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Guides & comparisons

Everything Hidden Value has written

Every guide and honest comparison in one place. Guides cover how to actually stop the scroll during work hours; comparisons show exactly where Hidden Value wins against other focus tools — and where it honestly doesn't.

Guides

How to stop doomscrolling
The 7-step playbook for killing the scroll during deep work — without relying on willpower.
What is a Hidden Cost?
The definition of the term, how it's calculated, and why blockers never show it to you.
Why your website blocker doesn't work
Blockers remove access, not the urge — here's why you keep bypassing yours, and what actually works.
How to protect deep work time
A distraction costs ~23 minutes of refocus, research shows. Here's how to actually protect your blocks.
How to stop procrastinating
Procrastination is emotion regulation, not laziness — why willpower fails and what actually works instead.
How to stop wasting time on YouTube
Autoplay and recommendations are built to maximize watch time — why blocking it fails and what actually works.
How to stop checking Twitter during work
The variable-reward feed keeps pulling you back — why blocking it fails and what actually reduces the pull.
How to block distracting websites during deep work
A hard blocker is the wall you disable the moment it's inconvenient — here's the layered approach that holds.
The real cost of distraction for business owners
When the owner gets distracted, decisions stall and the whole team waits — here's the real math.
Best focus tools for freelancers
Hidden Value, Toggl Track, StayFocusd, Forest, and RescueTime — honestly ranked by what each one solves.
How to stay focused working from home
No commute, no coworkers watching — here's what actually replaces the checks an office provides.
Screen time cost calculator
Plug in your hourly rate and daily scroll time to see your own Hidden Cost, on whatitcostyou.com.

Comparisons

Hidden Value vs Opal
Opal wins on mobile and Apple Screen Time integration. Hidden Value wins on Chrome, during work.
Hidden Value vs Freedom
Freedom syncs a schedule across every device. Hidden Value shows the cost instead of a wall.
Hidden Value vs Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey is the strictest lock around. Hidden Value changes what you want in the first place.
Hidden Value vs RescueTime
RescueTime tracks and reports after the fact. Hidden Value shows the cost before you scroll.
Hidden Value vs StayFocusd
StayFocusd's free timer is genuinely granular. Hidden Value shows the cost so the pull weakens.
Hidden Value vs Forest
Forest gamifies focus with a tree that dies if you leave. Hidden Value shows the real cost instead.
Hidden Value vs One Sec
One Sec's breathing pause has a peer-reviewed study behind it. Hidden Value's pause carries a dollar figure.
Hidden Value vs BlockSite
BlockSite syncs to your phone. Hidden Value blocks in Chrome too, plus shows what it's costing you.
Best Chrome extension to stop doomscrolling
Hidden Value, StayFocusd, BlockSite, Freedom, and Cold Turkey — honestly ranked by approach.
Best productivity Chrome extensions
Hidden Value, OneTab, Marinara, Momentum, and the blockers — organized by what each one actually solves.

See what distraction costs you on desktop

Hidden Value tracks the sites stealing your time in Chrome and reframes them as the dollars and hours you're not getting back.

Add to Chrome
Works on Chrome. No account required to start.