If you want to block websites on Google Chrome, you will need to make sure you have the proper tools / software to do so.

Regardless of the reasons behind the blocking, there are a number of websites that are simply unhealthy on the modern web – social media, adult (porn) sites, and illegal sites are just 3 examples.

Fortunately, due to the way Chrome includes “extensions,” the site-specific blocking process generally depends on what plugin you are able to download / install.

From a technical perspective, “blocking” sites is very simple: you have to make sure to stop the outgoing request or the returned data that comes as part of the HTTP process.

Every time you access a website, what your computer does is basically send a request to a remote server. Then the server will respond with an HTML code that your system will display on the screen (or do whatever it takes with it).

The point is, since ALL “web” traffic goes over HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol), there is a pattern in which a “blocker” can be introduced.

As mentioned, there are several “lockdown” tools.

They are not very difficult to create (hence their multitude). The most important thing to remember is that the additional option carries additional functionality: always be careful about the nature of the systems that have been designed (99% of them are not worth it).

To this end, the following 3 are generally considered the most popular and effective for blocking sites in Chrome:

1. BlockSite (20,454 reviews / 1,455,842 users)

This is the most popular extension for blocking websites on Chrome.

I use it for the simplicity of the interface: it is effective without being too simplistic.

The system is as straightforward as you would expect from a site blocker: it works mainly with URLs (websites), which you can put in a big “blacklist”. It also has a single switch to block adult content.

One of the main benefits of the system is that it replaces blocked websites with motivational images, allowing the user to refrain from the giveaway that the various apps / sites they have blocked might have.

2. StayFocusd (6,917 reviews / 717,826 users)

StayFocusd is actually one of the most popular extensions, mainly because a relatively large number of “self-help” people have recommended it.

The most important thing to recognize is that the system was not designed as a “blocking” tool, but as a means of managing your Internet activity.

In the modern world, with most people using digital devices to at least help with their work, having distractions in the form of a myriad of different websites can often lead to mindless internet surfing that lasts for hours.

StayFocusd focuses on a “timer” system through which you can determine the amount of time you can spend on a particular website. While this obviously includes blocking the site / app entirely, it is interesting because it gives you the ability to determine exactly which sites you are spending the most time on.

System features include blocking entire websites, blocking websites / web pages based on keywords or content, and having a “core” option that allows you to block access to “all” websites for a period of time.

3. TinyFilter (897 reviews / 204,999 users)

This works slightly differently than the previous two.

Rather than blocking specific websites (which can be done), its main feature is to intelligently “filter” content based on different triggers (keywords, file names, domains, etc.).

If you are looking to use a system that will intelligently block adult content, gun related content, certain videos (YouTube videos blocked without sites being blocked), then TinyFilter would be the best for you.

The system works by providing a “black list” (blocked content) and a “white list” (allowed content) to give users the ability to determine exactly what types of content will be blocked. It also provides a “password protection” function through which the administrator can protect the settings.

Again, the big difference with this tool lies in how it handles blocked content. Other services simply block websites outright or have a crude “trigger” mechanism. TinyFilter is relatively granular in its approach.

While obviously the choice is yours as to where you put your time / focus, all of the above works with similar results.

The main differentiator lies in the way the systems work and if their interfaces work in line with what you want / expect from such a system.