The difference
| App blocker | Website blocker (Intent Guard) | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Native apps on your phone | Websites in Safari |
| Typical setup | Screen Time limits or a Screen Time–based app | A Safari extension with the sites you choose |
| The gap it leaves | The same service in the browser | Native apps you keep installed |
When to use which
If you want to keep an app but use it less, an app blocker or Screen Time limit is the right tool. If you've already deleted the app and now open the website instead, a website blocker covers the gap the app blocker can't see.
For firmer boundaries, combine them: limit the apps you keep, delete the worst ones, and put an intent wall in front of their websites.
How it works
- Add a Site Target. Type a domain such as youtube.com or reddit.com, or narrow it to a path like youtube.com/shorts.
- Choose an intent wall. Pick how much friction stands between you and the site, and how long access lasts once you choose to go in: anywhere from 1 to 60 minutes.
- Turn on the Safari extension. Enable Intent Guard in Safari and allow it on your target sites. The app walks you through each switch.
- See the wall once. Open the site in Safari. When the wall appears, protection is live; until then, Intent Guard won't pretend it is.
Questions
- Does it block the native apps too?
- No. Intent Guard protects websites in Safari. It's built for people who have already deleted the app and find themselves opening the website instead. For native apps, use Screen Time app limits alongside it.
- What about Chrome or other browsers?
- Intent Guard works in Safari only. If you use other browsers, Screen Time's website restrictions can cover them, or remove them so Safari is the one browser you use.