Gamban vs BetBlocker vs QuitBet: An Honest Gamban Review and Comparison (2026)

Quick answer: Gamban is best for blocking gambling on every device you own. BetBlocker is best if you want a blocker that's free and can't be switched off early. QuitBet (our app) fits if you want recovery support and a blocker on your iPhone. The strongest setup pairs a blocker on every device with a recovery app and human support.

This Gamban review compares Gamban, a paid gambling blocker, with BetBlocker, a free blocker run by a charity, and QuitBet, our iPhone recovery app with a blocker built in. We checked each one's US price, devices, privacy label and removal rules on its official site and App Store page on October 10, 2026.

If you're reading this after a bad night, the short version is that any blocker is better than none. Install one tonight. The details can wait until tomorrow.

QuitBet is our app. We've included it because we built it for exactly this, but we've tried to be fair about where other tools are a better fit.

Gamban vs BetBlocker vs QuitBet at a glance

Prices checked October 2026.

Sources for each row are linked in the reviews below.

Gamban review: is it worth $41.99 a year?

Gamban is worth $41.99 a year if you bet on more than one device or keep reinstalling sportsbook apps. It blocks gambling on everything you install it on, and Gamban won't remove it mid-subscription. If you only bet on one phone and money is tight, start with a free option.

Gamban is made by Gamban Ltd, a UK company. One subscription covers your personal devices, and its help center has setup guides for iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac.

What Gamban blocks

Gamban's App Store listing names online casinos and casino apps, slots, sports betting and bookmakers, poker, bingo, lotteries, prediction markets, crypto gambling, spread betting, skin betting, loot boxes and "trading platforms commonly used for gambling." According to the listing's FAQ, it blocks them with secure DNS technology.

Gamban price, free trial and the Michigan deal

Gamban costs $6.99 a month or $41.99 a year in the US after a 7-day free trial (Gamban pricing). Both plans include progress tracking, help with self-exclusion and links to support resources.

In Michigan it's free. Under a Michigan Gaming Control Board partnership announced in April 2026, residents can get licenses of 1 to 5 years covering every device in the household, without joining a self-exclusion program.

Gamban's no-early-removal rule

Gamban's FAQ is blunt: "we won't remove Gamban before your subscription period has ended." Closing your account doesn't end protection early, and support staff won't remove it for you (Gamban help center).

We think this rule is Gamban's best feature and its most annoying one. At 2am it's what protects you, because the decision you made on a calm day still stands. But if it acts up on one of your devices (some users in a 2020 study Gamban commissioned said it did), you wait anyway.

What Gamban reviews say

Gamban has 4.0 stars from 102 ratings on the US App Store. Several reviewers say they got around the block on iPhone, and Gamban's replies say it's testing an iOS version that is "much harder to bypass." Its own licence agreement says it "cannot guarantee" the software is impossible to uninstall.

Pros:

• One subscription covers iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows and Mac
• Its blocklist names prediction markets and crypto gambling
• Support won't remove it early, even if you ask
• Free in Michigan

Cons:

• Paid everywhere else
• No urge tools, community or coaching
• Some iPhone users say they've gotten around it

BetBlocker review: is a free bet blocker good enough?

For a lot of people, yes. BetBlocker is a free gambling blocker run by a charity registered in Scotland, and its site says it costs "Absolutely nothing. Ever." (betblocker.org).

It began in 2017 as a tool from ThePOGG, a dispute resolution service, and became its own charity in 2019. There are no ads, no in-app purchases and no sign-up, so you never give it an email address. The charity is funded by grants and donations, including donations from businesses in the gambling industry.

You pick a block from 1 day to 5 years. Once it starts, it can't be lifted early, and support won't help you remove or bypass it. You can also schedule blocks for certain hours or use it as a password-protected parental control. BetBlocker runs on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux and Fire OS and says it covers more than 1.1 million sites and 3,100 apps.

The FAQ is upfront about the downsides:

• Some versions use a VPN, which can cut you off from printers and other devices on your home network.
• You can only add your own sites in the local (non-VPN) versions for Windows, Mac and Linux.
• Tip and promo sites are only partly covered, because BetBlocker uses a curated list rather than keyword blocking.
• There's no password reset, since it never collects your email.
• On Android, its own tests found about a 10% drop in battery life during active use.

On the App Store it has 2.9 stars from 87 ratings, with some reviewers mentioning slowdowns and over-blocking, and it has 3.0 stars on Google Play. Its App Store privacy label lists no data linked to you.

Pros:

• Free, with no account
• Nobody can shorten a block once it starts
• Also runs on Linux and Fire OS

Cons:

• No urge support or community
• Lower store ratings than Gamban
• The VPN and battery trade-offs above

QuitBet review: a recovery app with a blocker built in

QuitBet is an iPhone recovery app with a gambling blocker built in. It's for people who want help with the urge itself, as well as a wall between them and the sportsbook. Three apps on the US App Store use the QuitBet name; ours is QuitBet - Quit Gambling Now (App Store ID 6757939751).

You map your triggers, build a quit plan and log cravings and mood in daily check-ins. When an urge hits, there's a panic button with short breathing, reflection, focus and gratitude exercises, and an AI coach you can message. You also get a community forum and group chat, streak and money-saved tracking, and a Learn section with articles, podcasts and videos. The blocker targets sportsbooks, casino apps and betting sites (quitbet.co).

It only protects the iPhone it's on, so if you also bet on a laptop or tablet, put Gamban or BetBlocker there.

We haven't covered how QuitBet's blocker works under the hood here. If a lock you can't undo is the thing you need most, Gamban and BetBlocker have the longer track record.

QuitBet is free to download, and the free version includes a trigger and pattern check and a preview of your quit plan. Premium needs a subscription: $8.99 a week, $14.99 a month, or yearly plans from $19.99 to $49.99 (App Store), so you can start for free and upgrade if it helps.

It needs iOS 18 or later. QuitBet launched in January 2026 and added the blocker and community in March 2026.

Now the downsides. It's iPhone only, and it's new. Weekly and monthly plans cost more than Gamban, though yearly plans start at $19.99. Its privacy label says identifiers may be used to track you across other companies' apps and websites, and some data is collected for third-party advertising. It also hasn't been tested in a clinical trial, so use it alongside therapy, GA or the helpline.

Gamban vs BetBlocker: which is better?

Gamban is better if you're willing to pay for a better-rated app with a published list of what it blocks, including prediction markets. BetBlocker is better if money is tight or you want to pick an exact block length up front.

The biggest practical difference is the lock. Gamban's lasts as long as your subscription, so it's tied to billing. With BetBlocker you choose the end date yourself, anywhere from 1 day to 5 years, and some people find a fixed date easier to commit to.

Both cover iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac. Gamban needs an account with your name and email. BetBlocker needs nothing, though it has the VPN and battery trade-offs above.

Can't decide? BetBlocker is free, so start there tonight. You can move to Gamban later.

Do you need a blocker and a recovery app?

Most people do better with both, because they solve different problems. A blocker removes access. It does nothing about the urge, or the bad day behind it.

In Gamban's commissioned study, most participants said self-exclusion tools worked better together. The researchers also found that marketing from a gambling company was behind several cases of people getting around the block. That's when you need something for the urge: a recovery app, or a person to call.

A few ways to combine them:

• On a budget: BetBlocker on every device, plus the free 1-800-MY-RESET helpline and Gamblers Anonymous.
• Sports betting from an iPhone: QuitBet on your phone, and BetBlocker or Gamban on any laptop. Our guide on how to stop sports betting covers closing accounts and self-exclusion.
• Gambling on several devices: Gamban everywhere, a recovery app for the hard moments, and a therapist or GA group. Our comparison of gambling rehab vs Gamblers Anonymous vs therapy can help you pick.

Does Gamban work?

Gamban works at what it's built for: stopping gambling sites and apps from loading. No blocker can stop an urge, though, and people who are set on gambling find other routes.

The most detailed look at real users is a 2020 report Gamban paid for. The research firm, Vita CA Limited, says Gamban didn't control the content. It surveyed 280 users and interviewed 14, and most were positive and called Gamban good value.

But everyone interviewed said they knew they could get around Gamban if they wanted to. Around half described getting past it, whether through a device it wasn't installed on, a focused effort to get around it, or a gambling site it didn't block. For some, knowing they'd have to try was enough to put them off. It's a small, self-selected group, so read it as experiences, not a success rate.

A phone blocker also can't stop you walking into a casino or a retail sportsbook. If that's where you play, see our guides to how to stop casino addiction and slot machine addiction. Gamban itself treats blocking as one layer: its plans include "multi-layer self-exclusion" guidance.

Is Gamban free?

No. Gamban costs $6.99 a month or $41.99 a year in the US after a 7-day free trial. The exception is Michigan, where the state's gaming regulator gives residents free licenses of 1 to 5 years. We couldn't find another free Gamban program for US users, so if you want a free blocker on every device, BetBlocker is the closest match.

How to uninstall Gamban (or remove it early)

You can't uninstall Gamban early. Gamban's help center says all installations are final, and the software removes itself when your licence ends, with no action needed from you (Gamban help center).

What you can control is the renewal:

1. If you subscribed on Gamban's website, open your dashboard, go to "Payment & Subscription" and remove your payment method (Gamban help center). With no card on file, the licence won't renew.
2. If you subscribed in the iPhone app, go to Settings, tap your name, then Subscriptions, pick Gamban and tap Cancel Subscription (Apple Support).
3. Wait for the licence to end. Gamban removes itself.

If you're looking up how to remove Gamban at midnight with a game on, that's the exact moment it was built for. Put the phone down for 15 minutes or text 1-800-MY-RESET. The urge will pass well before the licence does.

Gamban alternatives

BetBlocker is the obvious Gamban alternative if you want something free, and QuitBet is the alternative if you want recovery tools on your iPhone. A few more:

• Apple Screen Time and Android Digital Wellbeing are free and already on your phone. Screen Time blocks chosen apps and websites behind a passcode (Apple Support), and Digital Wellbeing pauses apps behind a PIN (Google Help). Neither has a gambling list, so you add each site yourself. Let someone you trust set the passcode.
• GamBlock is a paid blocker for Windows, Android and Apple devices. Its website says it uses heuristics to catch new gambling sites, blocks factory resets and can block calls and texts to gambling vendors. Its pricing page didn't show prices when we checked, so ask before you buy.
• Betttr is an iPhone app (iOS 18.5+) with a DNS website blocker, a Screen Time app blocker, a state self-exclusion walkthrough and a community. It's $12.99 a month or $99.99 a year ($19.99 the first year), with no free trial (App Store).

For the full list, including free support apps, see our roundup of the best apps to quit gambling.

FAQ

Is Gamban worth it?

Gamban is worth it if you gamble on more than one device and want a block you can't cancel on a bad night. It's $41.99 a year in the US after a 7-day trial, and free for Michigan residents. If money is tight, BetBlocker does a similar job for free.

Can Gamban be bypassed?

Sometimes. Gamban's licence agreement says it's designed to be hard to remove but can't promise it's impossible, and every interviewee in a 2020 study Gamban paid for said they knew it could be gotten around. Use it as one layer, alongside closed accounts, self-exclusion and real people.

Is BetBlocker safe?

BetBlocker is run by a registered Scottish charity, needs no account, and lists no data linked to you on its App Store privacy label. Some versions connect through BetBlocker's VPN server, which is why printers and other home devices may stop responding.

Can I uninstall BetBlocker early?

No. BetBlocker's FAQ says it's designed to be difficult to remove while a restriction is active, and its support team won't help remove or bypass one. Self-restrictions of one month or less lift automatically when the period ends.

Does QuitBet block gambling sites?

Yes. QuitBet's built-in blocker targets betting sites, sportsbooks and casino apps on the iPhone it's installed on. It doesn't cover your other devices, so add Gamban or BetBlocker to any laptop or tablet. QuitBet needs iOS 18 or later.

Which gambling blocker is free?

BetBlocker is free on iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux and Fire OS. Apple Screen Time and Android Digital Wellbeing are free too, but you add each gambling site yourself. Gamban is free for Michigan residents, and everyone else gets a 7-day trial.

Does Gamban block sweepstakes casinos or prediction markets?

Gamban's App Store listing names prediction markets among the things it blocks, and its help center lists social casinos. Neither mentions sweepstakes casinos by name, so if that's where you play, test those sites during the 7-day free trial or ask Gamban support before you pay.

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Need to talk to someone right now? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), or chat online, to reach the National Problem Gambling Helpline. It's free and confidential, and it's open 24/7. If you're having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988.

This article is for information only and isn't medical advice. If you're struggling, talk to a doctor or a licensed counselor.