Alternatives roundup · Reviewed July 11, 2026
Cold Turkey Alternatives
Cold Turkey is the strictest desktop blocker in the category, with a useful free tier and $39 once for Pro lifetime. If it has stopped working, the failure mode is rarely "not strict enough." It is usually "I need this on iOS too" or "the desktop UI is dated and I want something cross-device." The alternatives below cover those gaps. Six options, with honest framing.
#1 · Best for: Cross-device blocking with synced lists
Freedom
$8.99/mo or ~$40/yr iOS, Mac, Win, Android, Chrome
Freedom is the cross-platform escalation from Cold Turkey. Same general mechanism (scheduled blocks across sites and apps) but synced across iPhone, laptop, and browsers. Locked Mode is nearly as strict as Cold Turkey's Frozen Turkey during an active session. Subscription-only, but the cross-device reach is the trade-off.
Pros
- + Strong cross-device coverage including mobile
- + Mature website-blocking story
- + Locked Mode is nearly as strict as Cold Turkey Frozen mode
- + Synced block lists
Cons
- - Subscription-only (Cold Turkey has $39 once option)
- - iOS coverage is weaker than desktop
- - Newer UI but less granular than Cold Turkey on desktop
ScreenFine is the iOS counterpart to Cold Turkey's desktop strictness. Different surface, different mechanism: instead of preventing exit during a session, ScreenFine puts a daily total cap on your iPhone and imposes a real consequence on overage: your chosen apps lock until you complete verified exercise. Built on Apple's FamilyControls API. The right move if Cold Turkey is handling your laptop and your phone is the remaining problem.
Pros
- + iOS-native via FamilyControls (Cold Turkey has no iOS app)
- + Real consequence on overage rather than only a block
- + 1-week behavioural redemption window
- + AI villain personalises the consequence
- + Wall of Shame and partner mode
Cons
- - iOS only (no desktop replacement for Cold Turkey)
- - $1/week ongoing instead of one-time
- - Pause is allowed (less strict than Frozen Turkey)
- - No free tier (7-day trial only)
SelfControl is a free, single-purpose macOS app that blocks websites for a duration you set. Once started, the block cannot be ended (not by restarting the computer, not by uninstalling). The simplest, strictest macOS blocker in existence. Mac-only, free, and beloved by writers and developers. The right tool if your Cold Turkey usage is entirely Mac-side.
Pros
- + Completely free
- + Cannot be ended once started (not even by reboot)
- + Dead simple, single-purpose
- + Open source
Cons
- - macOS only
- - Websites only, no apps
- - No scheduling, only timed blocks
- - Dated UI
StayFocusd is a free Chrome extension with a Nuclear Option (whitelist mode) that is genuinely strict during active sessions. Much narrower scope than Cold Turkey (Chrome only, websites only), but the right tool if your problem lives entirely in Chrome on a laptop. Free, lightweight, and battle-tested over a decade.
Pros
- + Free
- + Nuclear Option whitelist is strict
- + Mature, battle-tested over a decade
- + Easy to set up
Cons
- - Chrome only, websites only, desktop only
- - No mobile coverage
- - Easily bypassed by switching browsers
#5 · Best for: Polished mobile-first blocker
Opal
$80-100/yr iOS, Android, macOS
Opal is the most polished mobile-first blocker, with macOS support added more recently. If your Cold Turkey usage is mostly desktop but you also want a strong mobile counterpart, Opal handles the mobile side better than Cold Turkey could ever attempt. Subscription-only and pricey, but with the cleanest UI in the category.
Pros
- + Most polished UI in the friction category
- + Strong iOS coverage
- + Macros and scheduled sessions
- + Friend leaderboards for accountability
Cons
- - Among the most expensive options
- - Desktop story is weaker than mobile
- - Override is one tap away (less strict than Cold Turkey)
#6 · Best for: Free, granular browser-only blocking
LeechBlock NG
Free Firefox, Chrome, Edge
LeechBlock NG is a free, open-source browser extension for Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. More granular than StayFocusd: multiple block sets, time-of-day rules, time-budget rules, and password protection. The right tool if your Cold Turkey usage is browser-heavy and you want richer rules than StayFocusd provides, without paying.
Pros
- + Free and open source
- + Highly granular rules
- + Multi-browser (Firefox, Chrome, Edge)
- + Password protection for settings
Cons
- - Browser only, no apps
- - No mobile coverage
- - Settings UI takes time to learn
