Cold Turkey Writer
Text editor that locks your computer until a writing goal is met
What is Cold Turkey Writer?
Cold Turkey Writer is a plain-text editor for Windows and macOS that fills the screen and blocks everything else on the computer until a writing goal is reached. The goal is either a number of minutes or a number of words, and a session cannot be left early once it has started. The free version covers both kinds of block, and a one-time Pro purchase adds soundtracks, a dark theme and options such as switching off the backspace key.
Cold Turkey Writer has a free plan. Paid plans start at $14.99 one-time (Writer Pro). See every plan
Good for
- Writers who want everything else on the computer shut out until a quota is done
- First drafts written against a word count or a timer
- People who prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription
Worth knowing
- 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.
Key features
- 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.
Cold Turkey Writer pricing
- Starts at
- $14.99 one-time (Writer Pro)
- Free plan
- Writer Free: timed blocks, word-count blocks, distraction-free full-screen writing and auto save.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Writer Free | $0 | Timed blocks, word-count blocks, distraction-free writing and auto save. |
| Writer Pro | $14.99one-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. |
Read from getcoldturkey.com on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Cold Turkey Writer before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- EducationStudents 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.
Stated on getcoldturkey.com - Other savingsSave 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.
Stated on getcoldturkey.com
Cold Turkey Writer alternatives
- Cold Turkey Writer vs Calmly Writer
Free plan · from $16.99 one-time
- Cold Turkey Writer vs iA Writer
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
- Cold Turkey Writer vs 4thewords
Free plan · from $10/mo
- Cold Turkey Writer vs Cold Turkey Blocker
Free plan · from $45 one-time
Common questions
Is Cold Turkey Writer free?
Cold Turkey Writer has a free plan. Writer Free: timed blocks, word-count blocks, distraction-free full-screen writing and auto save. Paid plans start at $14.99 one-time (Writer Pro).
How much does Cold Turkey Writer cost?
Cold Turkey Writer lists 2 plans. Writer Free: $0. Writer Pro: $14.99 one-time purchase. Prices were read from getcoldturkey.com on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does Cold Turkey Writer work on?
Cold Turkey Writer is available on macOS and Windows.
Does Cold Turkey Writer offer any discounts?
Cold Turkey Writer publicly lists the following: Students can request 20% off; Save 10% on the three-product bundle.
Does Cold Turkey Writer have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Cold Turkey Writer is listed for macOS and Windows.
Does Cold Turkey Writer have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Cold Turkey Writer is listed for macOS and Windows.
Is Cold Turkey Writer open source?
Cold Turkey Writer is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Cold Turkey Writer work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Does Cold Turkey Writer have a student discount?
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.
Who makes Cold Turkey Writer?
Cold Turkey Writer is made by Cold Turkey Software, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Cold Turkey Writer?
The closest alternatives to Cold Turkey Writer in our directory are FocusWriter, Calmly Writer, iA Writer, 4thewords and Cold Turkey Blocker. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Cold Turkey Writer.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.