Android Website Blocker App Idea: Stop Distraction Sites Across Chrome and the Whole Phone
A free Android app that blocks distracting sites at the device level (not just in one browser) so deleting the app doesn't get undone by browsing to it.
need free app suggestion for android that can block certain websites
ive deleted facebook but still find myself browsing from chrome - so would like to block it
The problem, in the searcher’s words
I deleted Facebook (or Instagram, Twitter, etc.) from my phone but I keep opening Chrome and going to the site anyway. I need a free app that actually blocks the site so I can't just type the URL and get in.
The tricky part is scope: do I want it blocked just in Chrome, or everywhere on the phone (other browsers, in-app browsers, etc.)? A simple browser extension or site blocker might only stop Chrome, while something that blocks it at the network/DNS level is harder to bypass by switching apps.
Most people asking this just want a quick, free, low-effort fix — they're not looking to pay for a subscription, they just want the temptation removed.
What the thread shows
A single user with a common self-control problem (compulsively revisiting a deleted app via browser) was pointed to an existing free tool (RethinkDNS) and confirmed it solved the issue, with no other users corroborating the pain or indicating they'd pay for a solution.
“ive deleted facebook but still find myself browsing from chrome - so would like to block it”
“Are you trying to block Facebook only in Chrome, or across the whole phone? If it’s only Chrome, a browser/site blocker may be enough. If you want it blocked everywhere, DNS-based blocking is usually harder to casually bypass.”
“Yes thank you It's working”
“is rethink an app for android?”
Target customer
Who
Someone trying to reduce social media use who has deleted the app but keeps accessing the site through a mobile browser
Context
Right after deleting a distracting app, when willpower alone isn't enough to stop typing the URL into Chrome
What to build
- Device-wide DNS or VPN-based blocking (not just a Chrome extension)
- Simple list-based UI to add/remove blocked domains
- One-tap block toggle for common distraction sites (Facebook, Instagram, X, etc.)
- Works without root access
- Basic scheduling (block during work hours, allow at other times)
Build note — Android's app-level blocking is unreliable across browsers; effective solutions use a local VPN or DNS-based approach (as RethinkDNS does) to intercept traffic system-wide. Any MVP should study this DNS/VPN interception model rather than building a simple app-blocker.
Later, if it lands
Who’s already out there
Free, open-source Android firewall/DNS app that can block domains system-wide, including in browsers.
Gap: Solves the technical blocking problem but is a general-purpose firewall tool, not tailored to habit-breaking (no cool-down friction, scheduling UX, or relapse-prevention features aimed at casual users).
Cross-platform app/extension that blocks websites and apps on Android and Chrome.
Gap: Browser/app-level blocking can be easier to bypass by switching browsers or uninstalling; premium features are paywalled.
Cross-device app and website blocker with scheduling and session locking.
Gap: Subscription-based, which conflicts with the free-tool expectation shown in this thread.
Demand read
The thread shows a real but low-stakes friction point (deleted-app relapse via browser) that was resolved with an existing free tool within a few comments, and the OP explicitly sought a free option, suggesting limited monetizable demand from this specific signal.
Worth digging into before you build
5 to considerNo idea is a sure thing at this stage — these are open questions worth checking yourself, not a verdict against building it.
Thin Source
Only one OP and a handful of short comments; not enough material to establish broad demand.
Single Voice
Only the OP expresses the pain point; commenters just supply solutions, no one else corroborates the problem.
Already Solved
OP confirmed RethinkDNS (DNS-based blocking) worked ('Yes thank you It's working'), showing the problem was solved with an existing free tool.
Generic Idea
Website/app blocking is a saturated category (RethinkDNS, BlockSite, Freedom, etc.); a new entrant would struggle to differentiate.
Weak Demand
OP explicitly asked for a free app and no one in the thread signals willingness to pay.