# Cold Turkey vs SelfControl vs Focus on Mac

> Compare Cold Turkey, SelfControl and Focus for blocking distractions on Mac: price, app blocking, schedules, website rules and how hard each is to stop.

Canonical: https://getblocker.app/blog/cold-turkey-vs-selfcontrol-vs-focus
Last updated: 2026-10-30

![The Cold Turkey, SelfControl and Focus app logos side by side](https://getblocker.app/_next/image?url=%2Fblog%2Fcold-turkey-selfcontrol-focus.webp&w=3840&q=75&dpl=dpl_Anbbb9zNntypp1gbYqNqvcxkN6W5)

[Léo Mathurin](https://leomathurin.com/) October 30, 2026 4 min read

SelfControl is free and blocks websites until its timer ends, with no way to stop early. Cold Turkey Blocker is free for timed website blocks; Pro costs €39 once and adds Mac app blocking, weekly schedules and many lock types, on Mac and Windows. Focus is a Mac app at $49 once, with website and app blocking, schedules, breaks and locked sessions.

I build Blocker, a fourth option, so I explain where it fits at the end. There are no affiliate links. I checked each fact on the official websites on October 30, 2026, from France.

## Cold Turkey, SelfControl and Focus side by side

Cold Turkey, SelfControl and Focus on Mac, checked October 30, 2026

| What matters | SelfControl | Cold Turkey | Focus |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free, open source (GPL) | Free; Pro €39 once | $49 once; Lifetime $129 |
| Platforms | Mac | Mac and Windows, one key | Mac |
| Mac app blocking | No | Pro | Yes |
| Weekly schedules | Not described | Pro | Yes |
| Website rules | Sites and servers you list | Domains, specific URLs and wildcards | Block lists and allow lists |
| Stopping early | Not possible until the timer ends | Depends on the lock you choose | Not possible in a locked session |
| Trial | Not needed | 7 days of Pro | 7 days |

## SelfControl: free, simple and strict

[SelfControl](https://selfcontrolapp.com/) is a free, open-source Mac app. You list websites, set a duration and start the block. Until the timer ends, you cannot open those sites, even if you restart your Mac or delete the app. The current download is version 4.0.2.

It suits a person who wants one strict website block now. Its website does not describe app blocking or weekly schedules, so you start each block yourself.

## Cold Turkey: the most options

[Cold Turkey Blocker](https://getcoldturkey.com/pricing/) is free for website blocks with a timer. Pro showed €39.00 from France as a one-time purchase, and the key works on the Mac and Windows computers you use. Pro adds app blocking, scheduled blocks that repeat every week, breaks and allowances, and all lock types.

Its [features page](https://getcoldturkey.com/features/) lists timer, time range, random text, delay, restart and password locks. You can block a specific URL, such as one subreddit, or use wildcards. After you install the app, it asks you to install browser extensions. Choose Cold Turkey if you need Windows or very precise rules.

## Focus: a Mac app with sessions and breaks

[Focus](https://heyfocus.com/) runs only on the Mac. Its [checkout page](https://heyfocus.com/checkout/) listed Focus 2 at $49 with one year of major updates, and Lifetime at $129. It blocks websites and apps, and it has schedules, timers, breaks and Pomodoros.

A locked Focus session cannot be stopped until it is complete. Allow lists let you block the whole internet except a few sites. Choose Focus if you work in timed sessions and want breaks built into the routine.

## Which one fits?

1.  Choose SelfControl for a free, strict website block.
2.  Choose Cold Turkey for Mac and Windows, URL-level rules or many lock types.
3.  Choose Focus for Mac work sessions with breaks and app blocking.

Blocker is another one-time option for the Mac. One blocklist covers every browser, with no extension, and your Mac apps. Each block or weekly schedule has a lock mode: Off, Strict or Hardcore. It blocks whole domains, not single pages, so Cold Turkey is better for page-level rules. Read [Blocker vs Cold Turkey](https://getblocker.app/vs/cold-turkey) or compare more prices in [Mac blockers with no subscription](https://getblocker.app/blog/mac-website-blocker-no-subscription) .

## Keep going

-   [Mac website and app blockers with no subscription](https://getblocker.app/blog/mac-website-blocker-no-subscription)
-   [Freedom alternatives for Mac without a subscription](https://getblocker.app/blog/freedom-alternatives-mac)
-   [Blocker vs Cold Turkey: which fits your Mac?](https://getblocker.app/vs/cold-turkey)
-   [Choose a focus setup to make your own](https://getblocker.app/focus-setups)