Cold Turkey Writer vs OmmWriter (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cold Turkey Writer grades higher than OmmWriter: 3.0 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Cold Turkey Writer grades higher on the free plan. They get the same grade on value for money, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Cold Turkey Writer
Text editor that locks your computer until a writing goal is met
OmmWriter
Full-screen writing app with backgrounds, music and typing sounds
Which one is for you
Pick Cold Turkey Writer if
- Fits if you only get words down when everything else on the computer is shut out
- Works for pushing through a first draft against a word count or a timer
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you might need your computer mid-session, because you can't leave before the goal is met
- Too light for anything with formatting, as it opens and saves plain text only
- Not for you if you write on Linux, a Chromebook or a phone, none of which are supported
- Watch out: soundtracks, the dark theme and key-disabling need Pro, and Pro has no free trial
Pick OmmWriter if
- Fits if you want a quiet full-screen page and nothing else
- Works for people who write on one Mac or PC and like background sounds
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want outlines, projects or collaboration, as none are listed
- Not for you if you use a phone, tablet or Linux, because there is no version for them
- Tight if you want to try first: no free plan or trial is listed
- Watch out: the site footer reads 2017 and the Windows version dates to 2019, so it may not be kept up
How we grade them
| 3.0GPACold Turkey WriterVery good | 2.2GPAOmmWriterFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AWriter Pro is $14.99 once, covers every computer you personally use and comes with free lifetime updates. The middle of this category is $8.33 a month, so this is under two months of a typical rival, paid once. Refundable within 30 days, too. | A$9.99 one-time, under a year of the category's $9.75 middle subscription plus a little. There's no subscription. |
| Free plan and trial | AWriter Free is the whole point of the app: timed blocks, word-count blocks, full-screen writing and auto save, with no cap on any of it. Pro only adds soundtracks, a dark theme, the copy and paste toggle and the key-disabling options. | FNo free plan or trial is listed, and the Mac App Store sells it for a one-time $9.99. |
| Features | CThe lock holds until your minutes or words are done, a progress bar shows what's left, and the draft saves every 10 seconds. It does that one thing completely, but it is a narrow job: files are plain .txt only, so every bit of formatting happens in some other editor. | CFull-screen writing, backgrounds, audio, five typefaces and exports. It has no outline, project or collaboration tools, but covers the basics. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record, but there's nothing to set up, not even an installer: it runs as a stand-alone program, from a USB stick if you like. Pick minutes, 1 to 999, or a word count, and start typing. | BNo rating on record, but you install it and start typing with nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | CA program for computers alone: Windows and macOS, one purchase covering both. The vendor says Linux, ChromeOS, Android and iOS are not supported, and the listing shows no integrations and no API. | CMac and Windows only. The FAQ rules out iPhone, iPad, Linux, Kindle and Chromebook. |
| Best for | forcing a first draft out of yourself | a quiet full-screen writing space |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Cold Turkey Writer and OmmWriter. How we grade
Where they differ
- OmmWriter also covers documents.
At a glance
| Cold Turkey Writer | OmmWriter | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| Starts at | $14.99 one-time (Writer Pro) | $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store) |
| Free plan | Writer Free: timed blocks, word-count blocks, distraction-free full-screen writing and auto save. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Made by | Cold Turkey Software, Inc. | Byteberry Studio, S.L. |
| Price read from | getcoldturkey.com | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Cold Turkey Writer
- Windows and macOS only: the vendor says Linux, ChromeOS, Android and iOS are not supported.
- Files open and save as plain text (.txt) only, so formatting has to be finished in another editor.
- Soundtracks, the dark theme, the copy and paste toggle and the key-disabling options need Writer Pro, and Pro has no free trial.
- A session cannot be ended before the goal is reached, so the rest of the computer is out of reach until then.
OmmWriter
- Mac and Windows only: the FAQ says there is no iPhone, iPad, Linux, Kindle or Chromebook version.
- The site's footer reads 2017 and the Gaia version dates to 2017 for Mac and 2019 for Windows.
- It has only basic writing functions, with no outline, project or collaboration tools listed.
- The price on the maker's website could not be read; the $9.99 figure is the Mac App Store listing.
Key features
Cold Turkey Writer
- Full-screen lock until the goal is met
- Once a session starts, Writer is the only thing the computer will run until the goal is reached. The vendor's FAQ says no key combination gets out of it.
- Timer or word-count goals
- A block lasts a set number of minutes, from 1 to 999, or until a chosen number of words has been typed. A progress bar at the top shows how much is left.
- Auto save to plain text
- The draft is saved to the Documents folder every 10 seconds, so the last version is still there if the computer crashes.
- Portable, with no installer
- Writer runs as a stand-alone program, so it can be copied to a USB stick and used on other computers.
- Key-disabling options (Pro)
- Pro can switch off copy and paste, text selection, the backspace and delete keys and the arrow keys, to keep a first draft moving forward.
- Soundtracks and dark theme (Pro)
- Pro adds coffee shop and rain background sounds, supplied by Coffitivity and RainyMood, and a dark theme for writing at night.
OmmWriter
- Full-screen writing space
- The app opens full screen with only the basic functions, so little else appears while you write.
- Nature-inspired backgrounds
- Includes backgrounds that follow the course of a day and two designed with a colour-therapy expert.
- Audio tracks and typing sounds
- Nine ambient and instrumental tracks play through headphones, and each key press makes a soft sound.
- Five typefaces
- Choose among Open Sans, DejaVu Sans, Noto Serif, PT Serif and Cygnet Round.
- Save and export formats
- Saves as .omm, .txt, .doc and .docx, with direct export to PDF or email.
- One-time license
- The maker says the Gaia license is a single payment with no time limit and no subscription.
Plans
Cold Turkey Writer
Writer Free$0
Timed blocks, word-count blocks, distraction-free writing and auto save.
Writer Pro$14.99
one-time purchase
Adds soundtracks, a dark theme, a copy and paste toggle and key-disabling options. Covers every computer you personally use, with free lifetime updates. Refundable within 30 days.
OmmWriter
OmmWriter (Mac App Store)$9.99
one-time purchase
Single payment with no subscription; the maker's own site sells it at a minimum price you may exceed.
Ways to pay less
Cold Turkey Writer
- Education
Students can request 20% off
The pricing FAQ says students can request 20% off. A form on the support page sends the discount to an email address it recognizes as belonging 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.
OmmWriter
- Other savings
30% off packs of five licenses
The FAQ says buying a pack of at least five licenses gets a 30% discount on each one.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Cold Turkey Writer or OmmWriter?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Cold Turkey Writer starts at $14.99 one-time (Writer Pro), and OmmWriter starts at $9.99 one-time (Mac App Store).
Which has a free plan, Cold Turkey Writer or OmmWriter?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Cold Turkey Writer has a free plan. OmmWriter does not.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.