Compare Web Activity Tracker and StayFocusd: Which Extension is the Best?
Web Activity Time Tracker is an open-source extension that tracks time on websites, providing insights and customizable alerts to help manage online activities. | StayFocusd helps you block distracting websites with customizable time limits, nuclear mode, and smart scheduling. We tested this 600K+ user extension to see if it really boosts productivity. | |
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each extension. |
| • Website Time Limits: Set daily time limits for specific websites to control your usage • Nuclear Option: Block all websites except those on your allowed list for a set period • Customizable Blocking: Block entire sites, specific pages, or even in-page content like videos and images • Active Days/Hours: Define specific days and times when restrictions apply • Require Challenge: Enable a typing challenge to prevent easy changes to settings • YouTube Shorts Blocker: Block distracting components on YouTube, including shorts, comments, and recommendations • Usage Analytics: Get detailed statistics about your daily website usage • Cross-Device Sync: Connect Android devices and other browsers to sync usage limits |
| Our Rating Tooltivity's expert review score for each extension, based on hands-on testing and research. | 9.2 Winner in this category | 8.5 |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 37,321 | 617,582 Winner in this category |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 852 | 8,473 Winner in this category |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | 4.7 ⭐ | 4.7 ⭐ Winner in this category |
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the extension. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free |
| Chrome User rating and stats for the extension on Chrome browser. |  4.8 4.68 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 30.0K+Users Winner in this category | 4.5 4.65 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 600.0K+Users |
| Edge User rating and stats for the extension on Edge browser. |  4.6 4.44 Average Microsoft Edge Store rating from the last 100 reviews 7.3K+Users | 5.0 5.0 Average Microsoft Edge Store rating from the last 100 reviews 17.6K+Users Winner in this category |
| Firefox User rating and stats for the extension on Firefox browser. | - | - |
| Safari User rating and stats for the extension on Safari browser. | - | - |
| Features Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each extension. | 8.7 The tool offers the option of independently tracking your time on different websites. Compared to its competitors, it stands out because it has thought about which functions are important for effective tracking.  This can be seen, for example, in the function that automatically stops tracking if there is no activity on the website within a certain period. This avoids the problem faced by competitors: if several tabs are open, they all continue to be tracked simultaneously.  The reports are also very clearly presented, but there is still some room for improvement in the evaluation, for example by classifying the websites directly into categories such as social media or similar, so that they can be evaluated later. Winner in this category | 8.2 StayFocusd packs a solid set of productivity features. You can flexibly set website time limits, block domains, pages, or just distracting content (like videos or images). The “nuclear option” blocks everything except your allowed sites, which is a great focus booster. YouTube blocking targets shorts and recommendations, and usage analytics help you spot your browsing patterns. Cross-device sync is handy, though some advanced controls could be improved. |
| Performance Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each extension. | 9.7 The tool works reliably, there were no crashes or errors during testing. It tracks and reports data efficiently without you noticing any performance issues during use. A few users wrote in reviews that there were inaccuracies in the tracked time, which we could not reproduce in the test. Winner in this category | 8.4 The extension is lightweight and responsive, without slowing your browser. Features work reliably, and time limits activate quickly. Minor lags occur in the analytics dashboard and cross-device sync, but overall, performance is smooth and stable for day-to-day use. |
| Design Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each extension. | 9.0 The Design is clear and intuitive. Some design changes such as the dark mode can also be adjusted in the settings. In our opinion, the dashboard is the only area where there is still room for improvement in terms of presenting the evaluations.  Winner in this category | 8.3 The interface is simple and minimalist, sticking to productivity basics. Settings are well-organized and easy to navigate, with clear controls and indicators. While functional and easy to use, the look is a little dated and the analytics dashboard could be more engaging. It’s practical but not stylish. |
| Value for Money Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each extension. | 9.3 As a free tool, it offers good value for money for users looking for basic tracking features at no cost. In comparison with competitors, many functions are already offered, but other competitors still have useful functions, particularly in the evaluation of data, and there is still room for improvement here. | 9.5 All features are free—no ads, paywalls, or premium tiers. The feature set rivals paid competitors and includes regular updates. There’s great value for anyone seeking basic to moderate website blocking, though free tools like this sometimes lack advanced paid support. Winner in this category |
| Ease of Use Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each extension. | 9.0 Setting up the Web Activity Time Tracker is simple and does not require a great deal of technical skill. The tool is designed to be very user-friendly, including the setup with short instructions. The only thing that is a little confusing is that not all evaluations can be displayed in the dashboard via the icon. Only the evaluation for the current day is displayed here. Winner in this category | 8.5 Set up is fast and all main functions are accessible with just a few clicks. Adding sites or setting limits is straightforward, and tooltips help if you need them. The nuclear option and challenge features are easy to use but offer enough resistance to accidental changes. Mobile integration is available, though setup there could be smoother. It’s user-friendly with almost no learning curve. |
| Security & Privacy Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each extension. | 9.7 Web Activity Time Tracker performs almost perfectly here, as it does not collect or transmit any data. This data is only stored on the local computer. The entire code can be read open source on GitHub. Winner in this category | 7.9 StayFocusd runs mostly on your device and collects very little personal data. The privacy policy is transparent, and data for analytics is anonymized. The extension only requests required permissions, though some users may still worry about the broad “read and change all your data” permission. No tracking cookies or web beacons are used. |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each extension. | Web Activity Time Tracker is a perfect choice for anyone who wants to know how much time is spent on which websites. The user-friendly design and comprehensive reports make it an easy tool to increase productivity. The customizability of various features also stood out. Overall, it offers good added value, especially when you consider that it's free. | StayFocusd delivers on its promise to help you stay focused, but it's not a magic solution. We found it most effective when combined with genuine motivation to be more productive. The extension works best for people who want to reduce mindless browsing but still need occasional access to social media or entertainment sites. The free price tag makes StayFocusd an easy recommendation for anyone struggling with online distractions. While it won't solve deep productivity issues, it creates enough friction to make you more conscious of your browsing habits. The nuclear option is particularly useful for intense work sessions, and the customizable blocking options give you fine-grained control over your digital environment. If you're serious about improving your focus and don't mind the occasional frustration when you hit a time limit, StayFocusd is worth trying. Just remember that the most important part of any productivity tool is actually wanting to be more productive. |
| Our Recommendation | In our comparison between Web Activity Tracker and StayFocusd, Web Activity Tracker came out on top, scoring 9.2. StayFocusd is the most widely used, with over 618k users and 8k+ reviews, but Web Activity Tracker outperformed it in our review. User reviews reflect our findings. Notably, StayFocusd has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.73, which supports its strong performance in our review. There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below.
If you want a quick recommendation, Web Activity Tracker is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you. | |
