Free Alternatives to Gamban (2026): Blockers, Trackers, and What Actually Helps
Updated October 2026
The best free alternative to Gamban for blocking is BetBlocker — it's free, blocks gambling sites and apps, and is run by a registered charity. But a blocker only closes the door; if you also want to track gambling-free days, handle urges in the moment, and stay accountable, Betttr (iPhone and Android) does both: a four-step blocker and the daily recovery layer.
| App | Cost | Platform | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamban | Subscription; 7-day free trial | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS | Blocks gambling websites and apps | A dedicated cross-device blocker |
| BetBlocker | Yes | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux | Blocks gambling websites and apps | Free dedicated blocking |
| iOS Screen Time / Android Digital Wellbeing | Yes | Built into iOS and Android | Sets app and website limits | Adding basic friction on a phone |
| Sportsbook self-exclusion programs | Yes | State and operator programs | Restricts access to participating sportsbooks | Closing regulated betting accounts |
| Betttr | Free to download on the App Store and Google Play | iOS and Android | Website blocker (10,000+ sites), Screen Time app blocker, guided self-exclusion, one self-exclusion email you send to the operators in your state that accept one — plus streak tracking, daily pledge, Panic Mode, journal, lessons, community | Blocking plus the recovery work a blocker alone can't do |
Blockers vs recovery apps: you probably need one of each
A blocker is an access tool. It creates distance between an urge and a gambling site or app, which can be especially useful during the first days and weeks of quitting. Gamban and BetBlocker are purpose-built options, while phone controls, bank blocks, and self-exclusion add other layers of friction. No single layer is perfect, so using more than one is reasonable.
A recovery app addresses a different problem: what you do after access is reduced. Cravings, boredom, shame, money worries, and sports-related triggers can remain. Tracking progress, writing down what happened, making a daily commitment, and contacting support help you respond to those moments instead of relying on a blocker to do everything.
Free gambling blockers
BetBlocker
BetBlocker is a free, dedicated gambling-blocking service run by a registered charity; its App Store listing says there are no subscriptions or in-app purchases. It maintains a block list covering gambling websites and apps and is available across major phone and computer platforms. Like any blocker, BetBlocker works best when you install it on every device you use and choose settings that are difficult to reverse during an urge.
Screen Time and Digital Wellbeing
Apple Screen Time and Android Digital Wellbeing are built into their respective phones. They can limit specific apps, restrict websites, and schedule downtime. They are not dedicated gambling blockers, and their controls may be easier to change, but they are free and useful as another layer. Asking a trusted person to hold the restriction passcode can make the setup harder to undo.
Bank gambling blocks
Some US banks, debit-card providers, and financial apps let customers block transactions coded as gambling. Availability varies by institution, and a merchant can sometimes be categorized differently, so this should not be your only safeguard. It still adds valuable friction between a craving and a deposit. Search your bank's card controls or ask customer support whether a gambling-merchant block is available.
Sportsbook and state self-exclusion
Self-exclusion is a formal way to restrict your access to gambling. You can often exclude directly through a sportsbook, and many states run broader programs covering licensed operators or casinos. Rules, lengths, and enrollment processes vary. Read the terms before enrolling and use the broadest option that fits your situation.
Ten gambling blockers on the U.S. App Store: what their listings say (October 2026)
Since 2024 a wave of new gambling blockers has reached the iPhone, all free to download — but most of their listings say blocking, or the app's main features, needs a subscription. This table puts what each App Store listing says side by side: how it blocks, whether you can undo it in a weak moment, and what it says about paying. Developer, release dates and rating counts come from the U.S. App Store, retrieved October 4, 2026; the three right-hand columns are read from each app's own description, and "Not stated" means the listing doesn't say, not that the feature is missing. Gamban is the last row, for comparison. Recovery apps with a blocker built in, including Betttr, are compared on our gambling recovery apps page.
| App | Developer | First release | Last update | Ratings | How it blocks | Can you remove it early? | What the listing says about paying |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetBlocker: Gambling Exclusion | BETBLOCKER | Apr 2019 | Sep 2026 | 85 | Gambling websites and apps, across multiple devices | No — the restriction lasts until the period you chose ends | Completely free; no subscriptions or in-app purchases; registered charity |
| Bet Block - Stop Gambling Now | Lucas Yamashita | Apr 2025 | Jul 2026 | 404 | Apple Content Blocking for gambling websites, plus installed gambling apps | Settings are PIN-protected; someone you trust can set the PIN | No subscription mentioned |
| Quit Gambling: Guardrail | Glen Bentley (Nigelware) | Apr 2026 | Apr 2026 | 2 | Local DNS filter for sites in every browser, plus Screen Time for apps | 24-hour cooldown to remove blocked sites; PIN-locked settings | No subscription mentioned; no account needed |
| Recovo: Quit Gambling | Austin Sloan Both | Apr 2026 | Sep 2026 | 7 | Screen Time: 330+ gambling sites and 115 betting apps, 1 hour to 1 year | An accountability partner holds the unlock code by SMS; Lockdown Mode can't be unlocked by anyone | Pro subscription unlocks Screen Time blocking and the accountability partner |
| GamX | Alexander Connola | Jun 2026 | Sep 2026 | 0 | Screen Time for apps and sites; says it survives browser clears and app reinstalls | 48-hour removal cooldown | Membership subscription required for full access |
| Quit it: Gambling Blocker | Two Palms Software LLC | Jul 2026 | Oct 2026 | 5 | Screen Time for the sportsbook, casino, prediction-market and trading apps you select | Not stated | Subscription required for app blocking |
| Gambling Block Quit Bet Casino | Moxyz Studio | Feb 2024 | Sep 2026 | 517 | Gambling websites and keywords from an updated database | Not stated | Subscription required to activate features |
| Quit Gambling: Bet Breaker | Moxyz Studio | Apr 2024 | Oct 2026 | 407 | Gambling sites in every web browser; also panic button, stats, AI assistant, sponsors mode | Not stated | Subscription required to activate features |
| Casino Block - Quit Gambling | Moxyz Studio | Jul 2024 | Sep 2026 | 82 | Legal and illegal gambling sites, including online casinos and sports betting | Not stated | Subscription required to activate features |
| Block Online Gambling - Gamban | Gamban LTD | Apr 2020 | Sep 2026 | 95 | Secure DNS; gambling websites and apps across phone, tablet and desktop | No — won't be removed before your subscription period ends | 7-day free trial, then a subscription |
Free to download is not the same as free. Every app here costs nothing to install. Only BetBlocker's listing says it is completely free; Bet Block's and Guardrail's listings don't mention a subscription; the other six say blocking or their main features need one.
Removability is the decision that matters most. BetBlocker's restriction lasts until the period you chose ends, and Gamban says it won't remove its block before your subscription ends. Recovo lets a partner hold the unlock code and has a mode nobody can unlock. GamX has a 48-hour removal cooldown and Guardrail a 24-hour one. Bet Block and Guardrail lock settings behind a PIN, which works best when someone else chooses it. The three Moxyz Studio apps and Quit it don't say. Pick for the version of yourself at 1 a.m., not the one reading this page.
Recovery and tracking apps
Betttr
Betttr is a companion app for the recovery work a blocker alone can't do — free to download on the App Store and Google Play. It includes a system-wide DNS website blocker, a Screen Time app blocker, guided state self-exclusion, and one self-exclusion email that you send from your own mail app to the operators in your state that accept one in writing (the largest sportsbooks, DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM among them, use their own in-app flow instead). It goes beyond blocking with a gambling-free streak, a daily pledge, Panic Mode/SOS grounding exercises, a journal and gratitude log, lessons, a community of members recovering together, and soundscapes.
General sobriety counters
General recovery apps such as I Am Sober can also track time, prompt daily pledges, and help you record why you are changing. They are not gambling-specific blockers, but some people prefer a broad sobriety counter or already use one for another habit. Choose the interface you will actually open each day; consistency matters more than collecting several trackers.
How to combine them
- Install a dedicated blocker such as BetBlocker on every phone and computer you use. Add Screen Time or Digital Wellbeing restrictions as a second layer.
- Enroll in the relevant sportsbook or state self-exclusion programs, then switch on any gambling-merchant block your bank offers.
- Choose one recovery tracker, such as Betttr or a general sobriety counter. Check in daily, record your reason for quitting, and prepare an urge plan before you need it.
- Tell one trusted person what you set up. Ask them to hold passcodes if appropriate and agree on who you will contact when a craving feels difficult to manage.
This combination is practical because each tool has one job. Blocking reduces immediate access. Financial controls reduce deposits. Self-exclusion closes regulated accounts. Recovery tools help you get through the feelings and routines that remain. If one layer fails, the others still give you time to make a different decision.
Set the layers up while your motivation is clear, not during a craving. Test that the restrictions work, remove saved payment methods, unsubscribe from sportsbook promotions, and write down the steps you will take when an urge arrives. Review the setup after phone updates or when you add a new device. A blocker is most useful when it is part of a routine you understand and maintain, rather than an app you install once and forget.
Frequently asked questions
Is BetBlocker really free?
Yes. Its App Store listing says it is completely free, with no subscriptions or in-app purchases, and that it is run by a registered charity.
Does Gamban have a free version?
Gamban is a paid product and commonly offers a short trial of about seven days. Trial terms can change, so check Gamban's current offer before deciding.
Can a blocker stop sports betting apps on iPhone?
Dedicated blockers can restrict many gambling sites and apps on iPhone, but no tool should be treated as impossible to bypass. Combine a blocker with Screen Time restrictions, self-exclusion, and account or payment controls.
Does Betttr block gambling sites?
Yes — a system-wide DNS website blocker, a Screen Time app blocker, guided state self-exclusion, and one self-exclusion email that you send from your own mail app to the operators in your state that accept one in writing (the largest sportsbooks, DraftKings, FanDuel and BetMGM among them, use their own in-app flow instead).
Is Betttr free?
Betttr is free to download on the App Store and Google Play.
Is there a gambling blocker that can't be turned off?
BetBlocker's restriction lasts until the period you chose ends. Gamban says it won't remove its block before your subscription period ends. Recovo's Lockdown Mode can't be unlocked by anyone, and its accountability-partner option keeps the unlock code away from you. GamX and Guardrail add a 48-hour and a 24-hour removal cooldown.
You don't have to do it alone
Betttr helps you track your gamble-free streak, get through cravings, and stay connected to people who understand.
Download Betttr