Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Freedom.to VS Cold Turkey

Compare Freedom.to VS Cold Turkey and see what are their differences

Freedom.to logo Freedom.to

Freedom is a productivity hack that lets you block apps, websites or the entire Internet on iPhones, iPads, Windows and Mac computers.

Cold Turkey logo Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey is a free productivity program that you can use to temporarily block distractions so that you can get your work done!
  • Freedom.to Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-23
  • Cold Turkey Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-18

Freedom.to features and specs

  • Block Distractions
    Freedom.to allows you to block distracting websites and apps, thereby increasing productivity and focus by removing distractions.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    The service works across multiple devices and operating systems, ensuring that you can stay focused no matter what device you are using.
  • Customizable Sessions
    You can customize your blocked sessions, choosing specific times and durations to improve productivity according to your schedule.
  • Focus Mode
    Freedom.to offers a special 'Focus Mode' that helps users enter deep work states by minimizing distractions.
  • Website and App Blocking
    It supports the blocking of both websites and applications, offering comprehensive coverage for digital distractions.

Possible disadvantages of Freedom.to

  • Subscription Cost
    Freedom.to is a subscription-based service, which may not be affordable for everyone, especially for long-term use.
  • Initial Setup Time
    Setting up the tool to fit your specific needs may take some initial time and effort, reducing its immediate utility.
  • Potential Over-Blocking
    There is a risk of blocking productivity tools or necessary resources if not configured correctly, which can be counterproductive.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    The service is less effective when you are working offline, as it primarily focuses on blocking online distractions.
  • Possible Workarounds
    Advanced users may find workarounds to bypass the blocking, which can diminish the tool's effectiveness.

Cold Turkey features and specs

  • Comprehensive Blocking
    Cold Turkey can block a wide range of websites and applications, making it highly effective for focused work sessions.
  • Schedule Blocks
    Users can schedule blocking sessions in advance, allowing for better time management and structured work periods.
  • Customization
    The tool offers extensive customization options, including different block lists and password protection for changes.
  • Forest App Integration
    Cold Turkey often integrates with productivity apps like the Forest app, providing a more holistic approach to staying focused.
  • Ease of Use
    The software has an intuitive interface, making it easy for new users to set up and start using quickly.

Possible disadvantages of Cold Turkey

  • Rigidity
    Once a block session starts, it cannot be easily turned off, which can be overly restrictive for some users who encounter urgent tasks.
  • Resource Intensive
    The software can be resource-intensive, potentially slowing down system performance.
  • Learning Curve
    While generally easy to use, some users might find the extensive customization options overwhelming at first.
  • Cost
    The premium features come at a cost, which might not be suitable for all budgets.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There can sometimes be compatibility issues with certain websites or updates to operating systems, affecting the reliability of blocking.

Freedom.to videos

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Cold Turkey videos

How to Stop Distractions & Temptations (Cold Turkey Blocker)

More videos:

  • Review - Cold Turkey Review: Getting Things Done FINALLY By Stopping Those Distractions FOR GOOD!
  • Review - Tech Tuesday #61 - Cold Turkey

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Freedom.to and Cold Turkey)
Time Tracking
48 48%
52% 52
Productivity
55 55%
45% 45
Time Management
51 51%
49% 49
Invoicing
42 42%
58% 58

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Cold Turkey might be a bit more popular than Freedom.to. We know about 204 links to it since March 2021 and only 184 links to Freedom.to. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Freedom.to mentions (184)

  • [NeedAdvice] 20 Years old with no discipline. Morning Routine?
    I found it hard to stick to, so I use this app which seems to work quite well: https://freedom.to. Source: about 1 year ago
  • Looking for the right app
    Apps I have tried and are not enough: - https://heyfocus.com/ - https://freedom.to/ - https://selfcontrolapp.com/ - https://www.forestapp.cc/ - https://www.rescuetime.com/. Source: about 1 year ago
  • Cognitive Load and Your Development Environment
    There are plenty of apps and organizational systems that will help you remember future tasks and reduce distractions. For example, Focus blocks distractions and schedules your breaks and Freedom will block distractions on all of your devices at once. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Developing habits I should’ve developed as a child
    Freedom. For $2.50 a month, Freedom will block all social media sites on all your devices during hours you specify. Source: about 1 year ago
  • 25 Best Productivity Apps: 2023 Review Guide
    Ever find yourself unable to pull away from the digital distractions that disrupt your workflow? Well, Freedom is one of the best distraction-blocking apps that allows you to block websites, mobile apps, and any other digital distractions that prevent you from getting things done. Users can create personalized schedules that temporarily block access to distracting websites, apps, and even the entire internet if... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
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Cold Turkey mentions (204)

  • Recommended Software for Mac that You cannot Miss
    You can download it from the official website; the free version is sufficient for blocking websites, while the paid version can also block distracting applications. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Fragmented thinking is a bigger threat to flow state than interruptions
    I use Cold Turkey to block my habbit of scrolling time-wasting sites when I should be reflecting harder on what it is needed to solve the issue at hand. https://getcoldturkey.com/ It's almost like I need some mental space, to meditate on the solution, but that feels exhausting, so I choose sometimes to mindlessly scroll. Any other tools that I may be missing? - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • How to lock out certain tasks for certain amounts of time
    Cold Turkey can block websites; and also apps in the Pro version. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Masturbation addict, any tips?
    Avoid all triggers. It's easier to avoid being triggered than to have self-control once you're already triggered. https://getcoldturkey.com/ You can get this and block all websites using *. Put websites you want as exceptions in the exceptions box. Have the block on for a certain period of time, then you can edit the exceptions list if you want and start the block again. Have all your showers be cold showers. When... Source: over 1 year ago
  • Video games ruin everything for me
    In my experience, installing something like Cold Turkey on your PC (and having someone set up Screen Time with a hard-to-guess PIN on your Apple devices, if you have any) can help prevent relapses early on when the cravings are the strongest. Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Freedom.to and Cold Turkey, you can also consider the following products

SelfControl - V2 updates! - Custom time interval for distraction free mode - Ability to turn off ' always on' mode - Improved UI -- Self Control -- A simple app to keep you focused online by blocking sites that you spend way too much time on.

Focus App - New Tab page that gives you a moment of calm and inspires you to be more productive.

Stay Focused - More suitable with Google Chrome, this service enables you ensure you do not waste precious time on updating Facebook status or chatting with people.

LeechBlock - LeechBlock is an extension for Firefox and Chrome that allows users to block time-wasting sites.

FocusMe - With so much access to information and distractions on the internet, it's easy to get sidetracked.

Time Sink - Time Sink helps you track how you spend your time on your Mac.