BetBlocker vs NoGambling.app: Free Blocker vs Full Recovery App
Disclosure: we make NoGambling.app, so we are not a neutral source. BetBlocker facts here come from BetBlocker's official site and Gamban facts from gamban.com, both checked November 2026. A "No" in the table means we did not find that feature listed on the official site. Features can change, so check before you rely on them.
BetBlocker vs NoGambling.app — in short
BetBlocker is a free gambling site blocker run by a US non-profit. If money is tight and you need something blocking betting sites tonight, install BetBlocker. It is free, needs no account, and a restriction cannot be lifted until the period you picked ends. NoGambling.app is a paid iOS recovery stack covering the part BetBlocker does not touch: daily tracking, 6-step panic button, a debt plan, a savings estimate, and a community feed. NoGambling.app is free to try, then lets you pick monthly, yearly, or a one-time lifetime purchase. The two pair naturally: BetBlocker for the wall (free, forever), NoGambling.app for the recovery (paid, with a lifetime option so the app cannot lapse on you).
At a glance
| BetBlocker | NoGambling.app | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Gambling site and app blocker | Integrated recovery stack |
| Pricing model | Free (non-profit) | Free to try, then monthly / yearly / lifetime |
| Free to try | Fully free | Yes |
| One-time lifetime option | N/A (already free) | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Fire OS | iOS only |
| Block list | 1.3M+ gambling sites and 3.1K+ apps (BetBlocker's figures, checked November 2026) | Betting apps + popular gambling sites in your country (iPhone, Safari only) |
| Can you lift a block early? | No. You pick 1 day to 5 years and it runs to the end | Yes. You can switch blocking off |
| Clean-day tracker | No | Real-time counter |
| Panic button | No | 6-step urge flow |
| Savings dashboard | No | Estimate from the monthly spend you enter |
| Debt paydown | No | Snowball plan |
| Community | No | Peer feed |
| Relapse flow | No | 4-step reflection, then a full reset |
| Account required | No | No |
What BetBlocker does really well
BetBlocker is run by a US non-profit (a 501(c)(3) registered in Delaware) and it is free. That matters if a Gamban subscription (£29.99 a year, checked November 2026) is out of reach right now. There is no subscription and no registration, and BetBlocker says setup takes about 2 minutes. You pick how long a restriction lasts, from 1 day to 5 years. BetBlocker says it cannot be lifted before that period ends, so choose a length you mean.
BetBlocker shows no ads and says you do not need to give it any information about yourself. It also says its funding comes from donations from businesses in the gambling industry. For people who want a simple non-profit tool with no subscription, it is a legitimate choice.
Where BetBlocker shines
- Completely free — no subscription, no trial, no upsell.
- US non-profit (501(c)(3)), free and ad-free.
- Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Fire OS.
- No account required.
- Accessible to people with literally zero budget.
Where BetBlocker falls short
- A restriction cannot be lifted early, which may feel too strict if you pick a long period.
- No tracking, no savings dashboard, no community, no crisis tools.
- Once installed, no engagement loop — it is invisible.
What NoGambling.app does differently
NoGambling.app covers the daily work BetBlocker does not try to do: getting through an urge at 11pm, planning debt payoff, and reading what other people in recovery post. NoGambling.app is a paid app (BetBlocker is free), but it is free to try, with a one-time lifetime purchase option if you do not want a subscription. You can use both.
Real-time clean counter
A live count of your gambling-free time, paired with a promise you can make once a day. BetBlocker does not list anything like this.
6-step panic button
Six steps: a mirror moment with your streak and debt, 4-4-4 breathing, a motivation card (in your own words if you wrote a "Your why"), naming the urge, urge-wave education, and a drafted text you can send to someone you trust. BetBlocker does not list an urge tool. The panic button does not contact a helpline for you. If you need a person right now, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738) in the US, or call GamCare on 0808 8020 133 in the UK.
Savings and debt dashboard
Build a debt plan with the snowball method and see an estimate of money not gambled (your monthly spend divided by 30, times your streak days). These are a plan and an estimate: the app has no bank link and does not track real payments. BetBlocker does not list money tools.
Community feed
Moderated, anonymous peer support. Not a blocker feature — because blockers do not do community.
Relapse flow
If you log a relapse, a 4-step flow asks what happened and how you feel, then resets the app. Your streak and savings estimate go to zero, your promises and urge history are deleted, and daily and behavioral milestones reset. Your journal and debt plan stay. BetBlocker does not list anything comparable.
Pricing
BetBlocker: Free. US non-profit (501(c)(3), registered in Delaware). No paywall, no upsell.
NoGambling.app: Paid app that's free to try. Pick a monthly subscription, a yearly subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. With the lifetime option you pay once, so there is no subscription to lapse if a card expires. Current prices are on the App Store listing.
Platforms
BetBlocker: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Fire OS.
NoGambling.app: iOS only. If your gambling is desktop-based, stack BetBlocker on your laptop with NoGambling.app on your iPhone for the best of both.
Who should pick BetBlocker?
- You need something blocking betting sites tonight and have zero budget.
- Most of your gambling is on a laptop/desktop (NoGambling.app is iOS only).
- You want a free non-profit tool with no subscription.
- You are Android-based (NoGambling.app is not available on Android).
Who should pick NoGambling.app?
- You want one iOS app that covers tracking, an urge tool, a savings estimate, and community.
- You want a visible recovery loop, not an invisible wall.
- You want an urge tool (panic button) for when the urge peaks.
- You are rebuilding finances and want a debt plan and a savings estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Is BetBlocker really free?
Yes. BetBlocker is run by a US non-profit (a 501(c)(3) registered in Delaware) and the app costs nothing. There is no premium tier and no upsell. NoGambling.app is a paid app, but is free to try and offers a one-time lifetime purchase alongside monthly and yearly subscriptions.
Can I use BetBlocker and NoGambling.app together?
Yes. BetBlocker handles site-level blocking. NoGambling.app handles the daily recovery stack. They do different jobs, so you can use both.
Is BetBlocker as strong a blocker as Gamban?
Both block gambling sites across several devices. BetBlocker says its list covers more than 1.3 million gambling sites, and it is free. Gamban says it blocks tens of thousands of gambling sites and apps, and it is a paid subscription (both checked November 2026). These are each company's own figures, not a test of strength. If you need something blocking sites tonight and cannot afford Gamban, BetBlocker is a legitimate first step.
What platforms does BetBlocker support?
BetBlocker supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Fire OS. NoGambling.app supports iOS only.
Does NoGambling.app block gambling sites?
Yes, on iPhone, in Safari. Since the October 2026 update, one switch in NoGambling.app blocks your betting apps and the most popular gambling sites in your country. Blocking apps needs iOS 16 or later. It is not a cross-platform blocker, so for your laptop or other devices, stack BetBlocker (free) or Gamban (paid).
If I can only install one app, which should I pick?
If you want the single tool that covers the most ground — tracking, crisis, community, savings — pick NoGambling.app. If you need hard site-level blocking tonight, pick BetBlocker. Better answer: install both — they are complementary, BetBlocker is free and NoGambling.app is free to try.
Stack a free blocker with a paid recovery app — free to try
Install BetBlocker (free) for blocking. Get NoGambling.app (free to try) for the full recovery stack.
Get NoGambling.app → iOS 15.1 or later · Free to try · Lifetime purchase option · No email needed to start