should you use Freedom or dimmer?

Freedom is a blocker whose strength is reach: one session can block distractions on every device you own. dimmer is narrower and gentler: it works in Chrome on your computer and turns sites down rather than off.

what Freedom is

according to its own site, Freedom blocks distracting apps, websites or the entire internet. you schedule focus sessions or start them when you need to, build blocklists, and can turn on a locked mode that stops you quitting a session early. it also includes ambient sounds for focusing.

it runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Chromebook and Linux, and it can sync a blocking session across all your devices, so starting a session on your laptop blocks the same apps on your phone. there is a limited free version and paid plans, with a free trial.

how dimmer is different

dimmer never blocks. on the sites you choose in Chrome, it puts a short pause before they open, turns them gray from the first frame and hides their feeds. with pro, videos play slower and scrolling takes more effort. you can write a promise and add a friend who hears if you break it. turning things down, pausing or removing a site waits 24 hours, which keeps you from undoing your settings on a whim.

	Freedom	dimmer
approach	blocks apps and sites in sessions	pauses and dulls sites, never blocks
devices	computers and phones, synced	Chrome on a computer
locking	locked mode for sessions	turning down waits 24 hours
accountability partner	not mentioned on its site	yes
pricing	limited free version, paid plans	free plan, optional pro subscription

when Freedom is the better choice

• your phone is as much of the problem as your laptop, and you want one tool for both.
• you work in focused blocks, and a session that blocks everything for two hours suits how you work.
• you want to block apps outside the browser, not just websites.
• you use more than one browser.

when dimmer is the better choice

• the problem is mostly Chrome on your laptop, and you need some of the sites during the day.
• sessions don’t fit your day, and you’d rather the sites were always a bit duller than sometimes completely gone.
• you want an accountability partner built in.
• you’d like the sites you visit to stay in your browser. dimmer only ever sends counts to its server, never pages.

if you’re unsure which approach suits you, our comparison of blocking with gentler options lays out the trade-offs. if you’re also weighing a one-time purchase, see dimmer vs Cold Turkey Blocker.

what we say about Freedom comes from its own site, checked in october 2026.Freedom is a trademark of its owner; dimmer isn’t affiliated with it. if something here is out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it.