The Best Porn Blockers

Pornography is more accessible and prevalent than ever. With high-speed internet and smartphones, unlimited adult content is just a couple of clicks away at all times. Plus, explicit content can now appear anywhere, not just on porn websites.

If you’re grappling with pornography addiction, the constant availability of explicit materials online can present a significant challenge. Resisting urges may feel impossible when the porn you crave is always at your fingertips. 

This is where porn blockers come in. Blockers can help you regain control of your online experience by restricting access and filtering out explicit material. These porn filters are not an alternative to seeking professional support through porn addiction treatment. But they do offer a valuable tool for helping you avoid responding to addiction triggers in the short term.

What Are Porn Blockers?

Porn blockers are tools designed to limit the ease of access to pornography on the internet. They work by blocking access to known porn sites and filtering out explicit material from search engine results and other online platforms. You can install blockers on various internet-accessible devices like computers, smartphones, and tablets. 

Understanding Porn Blockers

These blockers work by using filters to identify and block access to websites known to contain pornography. They can also block access to sites based on keywords associated with adult or inappropriate content. 

Types of porn blockers:

• Individual Device Settings. Most Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS devices have built-in website-blocking capabilities. You can restrict and block explicit content by changing the device’s parental control settings.
• Browser Filtering. Built-in browser filters and extensions like Google’s “Safe Search” can help filter out explicit content from search engine results.
• Router-Based Porn Blocking. Many routers now allow you to modify settings to block certain websites or all explicit content. Some routers like Gryphon are even designed for this purpose. These filters are then applied to every device using your home Wi-Fi network. But they no longer work once a device is out of the house.
• DNS Filtering. Changing your device’s DNS settings to a filtering software such as Clean Browsing is a more technical way to block access to adult websites. DNS filtering can be set up on your home network or individual devices.
• Porn Blocking Apps. Many downloadable third-party apps are specifically designed to help block explicit content. These apps can be installed onto each of your devices and offer more advanced features than the built-in controls.
• Accountability Features. Some porn-blocking apps like Covenant Eyes also offer accountability features. These apps monitor your internet usage and send notifications and reports to accountability partners.

While built-in parental controls and filters are free and simple to use, they come with limitations. Primarily aimed at parents wanting to restrict explicit content for children, these blockers are easy for most adults to turn off or bypass. They’re also less effective at catching new or lesser-known websites.

Third-party porn blocker apps and software provide far more comprehensive protection for those recovering from porn addictions. These apps offer more advanced filtering, customization, and accountability features. They make it easier to stick to your goals and resist relapse triggers.

Built-in content filters are a good first line of defense, but the most effective way to block porn is by using multiple layers of protection.

Benefits of porn blocking:

• Reduced Exposure and Cravings. Blockers act as a barrier, making it more difficult to access pornography. This wall can be crucial for stopping compulsive cycles and reducing cravings and triggers.
• Increased Accountability and Support. Some blockers offer features like website visit reporting and will share this data with an accountability partner. This external accountability can be a powerful tool for staying committed to recovery.
• Relapse Prevention. Recovery from porn addiction isn’t easy, and relapses can happen. Blockers act as a safety net, making slipping back into old patterns more difficult.
• Customization for Specific Needs. Blockers allow precise control of what content you can access. You can tailor the filters to block specific types of content or the sites that trigger you most. You even block access during high-risk times when your cravings are stronger, such as at night.

But no porn blocker is perfect. You probably can find a way around most blockers, if you try.

Limitations and challenges of porn blockers:

• Not Foolproof. New adult websites appear all the time, and blockers may not catch everything right away, especially if they rely solely on website blacklists.
• Technical Limitations. If you’re particularly tech-savvy, it may be easy to find ways to bypass certain blockers by using VPNs or proxy servers.
• Doesn’t Combat the Root Cause. If you have a porn addiction, a blocker won’t be enough. Most people still find other ways to seek out porn. To combat your addiction long term, it’s important to get professional support. Working with a therapist can help you uncover the underlying issues or trauma that cause porn addiction and begin your healing journey. 

Features and Functionality

So what exactly should you look for in a porn blocker if you want that layer of protection from online content? Most blockers have slightly different features and functionalities, depending on their purpose. Some are also more advanced than others. Below are some of the key features to look for when evaluating a porn blocker.

Key features of an effective porn blocker:

• Blocking Pornographic Websites and Apps. The main function of any porn blocker is to identify and block access to websites and apps containing pornographic material. This is done by maintaining a database (or “blacklist”) of URLs that are flagged as inappropriate.
• Blocking Explicit Content. Blockers should also filter out explicit and inappropriate content on other web pages, not just known porn sites, minimizing your exposure to potential triggers. They evaluate the content of each webpage using keyword filtering and image recognition.
• Allowing Controlled Access. The best blockers let you customize your filters and choose blocking levels. This advanced control gives you the ability to view necessary content while still maintaining restrictions on explicit material.
• Filtering on Search Engines and Social Media. Porn-blocking apps should also enforce Safe Search on search engines and restricted modes on video sites and social media sites.
• Real-Time Monitoring and Reporting. By monitoring your screen and sending activity reports to a chosen partner, blockers can help promote transparency and accountability. This feature helps remove the temptation to seek out porn, even when the filters are switched on.
• Time Limits and Screen Time Management. Many blockers allow you to set screen time limits and schedule internet use. This feature can help you set boundaries and prevent excessive exposure to potentially harmful content.
• Blocker Removal Prevention. This feature stops attempts to uninstall or disable the blocker. Removal prevention can be done by giving administrative controls to another person or sending alerts if you attempt to remove the software.

Popular Porn Blockers

Finding the right blocker depends on your specific needs and requirements, as well as the types of devices you want to protect. To get started, these are some of the most popular blockers available at the moment.

The best porn blockers:

• Covenant Eyes. Known for its accountability-focused approach, Covenant Eyes blocks explicit content and monitors your online activity, sending detailed reports to designated accountability partners.
• Clean Browsing. Clean Browsing provides DNS-based filtering for network-wide protection on all of your devices. It is versatile software that offers highly customizable filtering options. However, it is slightly more complicated to install.
• Net Nanny. A family-focused porn blocker software, Net Nanny evaluates the content of web pages in real time and filters out adult content. It sends alerts of online activity to a parental control app, so it can also be used as an accountability tool.
• Canopy. A user-friendly porn blocker that offers cross-device protection, Canopy has patented AI technology to filter out explicit content in real-time on all websites. It also offers customizable filtering levels, screen time scheduling, and reporting features.
• Norton Family. Part of the Norton Security suite, Norton Family allows parents to monitor their children’s online activities, set time limits, and block inappropriate content across various devices and platforms.
• BlockerX. A dedicated porn blocker app you can download on any device, BlockerX offers customizable filtering options and the option to add an accountability partner. The app also gives you access to educational resources and community features. 

When choosing a porn blocker, it’s essential to check its compatibility with each of your devices and operating systems too.

Do Porn Blockers Work?

Blockers are effective tools for parents wanting to limit children’s exposure to explicit adult content. They also work for adults who want to reduce the amount of online pornography they watch.

But for some, watching pornography is more than just an unhealthy habit. If your urge to watch porn is harming your mental health, relationships, and overall well-being, you may have a porn addiction. In this case, relying solely on a porn blocker likely isn’t enough. 

Blocking porn does not treat the underlying cause of addiction. Even with filters, most people with addictions will still find other ways to seek out porn to satisfy their urges.

Blockers can be useful for creating a safer online environment and providing a barrier against triggers. But overcoming porn addiction long-term requires professional support and a more comprehensive approach. Therapy and lifestyle changes can all help you effectively heal from your addiction.

Treating Porn Addiction at BAI

At Begin Again Institute, we believe that pornography addiction can stem from an adverse coping mechanism for dealing with negative emotions. This need for emotion regulation often results from unresolved trauma in your past. 

Our porn addiction treatment programs, like our 14-Day Men’s Intensive and 14-Day Christian Men’s Intensive, can help you uncover the underlying issues or trauma that may have caused your addiction. Our team of experts will then give you the skills you need to stop viewing porn and reclaim your life. If you’re ready to start your recovery process, contact us today.