Cold Turkey is one of the most well-known website blockers, and for good reason — its strict blocking is genuinely hard to circumvent. But Cold Turkey was built for Windows first. The Mac version has historically lagged behind in updates, and it doesn't always feel at home on macOS. If you've been looking for something that works natively on Mac and delivers the same uncompromising blocking, there's a better option now.
Where Cold Turkey Falls Short on Mac
Cold Turkey's Mac version uses a different blocking mechanism than its Windows counterpart. macOS is a more locked-down operating system, and tools that rely on workarounds rather than official Apple APIs can break with system updates. The app also lacks the visual integration Mac users expect — it doesn't feel like a native macOS app because it isn't one.
Additionally, Cold Turkey's interface carries complexity from its Windows roots. Features like scheduled blocks, allowlists, and break timers are powerful but can feel overwrought if all you want is to block Twitter for two hours and get some work done.
Lock In! — Native Mac Blocking with No Workarounds
Lock In! is built exclusively for macOS and distributed through the Mac App Store. It uses Apple's official Network Extension framework to block websites at the system level — not browser hacks, not proxy tricks, not hosts-file edits. This means it works reliably across macOS updates and doesn't require disabling System Integrity Protection or granting unusual permissions.
Strict Mode Rivals Cold Turkey's Lockout
Cold Turkey's signature feature is its strict mode that prevents you from unblocking. Lock In! offers the same commitment device — enable Strict Mode and your session cannot be cancelled early. No uninstall trick, no quit shortcut. You chose your duration, and you live with it.
Website and App Blocking Combined
Cold Turkey separates website and app blocking into different products (Cold Turkey Blocker and Cold Turkey Writer). Lock In! handles both in one app. Blocked apps trigger a full-screen interrupt panel, and blocked websites fail to load in any browser.
Menu Bar Simplicity
Lock In! lives in your menu bar. There's no main window to manage, no complex scheduling UI. Click the icon, pick a duration, start a session. Preset blocklists for Social, Entertainment, News, and Shopping mean you can go from zero to focused in two clicks.
Same unbreakable blocking, native Mac experience. Get Lock In! on the Mac App Store