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

[Visit Freedom](https://freedom.to/) [ScreenFine vs Freedom](/compare/vs/freedom/)

#2 · Best for: iPhone overuse with verified-exercise redemption

## ScreenFine(this is us)

$1/week iOS

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)

[Get ScreenFine](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/screenfine-screen-time-limit/id6760267071) [See pricing](/pricing/) [ScreenFine vs Cold Turkey](/compare/vs/cold-turkey/)

#3 · Best for: Free, dead-simple Mac-only blocking

## SelfControl

Free macOS

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

[Visit SelfControl](https://selfcontrolapp.com/)

#4 · Best for: Free Chrome-only website blocking

## StayFocusd

Free Chrome (desktop only)

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

[Visit StayFocusd](https://www.stayfocusd.com/) [ScreenFine vs StayFocusd](/compare/vs/stayfocusd/)

#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)

[Visit Opal](https://www.opal.so/) [ScreenFine vs Opal](/compare/vs/opal/)

#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

[Visit LeechBlock NG](https://www.proginosko.com/leechblock/)

Common questions

## About Cold Turkey alternatives

### Why are people looking for Cold Turkey alternatives?

Rarely because it is not strict enough. The main reasons are platform coverage (no iOS app), UI dating (older than newer cross-platform competitors), and use-case fit. Cold Turkey is desktop-only, so users whose problem has shifted to mobile need a different tool. Users who want unified cross-device control switch to Freedom. Users who want free strict Mac blocking switch to SelfControl.

### What is the cheapest Cold Turkey alternative?

SelfControl is free on macOS. StayFocusd is free on Chrome. LeechBlock NG is free on Firefox, Chrome, and Edge. Among paid options, ScreenFine ($1/week, ~$52/yr) covers the iPhone gap. Freedom (~$40/yr) covers the cross-device gap. Opal ($80-100/yr) is the priciest.

### What is the strictest Cold Turkey alternative?

On macOS, SelfControl is essentially tied with Cold Turkey for "cannot be undone once started." Freedom's Locked Mode is very strict during active sessions but ends when the session ends. On iOS, ScreenFine has the strictest consequence model (a verified-exercise lock on overage) but pause is allowed. Cold Turkey's Frozen Turkey remains the strictest single-feature lock in the category.

### Can I use Cold Turkey and one of these alternatives together?

Yes, and many power users do. Common stack: Cold Turkey for the desktop strict blocks + ScreenFine for the iPhone daily cap + StayFocusd or LeechBlock for browser-only granularity. Each covers a different platform or use case. They do not interfere because they run on different surfaces.

### Is there a free Cold Turkey alternative?

Yes, on desktop. On macOS, SelfControl is free and open-source and is nearly as strict as Cold Turkey once a block starts. On Chrome, StayFocusd and LeechBlock are free browser-only blockers. Cold Turkey itself also has a genuinely useful free tier before the one-time $39 Pro upgrade. On iPhone there is no free strict blocker: Apple Screen Time is free but soft, and consequence-based apps like ScreenFine are paid. So free-and-strict exists on desktop, not on iOS.

### What is the best Cold Turkey blocker alternative on iPhone?

Cold Turkey does not run on iPhone at all, so any iOS pick is a replacement rather than a port. Apple Screen Time is the free built-in starting point but is easy to override. If that has failed, ScreenFine is the closest thing to Cold Turkey's strictness on iOS: it locks your target apps on overage and the only way to clear the lock is verified exercise within a week, with no simple override button.

Head to head

## Direct comparisons

[Freedom vs Cold Turkey](/compare/freedom-vs-cold-turkey/)

Keep comparing

## More alternatives roundups

[Apple Screen Time alternatives](/alternatives/apple-screen-time/)[Opal alternatives](/alternatives/opal/)[One Sec alternatives](/alternatives/one-sec/)[ScreenZen alternatives](/alternatives/screenzen/)[Brick alternatives](/alternatives/brick/)[StickK alternatives](/alternatives/stickk/)

## Compare ScreenFine head to head

Each alternative on this page has a one-on-one comparison with ScreenFine where applicable. Or browse all comparisons.

[Browse comparisons](/compare/) [Visit ScreenFine](/)