Comparisons
LeechBlock alternative: a delay that asks why, not just a countdown
If you want a free, open-source blocker you can lock down, keep LeechBlock NG. If its delaying page just makes you wait 60 seconds and then you go in anyway, WhyFirst replaces the countdown with one question — why are you opening this site right now — on Chrome, Edge and Firefox.
On this page
- Why people look for a LeechBlock alternative
- LeechBlock vs WhyFirst at a glance (as of Oct 23, 2026)
- Countdown vs a question: what is actually different
- LeechBlock's delaying page
- WhyFirst's check-in
- Where LeechBlock wins — and where WhyFirst does
- Where LeechBlock wins
- Where WhyFirst wins
- Switching from LeechBlock
- FAQ
- Try WhyFirst
Why people look for a LeechBlock alternative
LeechBlock is free, open source and genuinely hard to bypass — the reasons to look elsewhere come from how it stops you, not from what it costs.
- The delay is a timer, not a decision. Its optional delaying page counts down (default 60 seconds in common.js) and then releases you.
- It asks for no reason, so nothing records why you wanted the site.
- Setup is built for schedules, not for a handful of sites: up to 30 block sets by time period, budget, or both (site).
LeechBlock vs WhyFirst at a glance (as of Oct 23, 2026)
| WhyFirst | LeechBlock NG | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free; Pro $7.99 one-time (launch price, first 100 users — as of Oct 23, 2026; regular $16) | Free |
| Open source | No | Yes, MPL-2.0 (LICENSE) |
| Browsers | Chrome, Edge, Firefox | Firefox, Chrome, Edge and other Chromium browsers (site) |
| What happens before the site opens | You are asked why; write a reason, use an exception, or go back | Optional delaying page with a countdown, default 60 seconds (source); or a direct block |
| Phone app | Browser only | No app — a browser extension (site) |
| How rules are organised | One rule per site plus a site purpose; 5 rules on Free, unlimited on Pro | Up to 30 block sets, by time period, time budget, or both (site) |
| Path exceptions | Yes, in Pro | Yes, free — wildcards and + exceptions such as +allowme.somesite.com |
| Can it hard-block? | No | Yes — Lockdown, and a password or random code on the settings page |
| AI judgment of your reason | Optional, off by default; 30 free judgments after account verification | None |
| Firefox listing | Firefox Add-ons | Firefox Add-ons, about 112,840 daily users on Oct 23, 2026 |
| Chrome listing | v1.0.0 (2026-10-06) | 100,000 users, v1.8, updated 2026-10-12 (listing) |
| Chrome listing data disclosure | See below | "The developer has disclosed that it will not collect or use your data." |
Countdown vs a question: what is actually different
LeechBlock's delaying page
LeechBlock can block a site outright, or show a delaying page first. The delay is configurable, and the default in the extension's source is 60 seconds (delaySecs defaults to "60" in common.js). During those seconds nothing is asked of you: the page counts down and then releases you.
That works when the delay is long enough to be annoying and short enough to keep. It does not work when the wait itself becomes the ritual — you open a tab, do something else for a minute, and come back. The time was spent; the decision was not made.
WhyFirst's check-in
WhyFirst pauses the site before its content settles and asks a single question. You can write why you are there (the sentence is the point), spend one of the day's exceptions, or close the tab. Each rule also carries a purpose you wrote yourself, such as "only programming tutorials and conference talks", so the site is not judged as a category but against what you said it is for.
AI judgment is optional and off by default. When it is on, it compares your reason with that purpose and answers allow, block, or one clarifying question. When it is off, the check-in is still a pause with a text box and a record you can look at later.
Where LeechBlock wins — and where WhyFirst does
Where LeechBlock wins
- You want free and open source. LeechBlock is both, and you can read exactly what it does.
- You want a blocker that holds during work hours. Its block sets and Lockdown are built for that; WhyFirst will always let you through with an exception.
- You want path exceptions without paying. LeechBlock's wildcard and
+exception syntax is included; in WhyFirst, path rules are part of Pro. - You want many independent schedules. Up to 30 block sets cover cases a 5-rule free tier cannot.
Where WhyFirst wins
- It asks a question instead of running a timer. The check-in wants a written reason and keeps it, where LeechBlock's delaying page releases you when the countdown ends.
- The purpose is yours, in one sentence. Each rule carries what the site is for, and the pause is anchored to that sentence rather than to a category.
- It does not rewrite the site. WhyFirst draws its check-in in its own layer above the page, so it runs alongside LeechBlock instead of competing with it.
Switching from LeechBlock
There is no import step, and you do not need one for a first try. This is a manual setup:
- Pick the three to five sites where you most often wait out a countdown and then go in anyway. Free covers up to 5 site rules; Pro removes the limit.
- Add each site in WhyFirst and write the purpose you actually want for it, in one sentence. A vague purpose produces a vague check-in.
- Run both for a week: keep LeechBlock's hard schedule for work hours, and let WhyFirst handle those few sites the rest of the time.
- If you find yourself needing to pass a single video or article while the rest of a site stays paused, that is what path rules are for — they are part of Pro.
- Keep whichever tool you stopped arguing with. Deleting the other one is allowed.
FAQ
Is there a LeechBlock alternative that asks for a reason?
Yes. WhyFirst asks why you are opening a site before it opens, on Chrome, Edge and Firefox. It is soft friction rather than a hard block, so it complements LeechBlock rather than replacing its Lockdown.
How long is LeechBlock's delaying page by default?
60 seconds. The default comes from delaySecs in the extension's source (common.js), and the delay is configurable in LeechBlock's options.
Does WhyFirst work on Firefox?
Yes. WhyFirst has an official listing on Firefox Add-ons and runs the same extension on Chrome and Edge.
Can I use WhyFirst and LeechBlock at the same time?
Yes. They do different things: LeechBlock blocks, WhyFirst asks. Running LeechBlock for scheduled blocks and WhyFirst for a handful of everyday sites is a common pairing, and WhyFirst never modifies the pages you visit.
Is WhyFirst open source?
No. WhyFirst is closed source, and this page says so rather than leaving it out. LeechBlock NG is open source under MPL-2.0 if that is a requirement for you.
Try WhyFirst
Install WhyFirst free on Firefox, Chrome or Edge, add the sites you open without thinking, and keep LeechBlock for the hours you need a wall.
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Last updated: Nov 1, 2026. LeechBlock figures were read from its own site, source and store listings on that date. Related: StayFocusd alternative, BlockSite alternative, all website blocker comparisons. Spotted an error? Email support@whyfirst.app.