I’m looking for feedback on the Freedom App. I’m considering using it to block distractions while I work, but I want to know if it’s effective. Does it really help with focusing or are there any downsides? Would appreciate your insights or experiences with it.
I tried Freedom and, honestly, it does what it says on the surface—blocks websites and apps. But, let’s be real, if you’re determined to distract yourself, you’ll find a way. Like, I literally caught myself scrolling on a second device while Freedom was running on my main one. Not a proud moment.
That said, I do think it works well if you’re serious about focus and not actively sabotaging yourself. You can create sessions and block specific things, and the sync across devices is kinda neat. My beef, though, is with how rigid it is. Once you start a session, you can’t just stop it unless you reboot the program—or your whole computer. It’s both a blessing and a curse because if you actually need to check something, you’re screwed.
Another thing: it’s subscription-based. Like, why does EVERYTHING have a subscription these days? If you’re willing to pay for it, it might be worth it, but there are free alternatives that do a similar job.
In short, if your self-control’s on the fence and you don’t mind locking yourself in, it can help. But it’s not foolproof—distraction addicts like me will find a workaround.
Freedom App? Oh, the sweet promise of focus and productivity. Here’s my spiel: it’s fine, but hardly life-changing. It blocks distractions, sure, but aren’t we all professional procrastinators at this point? Like, if I really want to avoid working, I’ll just doodle, stare wistfully out a window, or—dare I say—clean my fridge. Freedom can’t block my fridge.
But seriously, it does its job. You can customize the blocked apps/sites list, schedule sessions, and it syncs across devices. That’s cool and all, but I agree with @jeff on one thing: the rigidity. Sometimes, I accidentally start a session and realize I NEED to look something up… BAM, totally locked out unless I shut down the computer, which is annoying.
About the subscription model: yeah, annoying, but it’s common now. Some people say it’s worth it, others call it a grift. Depends on how much you value uninterrupted work, I guess. Also, pro tip: a lot of free extensions (like StayFocusd) do almost the same thing if you’re cheap like me.
So, will it help you focus? Maybe. If you’re legit serious about cutting distractions, it’s a decent tool. If you just want it to magically erase your procrastination instincts, whelp, no app’s gonna save you from yourself.