Cold Turkey Blocker vs Session
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Cold Turkey Blocker
Website and app blocker for Windows and Mac with strict locks
Session
Pomodoro focus timer with analytics for Mac, iPhone and iPad
Where they differ
- Cold Turkey Blocker starts at $45 one-time purchase (Blocker Pro). Session starts at $3.33 / month, billed yearly ($39.99).
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists a Windows app.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists a browser extension.
- Only Session lists an iOS app.
- Cold Turkey Blocker can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Session also covers time tracking.
At a glance
| Cold Turkey Blocker | Session | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $45 one-time purchase (Blocker Pro) | $3.33 / month, billed yearly ($39.99) |
| Free plan | Blocker Free: website blocking, website exceptions, timed blocks and statistics, plus a 7-day trial of all Pro features. | Unlimited sessions and breaks, analytics for the past 2 days, and your calendar events shown inside Session. |
| Free trial | 7-day trial of all Pro features, included in the free version | 7 days of Pro free on creating an account, with no subscription started |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Cold Turkey Software, Inc. | Translucent LLC |
| Price read from | zapier.com (not the vendor's own page) | stayinsession.com |
| Checked | Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
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
Session
- Mac and iPhone users who work in Pomodoro intervals
- People who want a record of focused time by category or client
- Students, who can ask for 30% off for one year
Worth knowing
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.
Session
- Apple platforms only: macOS, iOS and iPadOS. No Windows, Android or web version is listed.
- The free plan shows analytics for the past 2 days only, and custom session and break lengths need Pro.
- Blocking needs Pro, and the pricing page lists website and app blocking as Mac only.
- Real-time device sync, Slack muting and Apple Calendar event creation are Pro features.
Key features
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.
Session
- Pomodoro sessions
- Work in 25-minute sessions separated by breaks. Setting your own session and break lengths needs Pro.
- Focus analytics by category
- Tracks how long you focus on each category, such as writing, coding or a client. Free shows the past 2 days and Pro opens the full session log.
- App and website blocking on Mac
- Pro blocks the apps and websites you choose while a session runs. Website blocking works in Safari, Chrome, Brave and Microsoft Edge.
- Calendar events
- Every plan shows your calendar events inside Session. Pro can also create an Apple Calendar event automatically when a session finishes.
- Slack status
- Pro updates your Slack status when the timer starts and restores it when the timer ends.
- Device sync and automation
- Pro syncs in real time, so a session started on a Mac can be ended on iOS, and adds automation through AppleScript on macOS and Apple Shortcuts on iOS.
Plans
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.
Session
Free$0
Unlimited sessions and breaks, analytics for the past 2 days, and calendar events shown in the app.
Pro Yearly$3.33
per month, billed yearly ($39.99)
Custom session and break lengths, full session log, Mac app and website blocking, Slack muting, device sync and automation.
Pro Monthly$4.99
per month, billed monthly
The same Pro features paid month to month. The vendor notes that prices differ slightly by region.
Ways to pay less
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.
Session
- Annual discount
Yearly billing costs about a third less
Pro is $39.99 billed yearly ($3.33 a month) against $4.99 billed monthly, which works out about 33% cheaper over a year.
- Education
Student discount: 30% off for one year
Students are eligible for a 30% discount for one year, non-renewing, by contacting support with a .edu email address or other proof of student status.
