Freedom vs Cold Turkey: Which Blocker Should You Use?
Both block distracting sites. They differ on how many devices they cover and how hard they are to escape, which is the only question that really matters.
The short answer
Choose Freedom if you need one blocklist working across phone, tablet and computer at once. It covers iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and Chrome from a single synced session, which matters because blocking a site on the laptop and not the phone usually just relocates the habit rather than ending it. Choose Cold Turkey if you only need the computer but need it to be genuinely inescapable: its stricter modes are built so that restarting, reinstalling or deleting will not lift a block, which is the closest thing in this category to a commitment device. That is the whole split. Freedom is firm but remains a single app on a device you control, while Cold Turkey is the one to pick if you already know you will talk yourself out of anything less absolute. On cost, Cold Turkey has a free tier and charges once for the stricter version; Freedom is a subscription.
How they differ
| Feature | Freedom | Cold Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Devices covered | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and Chrome, synced together | Mac and Windows only |
| How hard to undo | Firm. A locked session is difficult to end early, but it is a single app you control. | Very hard. Its stricter modes are designed so that restarting, reinstalling or deleting will not lift a block. |
| Cost model | Subscription | Free tier, with a one-off payment for the stricter version |
| Best suited to | Someone whose distraction moves between devices, since blocking a site on the laptop only pushes it to the phone. | Someone doing focused desk work who will talk themselves out of anything less absolute. |
Where to get them
VisitFreedom
Block distractions across all devices
The most comprehensive cross-device blocker available.
Read our Freedom review →
VisitCold Turkey
The strictest blocker, no workarounds
When you block something, it stays blocked. Period.
Read our Cold Turkey review →
Common questions
Can you use both?
Yes, and some people do: Cold Turkey locking down the work machine, Freedom covering the phone. It is redundant for most people, but it is not a conflict.
Which is better for someone who cheats?
Cold Turkey, without much question. Its strictest settings are the closest thing to a commitment device in this category. Freedom is firm rather than absolute.