How Cactus blocks websites on Mac
Set it once. Cactus blocks those sites every week.
Choose the websites, days, and hours. The schedule keeps running after you close the window.
Seven days free. No card. A license is $19.99 USD once. Link handles checkout. By buying, you agree to the Terms and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
Days, hours, websites.
- 1
Choose recurring hours
Pick the days and times when websites should be blocked.
- 2
Add the websites
Enter YouTube, X, Reddit, or any other domain.
- 3
Close the window
Cactus keeps the schedule running after the window closes.
- 4
Check the menu bar
See whether blocking is active and when access returns.
An active block has no off switch in Cactus.
A Mac administrator can still remove Cactus and its local helper. No local app can honestly prevent that.
Your schedule and blocking state stay on your Mac.
No account or cloud sync. macOS asks for permission to install the helper that keeps scheduled blocks running.
The details, including the limits.
What a block covers
- Each website you add is blocked with its
wwwaddress.youtube.comalso coversm.youtube.com, andx.comalso coverstwitter.com. - Other subdomains and separate domains need their own entry, for example
youtu.be,old.reddit.com, ormusic.youtube.com. - Blocks apply to whole sites, not single pages. Entering a page address blocks the site it belongs to.
- The block is system-wide, so it applies in every browser and in apps that load those sites. No extension is involved.
How the schedule behaves
- One recurring schedule: the weekdays you pick, one start and end time in 15-minute steps, and one list of websites. Overnight ranges work.
- During a block there is no pause or end-early button. Edits made during a block apply to the next one.
- The helper keeps blocking when you quit Cactus, put the Mac to sleep, or restart it.
- Cactus sends no notifications. While it is open, the menu bar shows the current state and when access returns.
What can get around it
- A Mac administrator can remove Cactus or change system settings.
- Browsers using their own secure DNS, iCloud Private Relay, proxies, and some VPNs can affect blocking.
- Cactus does not block desktop apps.
For step-by-step alternatives, read how to block websites on Mac or how to block websites on a schedule.
Before you install Cactus.
No. You cannot turn off an active block in Cactus, but a Mac administrator can still remove the app and its local helper.
No. Cactus blocks websites at the Mac level, so you do not need to install an extension in each browser.
No. Your schedule, blocked websites, and current blocking state stay on your Mac.
Try Cactus free for seven days.
The trial starts when you turn on your first schedule. No account or card.
Seven days free. No card. A license is $19.99 USD once. Link handles checkout. By buying, you agree to the Terms and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.