Tracking + blocking vs blocking-only
Deskly's screen time tracker runs continuously, so blocking decisions are based on real data, not guesswork. Cold Turkey doesn't tell you what you'd be blocking before you block it.
Comparison · Windows
Deskly vs Cold Turkey Blocker: tracking + blocking vs blocking-only
Cold Turkey is a strict, blocking-only app for Windows. Deskly combines the same scheduled app and website blocking with automatic usage tracking, a timeline view, and soft limits — free. Here's how they compare.
| Feature | Deskly | Cold Turkey Blocker |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Native Windows 10/11 app | Windows and Mac |
| Pricing | Free | Free base version, one-time purchase for Pro |
| Usage tracking & reports | Automatic, daily/weekly/timeline | Minimal — primarily a blocking tool |
| App & website limits (soft) | Included, overlay reminders on cap | Not offered — blocking only |
| Scheduled app/site blocking | Included | Included, core feature |
| Strict lockout mode | Not offered by design | "Frozen Turkey" — irreversible lockout (Pro) |
| Hour-by-hour timeline | Included | Not available |
| Desktop widgets | Included | Not available |
| Account required | Optional | Not required |
| Works offline | Yes, fully | Yes, fully |
Feature sets and pricing change over time — verify current details on Cold Turkey's official site before deciding. Deskly's pricing and features reflect what's shipped in the app today.
Where Deskly and Cold Turkey really differ
Cold Turkey optimizes for one thing — blocking that's hard to circumvent. Deskly optimizes for the full loop: seeing the problem, setting a soft limit, and escalating to a hard block only when needed.
Soft limits before hard blocks
Deskly's app and website limits give a gentle overlay reminder first. Cold Turkey has no equivalent middle ground — it's on or off.
Reversible vs irreversible blocking
Deskly's app blocker uses schedules you control and can adjust. Cold Turkey's Frozen Turkey mode is intentionally impossible to cancel once started — useful for some, too rigid for others.
Free core features vs paid Pro tier
Deskly's tracking, limits, and blocking are all free. Cold Turkey's more advanced scheduling and lockout modes require purchasing Pro.
Which one should you choose?
If you want to understand your habits first and use blocking as one tool among several — alongside a timeline and soft limits — Deskly gives you the full picture without a purchase. It fits naturally into a broader digital wellbeing routine rather than functioning as a standalone blocker.
If what you need is a single, extremely strict, tamper-resistant lockout for a specific task (like Cold Turkey's Frozen Turkey mode) and you don't need usage analytics at all, Cold Turkey's narrower focus may suit that specific use case better.
Who switches from Cold Turkey to Deskly
People who want the "why" not just the "no"
Anyone who wants usage reports alongside blocking, instead of a block with no context.
People who found lockouts too rigid
Users who tried strict, irreversible blocking and want a system with adjustable, reversible limits instead.
Students & remote workers
People who want both focus tools and a way to measure whether those tools are actually working over time.
Budget-conscious users
Anyone who wants full blocking functionality without paying for a Pro upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
Is Deskly as strict a blocker as Cold Turkey?
Deskly's app blocker supports scheduled blocking of apps and websites, similar to Cold Turkey's core blocking. Cold Turkey's Pro version adds an extreme "Frozen Turkey" lockout mode that cannot be disabled once started, which Deskly does not replicate — Deskly is designed around sustainable habits rather than irreversible lockouts.
Does Deskly show usage reports like a screen time tracker, unlike Cold Turkey?
Yes. Cold Turkey is primarily a blocking tool with minimal usage analytics. Deskly tracks all app and website activity automatically and shows daily, weekly, and hour-by-hour timeline reports in addition to blocking, so you can see the habits behind why you needed a block in the first place.
Is Deskly free compared to Cold Turkey?
Deskly is free. Cold Turkey offers a free base version with fewer features and a paid Pro version (one-time purchase) for advanced blocking modes like scheduling presets and Frozen Turkey.
Can I set soft limits instead of hard blocks with Deskly?
Yes. Deskly offers both — app and website limits that show a gentle overlay reminder once you hit a daily cap, and a separate app blocker for hard scheduled blocks. Cold Turkey is built around hard blocking only, without a softer limit-based option.
Does Deskly need an account to block apps, like Cold Turkey doesn't?
No. Like Cold Turkey, Deskly's blocking rules run entirely locally on your PC and don't require an account. An account with Deskly is optional and only used for cross-device sync.