FocusTube vs Distraction Free YouTube
Distraction Free YouTube strips away visual clutter: recommendations, comments, Shorts, trending tabs, and notification badges. FocusTube takes a different approach by understanding what you watch and intervening when you drift.
Feature comparison based on publicly available information. Last updated June 2026.
| Feature | FocusTube | DF YouTube |
|---|---|---|
| AI video classification by your goals | - | |
| Personalised nudges before blocking | - | |
| Focus score and watch time dashboard | - | |
| Block specific channels | - | |
| Hide homepage recommendations | ||
| Hide sidebar recommendations | ||
| Hide Shorts section | ||
| Hide comments | - | |
| Hide trending and explore tabs | - | |
| Hide notification count | - | |
| Block or track Shorts | - | |
| Daily time limits | - | |
| Focus windows (schedule allowed hours) | - | |
| Search limits | - | |
| Understands what you are trying to learn | - | |
| Free tier | 14-day trial |
When to use Distraction Free YouTube
Distraction Free YouTube is ideal if your main issue is the YouTube interface itself. It removes recommendations, hides comments, strips trending tabs, and cleans up notification noise. It is free and has granular toggle controls for each UI element. If you just want a cleaner YouTube without the algorithmic hooks, it works well.
When to use FocusTube
FocusTube is designed for people who have already tried hiding the feed and still lose time. The problem is not just the recommendations. It is the videos you choose to watch. FocusTube classifies every video against your goals using AI, then escalates from gentle nudges to hard blocks as you drift further. It also tracks your patterns, blocks specific channels, limits searches, and enforces daily time limits and focus windows. The dashboard shows you exactly where your time goes.
The key difference
Distraction Free YouTube removes visual triggers from the page. FocusTube monitors what you actually watch and responds to your behaviour. One cleans up the interface, the other holds you accountable.
Try FocusTube free for 14 days
No credit card required. Accountability that goes beyond hiding the feed.