strongest research behind it. On Android it can also remove just YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels and leave the rest of the app alone^[3]. Free for one app, Pro for more.

Best for locking yourself out: Lock Me Out

Password protection for entry, uninstall and tampering, lockouts based on time, opens or unlocks, and the option to allow only chosen apps^[4]. Its listing also points you to dontkillmyapp.com if your phone kills it in the background, which is worth doing for any blocker.

Best for making scrolling cost effort

Pushscroll and Push Up Time unlock apps for exercise counted by the camera; Push Up Time is free with ads^[6]. Drill Sergeant does push-ups too (ten buy ten minutes) but also lets you unlock with a report of real work, up to an hour a day, and Captain Jack turns your goals into daily objectives. It blocks Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Threads.

Pick one and turn it on today. The best blocker is the one that is running.

Before you install any of them

Accessibility permission: most of these need it to see which app is open. It's powerful; check what the privacy policy says the app does with it.
Battery optimisation: exclude the blocker, or some phones will quietly close it.
Your way out: with strict modes, set up an emergency unlock before you need one.

On iPhone instead? See Opal alternatives. Want the deep dive on strictness? Is there an app blocker you can't turn off?

Questions people ask

What is the best free app blocker for Android?

Digital Wellbeing is built into most Android phones and costs nothing, but you can delete its timers. Of the apps, AppBlock, Stay Focused and one sec all start free with paid upgrades, and Push Up Time: AI App Blocker is free with ads.

Why does an Android app blocker need Accessibility permission?

It's the only way Android lets an app notice which other app is on screen and step in front of it. A good blocker uses it only for that; read the privacy policy, because the permission is powerful.

Why does my app blocker stop working?

Often battery optimisation: some phone brands close background apps aggressively. Exclude the blocker from battery optimisation in Settings. Lock Me Out points users to dontkillmyapp.com for phone-specific steps.

Which Android app blocker is hardest to get around?

AppBlock's Strict Mode and Lock Me Out's password protection can both stop you from changing settings or uninstalling the blocker. Choose how you'll unlock it in an emergency before you turn them on.