The Cold Turkey Writer Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Cold Turkey Writer in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Cold Turkey Writer
The Insider’s Guide
Text editor that locks your computer until a writing goal is met
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among writing tools, read from Cold Turkey Writer’s own pages.
Made by Cold Turkey Software, Inc. · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Cold Turkey Writer’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Cold Turkey Writer’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.0
GPA, above 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Cold Turkey Writer, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It only saves plain text, there's no way out of a session early, Pro has no trial, and it's Windows and macOS only.
- 1
Best for forcing a first draft out of yourself
Cold Turkey Writer locks your computer until you hit a word count or a number of minutes, with nothing else able to open.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $14.99 one-time (Writer Pro).
- 3
There is a free plan
Writer Free: timed blocks, word-count blocks, distraction-free full-screen writing and auto save.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and Windows.
- 5
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.
- 6
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.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 3.0 GPA, above 57 of 69
That is against the other writing tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
Cold Turkey Writer at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $14.99 one-time (Writer Pro)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows
- Made by
- Cold Turkey Software, Inc.
- Category
- Writing Tools
- Our grade
- 3.0 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for forcing a first draft out of yourself
Cold Turkey Writer locks your computer until you hit a word count or a number of minutes, with nothing else able to open. The free version does that, and $14.99 once adds soundtracks, a dark theme and options like switching off backspace. It only saves plain text, there's no way out of a session early, Pro has no trial, and it's Windows and macOS only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Writer 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Writer 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. |
| Features | C | The 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. |
| Ease of use | B | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | A 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Cold Turkey Writer is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$14.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Cold Turkey Writer has a free plan. Paid plans start at $14.99 one-time (Writer Pro).
Writer 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.
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.
The free plan
Writer Free: timed blocks, word-count blocks, distraction-free full-screen writing and auto save.
Read from getcoldturkey.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on getcoldturkey.comOther 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.
Stated on getcoldturkey.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and Windows
Text editor that locks your computer until a writing goal is met. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, local-first, one-time purchase, focus music.
A program for computers alone: Windows and macOS, one purchase covering both.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Cold Turkey Writer is made by Cold Turkey Software, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
57/69
Other writing tools it is graded above
Cold Turkey Writer's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 58 of 69) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 70 writing tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Cold Turkey Writer’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 44 of 69
- AFree plan and trialAbove 58 of 69
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 69
- BEase of useAbove 32 of 69
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 69
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type.
Cold Turkey Writer sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $14.99, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could not
- A library of sound you would have to license.
- A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Cold Turkey Writer’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
FocusWriter, Calmly Writer, iA Writer, 4thewords and Cold Turkey Blocker
The 5 tools Cold Turkey Writer is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.0GPA
FocusWriter
Free
Free distraction-free word processor for Windows and Linux.
- Only Cold Turkey Writer lists a macOS app.
- Only FocusWriter lists a Linux app.
- Cold Turkey Writer can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Calmly Writer
Free plan · from $16.99 one-time
Distraction-free Markdown writing app sold as a one-time purchase.
- Only Calmly Writer lists a web app.
- Only Calmly Writer lists Linux and Android apps.
- Cold Turkey Writer also covers focus music.
- 2.8GPA
iA Writer
Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode.
- Cold Turkey Writer has a free plan. iA Writer does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only iA Writer lists an iOS app.
- Cold Turkey Writer also covers focus music.
- 2.2GPA
4thewords
Free plan · from $10/mo
Writing game where your word count defeats monsters.
- Only Cold Turkey Writer lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only 4thewords lists a web app.
- Only 4thewords lists a browser extension.
- 2.8GPA
Cold Turkey Blocker
Free plan · from $45 one-time
Website and app blocker for Windows and Mac with strict locks.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists a browser extension.
- Cold Turkey Writer also covers focus music.
- Cold Turkey Blocker also covers site & app blocker and Pomodoro timer.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
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.
How much does Cold Turkey Writer cost?
Cold Turkey Writer lists 2 plans. Writer Free: $0.
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.
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.
How does Cold Turkey Writer compare with other writing tools?
Cold Turkey Writer's GPA of 3.0 is higher than 57 of the 69 other writing tools we grade, and level with 6.
Could I make my own version of Cold Turkey Writer?
A writing app at its plainest is a page that saves what you type. Cold Turkey Writer sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Cold Turkey Writer’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Cold Turkey Writer's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-12.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Cold Turkey Software, Inc. Prices change, so check getcoldturkey.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Cold Turkey Writer, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/cold-turkey-writer
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Cold Turkey Writer: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/cold-turkey-writer
Know someone choosing between writing tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/cold-turkey-writer/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded writing tools after Cold Turkey Writer, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Writing Tools Insider's GuideEvery one of the 70 writing tools we grade, compared
- Microsoft Word Insider's GuideWord processor sold with Microsoft 365, free in the browser3.4 GPA
- Beat Insider's GuideFree, open-source Fountain screenwriting app for Mac and iOS3.2 GPA
- JotterPad Insider's GuideMarkdown and Fountain editor for books, papers and screenplays3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Cold Turkey Writer’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Cold Turkey Writer is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Cold Turkey Software, Inc. Prices and plans change: check getcoldturkey.com before you buy.