Comparison
Freedom vs Cold Turkey vs StayFocusd (2026 comparison)
Freedom, Cold Turkey, and StayFocusd solve different problems, so the better tool depends on your setup. Freedom wins for blocking across every device. Cold Turkey wins for an unbreakable lock on one computer. StayFocusd wins if you want a free time budget in Chrome rather than a full block.
Disclosure: we make FutureSelf, a Chrome extension that competes with all three. Prices were checked in October 2026 on public pages; confirm before you buy.
These three get compared constantly, but they solve different problems. Freedom covers every device, Cold Turkey locks you out of a computer, and StayFocusd gives you a free time budget in Chrome.
Side by side
| Freedom | Cold Turkey | StayFocusd | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Cross-device blocker | Desktop blocker | Chrome extension |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Chromebook | Windows, macOS | Chrome (also Edge) |
| Price | $8.99/month, $39.99/year, Forever listed at $99.50 | Free tier; Pro about $39 one-time | Free |
| Strictest mode | Locked mode (Premium) | Frozen Turkey | Nuclear Option |
| Free option | 7-day trial; check freedom.to/pricing | Yes: websites, timed blocks, stats | Everything is free |
| Best for | Covering every device | Being locked out | Free daily time budgets |
Freedom
Freedom is the broadest of the three. One account blocks apps, sites or the whole internet across phones, tablets and computers, with scheduled sessions and a locked mode on Premium. Its weakness is price if you stay on a subscription, and breadth you may not need.
Cold Turkey
Cold Turkey is the strictest. A one-time Pro purchase gets you app blocking, schedules, passwords and Frozen Turkey. Its weakness is that it covers only Windows and macOS, and a hard lock can feel punishing.
StayFocusd
StayFocusd is free and lives in Chrome. You set a daily time allowance for distracting sites, and when it runs out the site is blocked. The Nuclear Option can’t be undone once triggered. Its weakness is that outside Nuclear mode, the limits are easy to loosen, and the settings can be confusing.
Which should you pick?
- Pick Freedom if your distraction follows you across devices.
- Pick Cold Turkey if you’re on a computer and want to be locked out.
- Pick StayFocusd if you want something free that lives in Chrome.
Where FutureSelf fits
If you click through easy blockers and resent hard ones, there’s a middle option. FutureSelf pauses you for 10 seconds with a question, a fact or a roast, then lets you decide, and it’s $19 one-time after a free 3-day trial. It’s Chrome-only and has no hard lock. See the Freedom, Cold Turkey and StayFocusd comparisons.
FAQ
FAQ
Which is better, Freedom or Cold Turkey?
Freedom is better if you need every device covered. Cold Turkey is better if you need the strictest lock on a computer and prefer a one-time price.
Is StayFocusd as strict as Cold Turkey?
Only in Nuclear mode. Otherwise StayFocusd’s time limits can be changed, while Cold Turkey’s locks are designed to hold.
Which is cheapest?
StayFocusd is free. Cold Turkey Pro is about $39 one-time. Freedom is $39.99 a year at the yearly rate, or $99.50 for the Forever plan as listed.
The tab can wait.
You know it can.
Questions. Facts. Breathwork. The occasional roast. A 10-second pause. Then you decide.