Freedom app vs Cold Turkey Blocker: My Honest Opinion ( 2024)

If you’re not new to my blog, you know I’m a big fan of focus apps to increase your productivity and stay on track.

That’s why I decided to compare two of the best app and website blockers.

Freedom vs Cold Turkey Blocker: who’s the winner?

I’ve been using the Pro version of Freedom for months, but I decided to also test Cold Turkey to see which app is better for fighting distractions and avoiding time wasters.

In this comparison, you’ll learn everything you need to choose the right tools for your needs.

Ready to regain control of your time?

Quick Verdict: Which is the best tool?

Freedom and Cold Turkey Blocker are pretty similar tools.

Their goal is to block distractions and apps like Social Media and websites like YouTube or Reddit.

If you need to stay focused for an extended period of time like me, an app like that can be a lifesaver.

The first thing you need to know is Cold Turkey Blocker doesn’t support mobile devices. This means you can block apps and websites only on your PC.

For me, this is a huge downside, and that’s why I choose Freedom over Cold Turkey Blocker. I need to block distractions both on my PC and my phone.

Both tools offer a powerful free version to stay away from distracting websites; if you need more features, you need to get a Pro plan.

In terms of price, Cold Turkey Blocker offers a one-time-payment Pro version for $35.00, which is definitely affordable. Anyway, if you want to access all the advanced features, you need to pay an extra fee.

In fact, the Micromanager Pro lifetime access costs $17.00, while the Writer Pro feature is $8.00.

In total, Cold Turkey Blocker with all the pro features is about $60.00 for lifetime access.

Anyway, the tool offers a free 7-day trial to experiment with the Pro version.

On the other hand, Freedom offers a one lifetime payment at $99.50, but also a monthly subscription at $8.99 and a yearly subscription at $3.33.

With that being said, I consider Freedom the best tool to block distractions for two reasons: it works on PC and mobile phones and has a more flexible subscription plan.

And you can also stay with the free version until you need advanced features like Focus sounds, the Locked Mode etc.

Freedom app Pros and Cons 

• Improves your willpower and concentration
• Works on any device
• You can make your own lists of websites to block and set recurring focus sessions.
• You can block the entire internet to help you stay focused and productive.
• The focus sounds feature only works when you’re using a web browser.
• The initial setup can be somewhat confusing compared to Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey Blocker Pros and Cons

Pricing and Subscription Plans

As I’ve said before, both the tools offer a free version and a pro version.

Cold Turkey Blockers Pro version requires a one-time payment of $35.00.

Anyway, the Writer and Micromanager features require an additional cost.

The Micromanager Pro lifetime access is $17.00, but the Writer Pro feature is only $8.00.

Freedom offers different pricing plans to suit your needs.

You can pay $8.99 per month, $39.99 per year, or $99 for lifetime access. 

You can also try the Freedom Pro version for free with 7 sessions before deciding.

Freedom Key Benefits

I’ve been using Freedom for months and trust me, this app is incredible.

It helped me to improve my attention span and stay away from distractions like scrolling Social Media and constantly checking emails.

Here are the key benefits I experienced using Freedom App.

You can block websites and apps and create custom blocklists

Freedom’s primary feature is its ability to block websites so that you can create custom blocklists from its intuitive dashboard.

With Freedom, you can say goodbye to the most common phone distractions.

While it already includes a comprehensive list of common distractions, like Social Media, Forums, and other distracting websites, you can add more sites to tailor it to your specific needs.

For instance, since I live in Italy, I added my personal website blocklist.

Or, if you want to go all-in, you can even block the entire internet for complete focus.

Once you’ve set your blocklist and session duration, Freedom will prevent access to the specified websites, helping you defeat procrastination and laziness. 

Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to learn and use, offering a versatile solution for staying focused and eliminating distractions.

Locked mode

You may be thinking, ” What if I disabled Freedom and start distracting during focus sessions again?”.

If this possibility scares you, then the Locked Mode is what you need.

Freedom’s Locked Mode offers a premium feature that locks you into your session, preventing you from logging out, quitting the app, or modifying blocklists. 

This is ideal for individuals who struggle with procrastination or need a more forceful approach to maintaining concentration. You can also schedule your Locked Mode, so you don’t forget to set it.

By eliminating distractions and ensuring uninterrupted focus, Locked Mode can be a valuable tool for tackling demanding tasks and achieving peak productivity.

Synchronize with all devices

Freedom’s compatibility with multiple devices, including Android and Apple, makes it a versatile app blocker.

You can use install it on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, while the browser extension for PC offers additional convenience.

This feature is essential for me because I use two phones: one for work and one for personal use.

Key Freedom Pro Features

• Access Freedom without limits, across all your devices
• Schedule focus sessions, day after day
• Plan your focus sessions ahead of time
• Prevent interruptions and stay focused with Locked Mode
• Create the perfect ambiance for deep work with Focus sounds
• Review your focus history and understand your productivity patterns.
• Special discounts for Freedom users

Cold Turkey Blocker Key Benefits

Cold Turkey Blocker is another great tool to get more focused time during your day by blocking distractions on your PC.

Let’s take a look at its key benefits.

Customizable Blocking

As a website blocker, this feature is the core of Cold Turkey Blocker.

Compared to Freedom, it is even better because it is highly customizable.

In fact, you can block specific websites, YouTube channels, web URLs, and keywords on Google.

I think this is the key difference compared to Freedom as a website blocker; you’ve more customization options. Anyway, you can also block the entire internet if you want, as Freedom does.

If you use the Pro version, you can also block PC apps and schedule specific blocks.

Locking a Block

The “Locking a Block” feature is pretty similar to the Freedom Locked Mode.

This feature allows you to secure your block, preventing accidental disabling or uninstallation of the extension.

If you’re often tempted to disable your blocks during moments of weakness or distraction, this feature will be your lifesaver.

Additionally, the “Timer” feature sets a specific duration during which the block remains active.

 For added security, the “Random Text” feature requires you to input a series of random characters to unlock the block, which is customizable in length.

The “Time Range” option restricts changes to specific times of day, while the “Restart” feature necessitates a computer restart to unlock the block.

Frozen Turkey

Do you remember the Freedom Locked Mode? Well, the Frozen Turkey feature is even more insane!

Basically, it is a powerful tool that locks you out of your computers entirely for a specified period of time.

Yeah, you heard me right; you can’t access your PC until the session is over. Cold Turkey knows how important it is to stay focused!

There is no way to disable it or bypass the lock until the scheduled time is up.

Luckily, you can set a password to unlock Frozen Turkey early if needed and customize the settings.

I think this is a great feature, but it’s useless for me; since I mainly work on my PC, I can’t use this extreme option.

Statistics

Another great feature of this tool is the statistics and insights you can get.

This feature is similar to Rescuetime, another great focus app.

The statistics section shows the total time blocked for each website or application, allowing you to see which distractions consume most of your time.

You can also choose which statistics to track from the dashboard to get cleaner insights.

Freedom app also has a similar feature, so you can track your activities using both tools.

Key Cold Turkey Blocker Pro Features

• Applications blocks
• Scheduled Blocks
• Pomodoro timers and allowances
• Custom User Selection
• Application Password

As I’ve said before, Cold Turkey Blocker offers two other interesting paid options: The Micromanager and 

Micromanager restricts access to everything except the essential apps you need for work. 

The Writer feature is tailored for copywriters and bloggers like me. 

You can choose to block yourself for a specific duration or until you’ve reached a predetermined word count. This is fantastic!

My personal experience with the tools

I always test the tools before reviewing them to give you detailed insights.

To be honest, both are great apps, but I still prefer Freedom because I can use it on my phones.

I mean, it’s important not to get distracted on your PC, but you’ll be surprised to discover how much time you waste on your phone.

Cold Turkey Blocker is fantastic, and I think it gives you more customization options, but if I need to pick just one tool, Freedom is my final choice.

I use it every day, and I never found a more valuable tool at the same affordable price.

Final Verdict

Both Freedom and Cold Turkey Blocker offer practical solutions for combating distractions and regaining focus.

However, I consider Freedom a superior choice due to its cross-platform compatibility and flexible subscription options.

While Cold Turkey Blocker provides extensive customization and powerful features, its limitation to PC-based blocking is a significant drawback for many users.

Freedom works across any devices, including mobile phones and Android devices; this is a game-changer, especially in today’s increasingly mobile-centric world.

Furthermore, Freedom’s subscription plans offer greater flexibility, allowing users to choose the option that best suits their needs and budget.

Whether you’re seeking a long-term commitment or a short-term trial, Freedom provides a range of options.