Cold Turkey vs Freedom: which blocker fits your Mac? (2026)
Cold Turkey vs Freedom compared for Mac in 2026: price, platforms, app and website blocking, scheduling, lock strength and sync, with a third option.
Quick answer
In Cold Turkey vs Freedom, choose Cold Turkey if you work on a Mac or Windows PC and want a one-time purchase with blocks you can lock in place. Choose Freedom if you also need the same blocklists on iPhone and Android, and accept a subscription or a $99.50 lifetime plan. If you only block distractions on a Mac, Nudge is a third option at $9.99 once, with sessions started from the menu bar.
How do these apps compare?
Decide between Cold Turkey and Freedom for blocking websites and apps on a Mac.
| App | Best for | Price | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
 NudgeTop pick | Daily focus sessions on a Mac only | $9.99 once | Get Nudge |
 Cold Turkey | Locked blocks on Mac and Windows | Free, Pro $45 once | Visit |
 Freedom | One blocklist on every device | $8.99/mo or $99.50 lifetime (Oct deal) | Visit |
 SelfControl | Free timed website blocks | Free | Visit |
 Focus | Strict Mac blocking for a one-time price | From $29 once | Visit |
 FocusMe | Detailed rules on many platforms | From $9.95/mo yearly or $449 lifetime | Visit |
Which tool should you pick?
Best for one payment on Mac and Windows
Cold Turkey
Blocker Pro is a lifetime purchase, one key for macOS and Windows.
Best if your phone is the problem
Freedom
Blocks apps and websites on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android, synced.
Best for daily Mac focus sessions
Nudge
Presets of blocked apps and websites, started from the menu bar. $9.99 once.
Best free hard block
SelfControl
Free and open source. Websites only.
The apps in detail
- $9.99 once
1. App and website sessions
Nudge
Best for: Daily focus sessions on a Mac only
- Choose it if
- Your work and your distractions are on one Mac and you want to pay $9.99 once.
- Skip it if
- You also need blocking on your phone: Nudge is a Mac app, so look at Freedom, Opal or Session.
- Free, Pro $45 once
2. Blocking
Cold Turkey
Best for: Locked blocks on Mac and Windows
- Choose it if
- You want website and app blocking you can lock in place, paid once.
- Skip it if
- You need phone blocking. Cold Turkey does not support iOS or Android.
- $8.99/mo or $99.50 lifetime (Oct deal)
3. Cross-device blocking
Freedom
Best for: One blocklist on every device
- Choose it if
- You want Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android in one account, with Locked Mode.
- Skip it if
- You only work on a Mac and prefer to pay once for less.
- Free
4. Website blocking
SelfControl
Best for: Free timed website blocks
- Choose it if
- You want a free block that stays on until the timer ends.
- Skip it if
- You need app blocking, schedules or presets.
- From $29 once
5. Blocking and timer
Focus
Best for: Strict Mac blocking for a one-time price
- Choose it if
- You want website and app blocking with a Locked Mode.
- Skip it if
- You want the simplest possible setup.
- From $9.95/mo yearly or $449 lifetime
6. Blocking
FocusMe
Best for: Detailed rules on many platforms
- Choose it if
- You want schedules and an Enforced Mode on desktop and mobile.
- Skip it if
- You want a single low one-time price.
What is the difference between Cold Turkey and Freedom?
Both block websites and apps on a Mac. The difference is the shape of the product. Cold Turkey is a desktop blocker for macOS and Windows that you pay for once and can lock. Freedom is a cross-device service: it syncs one blocklist across Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android.
So the first question is not which one is stronger. It is whether your distractions live only on a computer or on your phone as well.
How do Cold Turkey and Freedom compare side by side?
Facts below come from each vendor's own site and were checked on 10 October 2026.
| Cold Turkey | Freedom | |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | Free version. Blocker Pro is $45 once, for lifetime access. | Free plan. Premium: $8.99 a month, $3.33 a month on the yearly plan, or $99.50 Forever. |
| Platforms | macOS and Windows. Not iOS, Android, Linux or ChromeOS. | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android and Chromebook on the pricing page. |
| Website blocking | Yes, in the free version, with browser extensions. | Yes. Website exceptions on Mac and Windows only. |
| App blocking | Blocker Pro. | Yes, on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. |
| Scheduling | Scheduled blocks in Blocker Pro. | Scheduling, recurring and advance sessions on Premium. |
| How hard to bypass | Blocks can be locked, with uninstall prevention. | Locked Mode prevents quitting a session. It is a Premium feature. |
| Sync across devices | Not listed on its site. | Yes, unlimited devices on every plan. |
How much do Cold Turkey and Freedom cost?
Prices were checked on getcoldturkey.com/pricing and freedom.to/pricing on 10 October 2026.
- Cold Turkey Blocker Free: website blocking, timed blocks and statistics, with a 7-day trial of Pro features.
- Cold Turkey Blocker Pro: $45 once for lifetime access and free updates. A 30-day refund and 20% student discount are listed.
- Freedom Free: $0, with apps, websites and sync listed.
- Freedom Premium: $8.99 a month, or $3.33 a month on the yearly plan with a 7-day trial.
- Freedom Forever: $99.50 once with an October 2026 coupon, down from $199.
- Nudge: $9.99 once for Lifetime Access, after a 7-day free trial with no card.
Who should pick Cold Turkey, and who should pick Freedom?
Pick Cold Turkey if you use a Mac or Windows PC, want to pay once, and want to lock a block so you cannot talk yourself out of it. It suits people who have decided they need a hard wall.
Pick Freedom if your phone is part of the loop. Its main strength is one account blocking apps and sites on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android, with Locked Mode and recurring schedules on Premium. If you will use that reach, the subscription or the Forever plan is reasonable.
How does each one work on a Mac specifically?
Cold Turkey runs as a macOS app with browser extensions. Blocker Pro adds app blocking and scheduled blocks, and its lock features make a started block hard to stop.
Freedom runs as a Mac app and also blocks apps and websites on macOS. On Mac it supports website exceptions, which the iOS and Android versions do not list. Locked Mode stops you quitting a session.
Neither is limited to the Mac, so some of what you pay for is for other platforms. For a deeper look, see the comparisons of Nudge with Cold Turkey and Freedom.
Which is harder to get around, Cold Turkey or Freedom?
This is the question most Cold Turkey vs Freedom threads on Reddit come down to. Cold Turkey is built around locking: a started block can be locked so it cannot be stopped early, and Pro can prevent uninstalling while a block runs. Freedom's Locked Mode, on Premium, stops you quitting a session, and its reach across your phone and computer closes the easiest escape route: picking up the other device.
Both have a free tier or trial, so test the lock on your own Mac before you pay.
Is there a third option for Mac?
If you only need to protect focus on a Mac, Nudge is built for that. You pick the apps and websites that distract you, save them as a preset such as Deep Work, and start a session from the menu bar. Websites are blocked in Safari and Chrome. When the session ends, everything is reachable again.
A preset can also run on a schedule, with the days and hours you choose. Nudge costs $9.99 once for Lifetime Access, with no subscription, and every Mac gets a 7-day free trial with every feature, no email, password or card.
More options are in the Cold Turkey alternatives and Freedom alternatives lists, and in the best website blockers for Mac.
FAQ
Is Cold Turkey or Freedom better?
Neither wins for everyone. Cold Turkey is better if you work on Mac or Windows and want a one-time purchase with lockable blocks. Freedom is better if you need the same blocklist on iPhone and Android as well.
Does Cold Turkey work on iPhone or Android?
No. Its pricing page lists macOS and Windows and says Linux, ChromeOS, Android and iOS are not supported. Freedom covers iOS and Android.
Is Freedom a subscription?
It can be. Premium is $8.99 a month or $3.33 a month on the yearly plan. Freedom also offers a Forever plan at $99.50 once, and a free plan.
How much is Cold Turkey Blocker Pro?
$45 once on Cold Turkey's pricing page, checked 10 October 2026, with free lifetime updates. One purchase covers the computers you personally use, on macOS and Windows.
Is there a cheaper option than both on a Mac?
Nudge costs $9.99 once for Lifetime Access, after a 7-day free trial with no card. SelfControl is free for website blocks. Both are Mac-focused.
Can I try them before paying?
Yes. Cold Turkey has a free version with a 7-day trial of Pro features, Freedom has a free plan, and Nudge has a 7-day trial on every Mac.
Nudge for Mac
Turn the guide into a focus session
Pick the apps and websites that pull you away and start the session from the menu bar. They stay blocked until it ends. $9.99 once after 7 days free, no card to start.
Download for macOS
