Active-tab time tracking
Only counts time when you are actively on a tab - not when it's open in the background. Accurate, honest data.
Free Chrome Extension · No Signup
Take back your time from distracting websites.
FocusGuard tracks how long you spend on every site, lets you set daily limits, blocks distractions on demand, and runs Pomodoro-style focus sessions - all without leaving your device.
No account or signup
Zero data collected
100% free forever
Works offline
How it works
Up and running in under a minute
No account. No configuration wizard. Install and start tracking immediately.
Install the extension
Click "Add to Chrome" from the Chrome Web Store. FocusGuard is free and installs in seconds.
Browse normally
FocusGuard silently tracks active time on every tab. No manual start button needed.
Set your limits
Open the popup and add daily time limits for any site - YouTube, Reddit, TikTok, or any domain you choose.
Start a focus session
Run a 25, 50, or 90-minute Pomodoro timer. Distracting sites are blocked automatically while it runs.
Features
Everything you need to focus - nothing you don't
Lightweight, private, and built for people who want results without complexity.
Daily time limits & hard blocks
Set a soft limit (warning) or a hard block per domain. When the limit hits, you see a calm redirect screen instead of the site.
Pomodoro focus sessions
Choose 25, 50, 90 minutes, or a custom duration. All blocked sites stay blocked until the timer ends.
Full history dashboard
View your weekly and monthly browsing habits by site. Spot trends, see your best days, and measure improvement.
100% local - zero data leaving your device
All data lives in Chrome's local storage. No analytics SDK, no external API call, no server ever receives your browsing history.
Lightweight & offline-ready
Under 80 KB installed. Works without an internet connection. Never slows down your browser.
Comparison
How FocusGuard compares
Most productivity extensions cost money, require an account, or send your data to the cloud. FocusGuard doesn't.
| Feature | FocusGuard | RescueTime | StayFocusd | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free to use | ✓ Always free | Limited free tier | ✓ | ✗ Paid |
| No account required | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| No data sent to servers | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Active-tab time tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Custom per-site daily limits | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Lists only |
| Pomodoro / focus sessions | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Works offline | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Reviews
What users are saying
★★★★★
"I've tried RescueTime and StayFocusd. FocusGuard is the only one that doesn't require an account and actually feels trustworthy because nothing leaves my machine."
★★★★★
"Simple, lightweight, no drama. Set my Reddit limit to 15 minutes a day and haven't looked back. The focus session feature is a game changer for deep work."
★★★★★
"Love that it's completely free with no hidden paid tier. Most competitors lock the good stuff behind a subscription. FocusGuard just gives you everything."
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is FocusGuard really free with no hidden paid plan?
Yes. FocusGuard is 100% free - no freemium tier, no subscription, no one-time purchase. Every feature is available to everyone from day one.
Does FocusGuard collect or share my browsing data?
Never. All data is stored exclusively in Chrome's local storage on your own device. FocusGuard does not contact any external server, include any analytics SDK, or share anything with third parties. Your browsing history stays yours.
Do I need to create an account or sign in?
No account, no email, no Google sign-in required. Install the extension and start tracking immediately.
Which sites can I track and block?
Any website - YouTube, Reddit, Twitter/X, TikTok, Instagram, news sites, or any custom domain you type in. You can also block entire categories or add wildcard rules like *.social.
How is FocusGuard different from StayFocusd or RescueTime?
StayFocusd doesn't track time - it only blocks. RescueTime requires an account and sends your data to its servers (and limits features behind a paywall). FocusGuard combines accurate active-time tracking, per-site limits, hard blocking, and Pomodoro timers - all free and all local.
Will FocusGuard slow down my browser?
No. The extension is under 80 KB and uses minimal CPU. It has no impact on page load times and works entirely in the background without background network requests.
Can I use FocusGuard on multiple devices?
Since data is stored locally, settings and history are tied to each Chrome installation. Chrome sync can carry the extension itself across devices, but usage data stays local to each machine by design.
What happens when I hit a daily limit?
When you reach your set time limit for a site, FocusGuard redirects you to a calm, minimal page with your daily summary and a motivational message. You can optionally override it with a 5-minute grace period.