Blocker costs $39 (USD) once for website and app blocking on Mac. Cold Turkey Pro is also a one-time purchase. The reason to choose Blocker is a smaller setup for Mac focus; the reason to choose Cold Turkey is more detailed blocking rules or support for both Mac and Windows.
I build Blocker. There are no affiliate links in this comparison, and both apps have a place.
Neither app requires a subscription
Blocker’s current website price is $39, paid once, with a 7-day full-featured trial. Launch tiers change as places are taken. The pricing section and checkout show the current offer.
On October 7, 2026, Cold Turkey’s pricing page displayed Pro at €39 in the region we checked. Prices can vary by currency and region; that is not a dollar quote. Pro includes app blocking, schedules, and all locking features. The free tier covers website blocking and timed blocks, with a 7-day Pro trial.
What you set up on your Mac
| What matters | Blocker | Cold Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | macOS 14 or newer | Mac and Windows |
| Browser setup | No browser extensions; optional local certificate for the blocked page | App plus browser extensions |
| Mac app blocking | Included | Pro |
| Weekly schedules | Included | Pro |
| Website rules | Domains and their subdomains | Domains, specific URLs, and wildcards |
Blocker suits a list like “YouTube, Reddit, and this game while I write.” The same list applies across Mac browsers and apps. If you want to block a particular page or YouTube channel while keeping the rest of the site, look at Cold Turkey’s finer rules.
Simple modes or more lock options?
Blocker has three lock modes, set per block or schedule. Off lets you stop after a short wait. Strict adds a longer wait and a sentence. Hardcore holds the block until the timer ends, with one weekly emergency pass. The Hardcore guide explains that exception and how to start with a tested blocklist.
Cold Turkey offers timer, schedule, password, text, and delay locks, plus breaks and allowances. Those controls give you more ways to shape a session, but also more settings to choose before you start.
Choose for the rules you need
Choose Blocker if whole-site and app blocking covers your distractions and you want a straightforward Mac routine. Choose Cold Turkey if you need Windows, precise URL rules, or more configurable locks and breaks. A one-time purchase is a reason to consider both.
Need to cover your phone too? Read Blocker vs Freedom. Neither of these desktop apps gives you a shared Mac-and-phone session.
Recreate your Cold Turkey routine on Mac
There is no automatic Cold Turkey import. Start with one list and one short session so you can compare the result before replacing your routine.
- Note the distracting domains, installed Mac apps and hours in the Cold Turkey routine you want to reproduce.
- Install Blocker and create a blocklist. Add the domains individually and select the apps installed on this Mac.
- Keep whole domains only: Blocker does not reproduce Cold Turkey’s URL patterns, exceptions, breaks or allowances.
- Test a short Off-mode session. Avoid overlapping blocks from both apps while checking which one produces the restriction.
- Recreate the weekly days and start/end times, then choose a lock mode based on its actual rules.
Need a starting list? Choose a focus setup and adapt it. Keep Cold Turkey if its features match your needs better; trying Blocker does not require a purchase.