Cold Turkey Blocker vs FocusMe

Cold Turkey Blocker

• People who talk themselves out of softer blockers mid-session
• Buyers who want a one-time purchase instead of a subscription
• Blocking desktop applications and games as well as websites

FocusMe

• People who tend to switch off or uninstall their own blocker
• Blocking websites and desktop apps on Windows, Mac or Linux
• Buyers who want a lifetime licence instead of a subscription

Cold Turkey Blocker

• Windows and macOS only: the vendor states that Linux, ChromeOS, Android and iOS are not supported.
• The free version blocks websites only; application blocking, schedules, locks, breaks and allowances need Pro.
• The vendor's pricing page did not show the Pro price as readable text; the $45 figure comes from a Zapier roundup updated in August 2026.

FocusMe

• Monthly and yearly prices are filled in by the payment provider when the pricing page loads; its text states only plans from $9.95 a month and $249 for lifetime.
• The US App Store lists in-app subscriptions at $3.99 and $15.99 a month and $24.99 and $119.99 a year, without saying what each one covers.
• The desktop apps have no free tier once the 14-day trial ends; only the Android and iOS apps can be used without paying.
• On Android, uninstall protection exists only in the direct-download version, not the Play Store one, and plan sync for Android is still in development.

Cold Turkey Blocker

Website blocking with wildcards

Block whole domains, single URLs, YouTube channels or search keywords, using wildcards for patterns. Blocking everything and listing exceptions turns it into an allow list.

Application blocking

Pro blocks applications or whole folders of them. On Windows it can also block Microsoft Store apps and match on window titles.

Locks

A block can be locked by timer, time range, delay, restart, password or a string of random text up to 5,000 characters. A locked block also prevents uninstalling the app.

Weekly schedule

Pro lets you drag blocks onto a schedule that repeats every week, and can lock, log off or shut down the computer at set times.

Breaks and allowances

Pro adds Pomodoro cycles that switch blocking on and off, time allowances for blocked items, and breaks earned after a set period of work.

Usage statistics

Tracks website and application use to show your main distractions. The data stays on your computer and can be exported as JSON.

FocusMe

Website and app blocking

Block sites by URL, partial URL, page title or RegEx across all browsers, and any desktop app or game. Short-form video such as YouTube Shorts can be blocked while the rest of a site stays open.

Enforced Mode and plan protection

An enforced plan cannot be stopped once it is active. Lighter settings include typing a string of random characters, stop delays, pause limits and approval from an accountability partner.

Block, limit or break plans

Each plan can fully block its targets, give them a daily, weekly or monthly time budget, cap how many times a day they can be launched, or enforce full-screen breaks.

Schedules and Pomodoro cycles

A plan can run from an on-demand Quick Timer, a weekly schedule, Pomodoro work and break cycles, or a multi-day plan.

AI Productivity Coach

Weekly reports compare your screen time with your tasks and goals and recommend changes. Turning Coach on sends the names of the sites and apps you used, with times, to the service.

Built-in task manager

Tasks have priorities, due dates, categories, recurrence and streaks, and the Coach reads the list when it writes its reports.

Cold Turkey Blocker

• Blocker Free$0

  Website blocking, website exceptions, timed blocks and statistics.

• Blocker Pro$45

  one-time purchase

  Adds application blocking, scheduled blocks, all locking features, breaks and allowances, and passwords. One purchase covers every computer you personally use.

FocusMe

• Mobile apps$0

  Android and iOS apps are free to download; blocking, schedules and time limits work without paying. Syncing plans with a computer needs Premium.

• Monthly or YearlyFrom $9.95

  per month; per-plan amounts are filled in at page load

  All features on up to 5 computers plus 2 phones or tablets. The page title gives plans from $9.95 a month; the exact monthly and yearly amounts could not be read.

• Lifetime$249

  one-time

  Pay once for the same features with free updates. The vendor defines lifetime as for as long as the product exists.

Cold Turkey Blocker

• Education

  Students can request 20% off

  The pricing page says students can request 20% off through a link in the support page FAQ, which checks that the email address belongs to a school.

• Other savings

  Save 10% on the three-product bundle

  Buying Blocker, Writer and Micromanager together is advertised at 10% off. Each is a one-time payment with no subscription.

FocusMe

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime licence for a one-time $249

  The pricing page lists a Lifetime plan at $249, paid once, with free updates. FocusMe defines lifetime access as lasting for as long as the product exists.

• Education

  30% off for students and educators

  FocusMe offers a 30% educational discount to students and people who work in education, requested through a form with an educational email address.