The Cold Turkey Blocker Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Cold Turkey Blocker 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 Blocker
The Insider’s Guide
Website and app blocker for Windows and Mac with strict locks
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among focus apps, read from Cold Turkey Blocker’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 Blocker’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Cold Turkey Blocker’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
2.8
GPA, above 41 of the 65 other focus apps we grade
Cold Turkey Blocker is a desktop app for Windows and macOS that blocks websites, applications or the whole internet on a timer or a weekly schedule. Its emphasis is on locking: a locked block cannot be changed or switched off until a condition such as a timer, a restart or typing out a string of random text is met. Settings and usage statistics are stored locally on the computer.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Cold Turkey Blocker, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, but nothing to set up: install it, make a list, set a timer, start the block.
- 1
Best for a block on your computer you can't undo
Cold Turkey locks blocks on your computer until the condition you chose is met: a timer, a restart, or typing out a wall of random text.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $45 one-time purchase (Blocker Pro).
- 3
There is a free plan
Blocker Free: website blocking, website exceptions, timed blocks and statistics, plus a 7-day trial of all Pro features.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and Windows, with a browser extension too.
- 5
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.
- 6
Application blocking
Pro blocks applications or whole folders of them. On Windows it can also block Microsoft Store apps and match on window titles.
- 7
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.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 41 of 65
That is against the other focus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A focus timer at its plainest counts down 25 minutes and keeps a log.
Cold Turkey Blocker at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $45 one-time purchase (Blocker Pro)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day trial of all Pro features, included in the free version
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Browser extension
- Made by
- Cold Turkey Software, Inc., since 2010
- Category
- Focus Apps
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a block on your computer you can't undo
Cold Turkey locks blocks on your computer until the condition you chose is met: a timer, a restart, or typing out a wall of random text. Pro is $45 once for every computer you use, but the free version blocks websites only, the price varies by country, and nothing here covers your phone or Linux.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $45 paid once, for every computer you personally use, where this category's middle subscription is $3.99 a month, so it's cheaper than a year of renting a blocker and then never asks again. Students can request 20% off, and the price page fills in your country's figure. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Blocker Free blocks websites on a timer and keeps your stats, which is a real tool. But the locks, the schedules and application blocking, the reasons to choose this one, are all Pro, and the only taste of them is a 7-day trial. |
| Features | B | On a computer it covers the job: websites, single pages, YouTube channels, keywords, applications, folders of them or the whole internet, with a weekly schedule, Pomodoro breaks, allowances and local stats. No other blocker here lists locks like these. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but nothing to set up: install it, make a list, set a timer, start the block. The one thing to think about first is the lock, because once it's on you cannot change your mind. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Computers only: Windows and Mac, with one purchase covering both. Cold Turkey says plainly that Linux, ChromeOS, Android and iOS aren't supported, so your phone is fair game, and nothing else connects to it. |
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 Blocker is for
- Fits if you talk yourself out of softer blockers halfway through a session
- Works for people whose problem is games and desktop apps, not just websites
Who it is not for
- Skip it if your phone is where the time goes, as there's no iPhone or Android app
- Tight if you're staying free, because locks, schedules and app blocking need Pro
- Not for you if you sometimes need to end a block early, since the locks are built to stop exactly that
- Skip it if you're on Linux or ChromeOS, which Cold Turkey says it doesn't support
- Watch out: the Pro price is filled in by country, so $45 is the US figure, and the Pro trial lasts 7 days
Good to know
Good for
- 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
Worth knowing
- 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 pricing page fills in the Pro price by the buyer's country: $45 is the US figure in the price data the page loads, read on October 9, 2026.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$45 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Cold Turkey Blocker has a free plan. Paid plans start at $45 one-time purchase (Blocker Pro).
Blocker Free blocks websites on a timer and keeps your stats, which is a real tool.
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.
The free plan
Blocker Free: website blocking, website exceptions, timed blocks and statistics, plus a 7-day trial of all Pro features.
Trying it first
7-day trial of all Pro features, included in the free version
Read from getcoldturkey.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
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.comBy country
Lower price shown to buyers in India
On October 9, 2026 the pricing page showed Blocker Pro at ₹2,499.00, tax included, to a reader in India. The price data it loads for a US buyer gives $45.00.
Stated on getcoldturkey.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Browser extension
Website and app blocker for Windows and Mac with strict locks. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: local-first, one-time purchase, site & app blocker, Pomodoro timer.
No other blocker here lists locks like these.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Browser extension
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Cold Turkey Blocker is made by Cold Turkey Software, Inc., and has been around since 2010.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
41/65
Other focus apps it is graded above
Cold Turkey Blocker's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 41 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 40 of 65) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 5).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 focus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Cold Turkey Blocker’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 40 of 65
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 65
- BFeaturesAbove 48 of 65
- BEase of useAbove 17 of 65
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 of 65
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 focus timer at its plainest counts down 25 minutes and keeps a log.
You could make the core of Cold Turkey Blocker for yourself: Pomodoro timer. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $45, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could make
- Pomodoro timer: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Blocking that reaches every browser and app and is hard to switch off.
- A real app for macOS and Windows. Something home-made would be a web page.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Cold Turkey Blocker’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
Freedom, Opal, Session and Forest
The 4 tools Cold Turkey Blocker is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Freedom
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
Website and app blocker that runs across computers and phones.
- Only Freedom lists iOS and Android apps.
- Cold Turkey Blocker also covers Pomodoro timer.
- Freedom also covers focus music.
- 2.8GPA
Opal
Free plan · from $8.29/mo
Screen time app that blocks distracting apps on phone and Mac.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists a Windows app.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists a browser extension.
- Only Opal lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.2GPA
Session
Free plan · from $3.33/mo
Pomodoro focus timer with analytics for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists a Windows app.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists a browser extension.
- Only Session lists an iOS app.
- 3.0GPA
Forest
Free plan · from $5.99/mo
Focus timer that grows a virtual tree while you stay off apps.
- Only Cold Turkey Blocker lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only Forest lists iOS and Android apps.
- Cold Turkey Blocker can be bought with a one-time purchase.
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 Blocker free?
Cold Turkey Blocker has a free plan. Blocker Free: website blocking, website exceptions, timed blocks and statistics, plus a 7-day trial of all Pro features.
How much does Cold Turkey Blocker cost?
Cold Turkey Blocker lists 2 plans. Blocker Free: $0.
What platforms does Cold Turkey Blocker work on?
Cold Turkey Blocker is available on macOS and Windows. It also has a browser extension.
Does Cold Turkey Blocker offer any discounts?
Cold Turkey Blocker publicly lists the following: Students can request 20% off; Save 10% on the three-product bundle; Lower price shown to buyers in India.
Does Cold Turkey Blocker have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Cold Turkey Blocker is listed for macOS and Windows.
Does Cold Turkey Blocker have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Cold Turkey Blocker is listed for macOS and Windows.
Is Cold Turkey Blocker open source?
Cold Turkey Blocker is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Cold Turkey Blocker have a student discount?
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.
Does Cold Turkey Blocker have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day trial of all Pro features, included in the free version.
Who makes Cold Turkey Blocker?
Cold Turkey Blocker is made by Cold Turkey Software, Inc. It dates from 2010.
What are the alternatives to Cold Turkey Blocker?
The closest alternatives to Cold Turkey Blocker in our directory are Freedom, Opal, Session and Forest.
How does Cold Turkey Blocker compare with other focus apps?
Cold Turkey Blocker's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 41 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 9.
Could I make my own version of Cold Turkey Blocker?
A focus timer at its plainest counts down 25 minutes and keeps a log. You could make the core of Cold Turkey Blocker for yourself: Pomodoro timer.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Cold Turkey Blocker’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's own pages, the $45 price from the price data its pricing page loads. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-12.
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 Blocker, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/cold-turkey
- 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 Blocker: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/cold-turkey
Know someone choosing between focus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/cold-turkey/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded focus apps after Cold Turkey Blocker, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Focus Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 66 focus apps we grade, compared
- ScreenZen Insider's GuideFree app that delays and blocks distracting apps and sites3.6 GPA
- Flora Insider's GuideFree focus timer that grows trees, alone or with friends3.2 GPA
- Flow Insider's GuideMinimal Pomodoro timer for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch3.2 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 Blocker’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 Blocker 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.