Freedom uses two separate blocking systems on iOS to help you stay focused: Screen Time-based app blocking and VPN-based website blocking. These systems work together to provide comprehensive blocking across apps and the web.

1. App Blocking (Screen Time)

Freedom uses Apple’s built-in Screen Time controls to block apps on your device.

When a session is active:

Selected apps will be blocked when you try to open them
You’ll see the Freedom block screen instead of the app
Blocking will start and stop even if your device is offline

This is the most reliable method of blocking on iOS. Because Screen Time runs directly on your device, it does not rely on syncing with Freedom’s servers. This means:

Sessions will start and stop exactly on time
Blocking continues consistently, even if your device is idle or backgrounded

For these reasons, we strongly recommend using Screen Time for app blocking whenever possible.

2. Website Blocking (VPN / Freedom Profile)

To block websites across browsers and apps, Freedom uses a local VPN configuration called the Freedom Profile.

When enabled:

Web traffic is filtered through Freedom (See: How the Freedom Profile (VPN) works)
Blocked websites will not load
This works across all browsers and many apps

This method allows Freedom to block websites system-wide on your device, including in browsers and many apps.

When using this method with apps:

The app itself may still open
However, its content will not load or update because the underlying websites and services are blocked

If your goal is to completely prevent an app from opening, we recommend using Screen Time-based app blocking instead.

For the best experience, make sure Freedom is able to run in the background on your device (see: Ensuring Freedom is active on iOS).

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I ensure that I’m using Freedom’s Screen Time-based blocking?

To check this:

Open the Freedom app on your iOS device
Go to the Blocklists tab
Select and edit your blocklist
Tap Add or remove iOS apps

If you’re selecting apps through this menu, you’re using Screen Time-based blocking.

Can I block websites using Freedom’s Screen Time-based blocking?

Yes, you can also block websites using Screen Time-based blocking.

To do this:

Open the Freedom app
Go to the Blocklists tab
Edit your blocklist
Tap Add or remove iOS apps

From there, you may see website suggestions.

Note: These website suggestions are provided by Apple based on your device usage. Freedom does not control which websites appear in this list.

Can I select apps or websites to block using Screen Time from the Freedom's web dashboard?

No, Screen Time-based blocking must be set up directly on your iOS device.

Because this method uses Apple’s on-device Screen Time system, app and website selection is handled locally by iOS.

This means:

You must use the Freedom app on your iPhone or iPad to choose what to block
These selections cannot be edited from the web dashboard

If you want to manage your blocklists from the web dashboard, you can still do so for website blocking using the Freedom Profile (VPN). However, any apps or websites added through Screen Time must be configured on your iOS device.