The short version
Cold Turkey Blocker is the strictest blocker on the market — locks you out and means it. NGUMU: Screen Time Control is a browser extension that combines work-break timers, intelligent website blocking, enforced full-screen breaks and local productivity analytics in a single popup.
They overlap less than the category labels suggest. Cold Turkey Blocker is a desktop-level blocker; NGUMU is an enforcement layer for the browser where most knowledge work — and most procrastination — actually happens.
NGUMU vs Cold Turkey Blocker at a glance
| NGUMU: Screen Time Control | Cold Turkey Blocker | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser focus & screen-time extension | Desktop-level blocker |
| Platforms | Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave | Windows, macOS |
| Work-break cycles | Pomodoro, 52-17, 90-20, 20-20-20, custom | Timed and scheduled blocks, Frozen Turkey lockouts |
| Website blocking | Blacklist, whitelist, curated presets, active only during focus | Sites, applications and the entire computer |
| Break enforcement | Full-screen overlay + pre-break blink warning | Allowance windows |
| Tab management | Limits distracting tabs during a session | Not a focus |
| Analytics | Focus minutes, sessions, daily/weekly goals, streaks | Basic stats (Pro) |
| Data handling | Local storage, no personal data collected, no account | Local desktop application |
| Price | Free to install, optional Pro | Free tier; one-time Pro licence |
Where Cold Turkey Blocker is genuinely good
- Effectively unbreakable lockdowns — reboots don't save you
- Blocks native apps and games, not just websites
- One-time purchase rather than a subscription
We're not interested in strawmen. If the list above describes your bottleneck, Cold Turkey Blocker is a good purchase and you should make it.
Where Cold Turkey Blocker leaves a gap
- Desktop-only: no Chromebook, no locked-down work machine without install rights
- Blunt by design — no work-break methodology, no eye-rest prompts
- Analytics are thin next to a purpose-built focus dashboard
The pattern behind all of these: a tool that lives outside the browser can advise, measure or motivate, but it cannot close the tab. The moment attention wobbles, the distracting site is one keystroke away.
Where NGUMU is stronger
1. Blocking that only runs when you're working
NGUMU enforces blocklists while a focus session is active and steps out of the way the rest of the day. Curated presets cover social media, video streaming and news, so setup is seconds rather than an afternoon of regex.
2. A rhythm, not just a restriction
Blocking removes the bad option; it doesn't create the good one. Pomodoro (25/5), 52-17, 90-20, 20-20-20 or a custom cycle give the session a shape and a finish line. See the full feature list for every cycle.
3. Breaks you actually take
A full-screen overlay makes returning early deliberately awkward, and a pre-break "blink warning" prompts you to rest your eyes before the screen changes — the part almost every competitor skips.
4. Honest numbers, kept local
Focus minutes, session counts, goal progress and streaks live in the NGUMU dashboard and stay in your browser's local storage. No account, no upload, no personal data collected. You can export everything to JSON or CSV whenever you like.
5. Free where it counts
Core timers, blocking, break overlays and analytics are free. Pro adds extended analytics and advanced blocking for people who want them — it isn't a paywall around the basics.
Choose Cold Turkey Blocker if…
- You need to block desktop applications and games, not only tabs
- You want a lockout you truly cannot talk yourself out of
Choose NGUMU if…
- You can't or don't want to install desktop software
- You want structure and measurement, not just a wall
Can you use both?
Yes, and plenty of people should. Cold Turkey for the nuclear option on deadline days; NGUMU for the everyday rhythm.
Switching from Cold Turkey Blocker to NGUMU in five minutes
- Install NGUMU from the Chrome Web Store, Edge Add-ons or in Brave.
- Open the popup and pick a cycle — start with 25/5 if you're unsure.
- Apply a curated blocklist preset, then add any site that personally derails you.
- Run one session end to end, including the break. Don't skip the break.
- Check the dashboard after three days and adjust the cycle to what the data shows.
Frequently asked questions
Is NGUMU free?
Yes. Installing NGUMU and using its timers, blocking, break overlays and analytics costs nothing. An optional Pro upgrade adds deeper analytics, extended timer options and more granular blocking.
Does NGUMU work on Windows?
NGUMU runs on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Brave. Any Chromium browser that can install from the Chrome Web Store will work.
Does NGUMU collect my data?
No personal data is collected. Session history, streaks and settings are stored locally in your browser, and you can export or delete them at any time.
Is Cold Turkey Blocker better than NGUMU?
For its own job — the strictest blocker on the market — locks you out and means it — Cold Turkey Blocker is strong. For running disciplined work-break cycles with enforced blocking and rest inside the browser, NGUMU does more, on more browsers, for free.
Can I keep my Cold Turkey Blocker subscription and still use NGUMU?
Yes. NGUMU doesn't conflict with other timers, trackers or blockers. Many people pair them exactly as described above.