Cold Turkey Blocker vs StayFree
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
StayFree
Free cross-device screen time tracker and app and site blocker
Where they differ
- Cold Turkey Blocker starts at $45 one-time purchase (Blocker Pro). StayFree is free.
- Only StayFree lists Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Cold Turkey Blocker can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Cold Turkey Blocker also covers Pomodoro timer.
- StayFree also covers time tracking.
At a glance
| Cold Turkey Blocker | StayFree | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free |
| Starts at | $45 one-time purchase (Blocker Pro) | Free |
| Free plan | Blocker Free: website blocking, website exceptions, timed blocks and statistics, plus a 7-day trial of all Pro features. | Free on every platform, with no paid plan or in-app purchases listed. The Google Play listing describes the app as totally ad-free. |
| Free trial | 7-day trial of all Pro features, included in the free version | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Cold Turkey Software, Inc. | ST Pulse, a Sensor Tower company |
| Price read from | zapier.com (not the vendor's own page) | stayfreeapps.com |
| Checked | Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 6, 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
StayFree
- People who want screen time stats across phone, desktop and browser
- Anyone looking for an app and website blocker with no paid tier
- Trimming social media feeds without blocking the whole site
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.
StayFree
- StayFree is owned by Sensor Tower; its privacy policy says app and website usage data is collected and sold in anonymized, aggregated form.
- Hiding Shorts, reels and other feed sections is described for the browser extension; the iOS listing mentions only usage history, block mode and schedules.
- On Android, website blocking relies on the Accessibility Service permission.
- The Safari extension on the Mac App Store requires macOS 26.5 or later.
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.
StayFree
- Four ways to block
- Block an app or site immediately, restrict it at set times, cap its daily use, or set a time limit for each session. Daily limits can cover whole categories as well as single apps and sites.
- Cross-device usage stats
- Charts of app and website use combined across your devices. The Google Play listing says devices can be connected without creating an account, and usage can be exported as CSV.
- In-app blocking for social media
- The browser extension hides parts of YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X and Snapchat, such as Shorts, reels, comments and recommendations, without blocking the whole site.
- Keyword blocking and over-use reminders
- The extension can block any website that displays chosen keywords, and StayFree notifies you when you have spent too long on a site or in an app.
- PIN and challenge protection
- Require a PIN code, password or text challenge before limits and settings can be changed, to stop impulsive edits.
- Focus mode and sleep mode
- On Android, focus mode blocks distracting apps at scheduled times and sleep mode disables all apps at the end of the day.
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.
StayFree
StayFree$0
The complete app on every platform: usage stats, app and website blocking, schedules, daily and session limits, and cross-device sync.
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.
StayFree
No public discounts listed.
