Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Be Nice! VS SelfControl

Compare Be Nice! VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

Be Nice! logo Be Nice!

Use Alexa to remind your kids to be polite

SelfControl logo 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.
  • Be Nice! Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-10
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Be Nice! features and specs

  • User Engagement
    Be Nice! encourages positive user interaction and engagement by promoting a culture of kindness and respect.
  • Community Building
    The platform fosters a sense of community among users who value politeness and constructive communication.
  • Positive Impact
    By encouraging nice behavior, the platform can have a positive impact on users' mental well-being and social interactions.
  • Conflict Resolution
    Helps in resolving conflicts by providing tools and guidelines for users to communicate effectively and courteously.

Possible disadvantages of Be Nice!

  • Limited Expressiveness
    Strict enforcement of 'niceness' can limit users' ability to express genuine emotions and opinions, potentially leading to superficial interactions.
  • Moderation Challenges
    Ensuring that interactions remain nice can pose a challenge for moderators, especially when dealing with subjective interpretations of niceness.
  • Potential for Censorship
    There is a risk of over-censorship where filtering out negative content might also suppress constructive criticism or valid feedback.
  • User Retention
    Some users may find the environment too restrictive, leading to challenges in user retention, especially among those who prefer more open discourse.

SelfControl features and specs

  • Effective Website Blocking
    SelfControl blocks access to distracting websites based on a customizable blocklist, helping users stay focused.
  • Timer Functionality
    Users can set a timer for how long they want websites to remain blocked, ensuring focused work periods without distraction.
  • Free to Use
    SelfControl is open-source and free to download and use, making it accessible to anyone without financial barriers.
  • Easy to Use
    The interface is straightforward and user-friendly, allowing users to quickly set their preferences and get started.

Possible disadvantages of SelfControl

  • Mac-Only
    SelfControl is only available for macOS, excluding Windows and Linux users from using the application.
  • No Undo Option
    Once the block period is set and started, it cannot be undone even by restarting the computer, which could be an issue if access to blocked sites is needed unexpectedly.
  • Limited Feature Set
    The app primarily focuses on website blocking, lacking additional productivity tools or features like app blocking or usage analytics.
  • No Scheduled Blocking
    SelfControl does not offer the ability to schedule block sessions in advance, meaning users must manually start each session.

Analysis of Be Nice!

Overall verdict

  • Be Nice! (askbenice.com) appears to be a niche communication/kindness-focused tool or platform aimed at promoting positive interactions, though it is a smaller, lesser-known service compared to mainstream alternatives, so its overall quality depends heavily on your specific needs and expectations.

Why this product is good

  • Focuses on promoting positive and respectful communication
  • Likely simple and user-friendly interface for its target purpose
  • Niche-focused tools can offer specialized features not found in broader platforms
  • May be lightweight and free or low-cost compared to larger competitors

Recommended for

  • Individuals or teams looking for tools to encourage kinder communication
  • Small communities or educators wanting to promote positive interactions
  • Users seeking a simple, focused tool rather than a feature-heavy platform
  • People experimenting with niche wellness or communication apps

Analysis of SelfControl

Overall verdict

  • Overall, SelfControl is a highly recommended tool for individuals looking to enhance their productivity by minimizing digital distractions. Its open-source nature and no-nonsense approach make it a popular choice among students, freelancers, and professionals alike.

Why this product is good

  • SelfControl is considered a good application because it effectively blocks distracting websites, helping users focus on their tasks without getting sidetracked by online distractions. It's simple to use, efficient, and highly customizable, allowing users to specify which sites to block and for how long, ensuring a tailored productivity experience.

Recommended for

    SelfControl is ideal for students who need to concentrate on studying, remote workers who want to avoid procrastination, freelancers who require discipline in managing their time, and anyone who needs a simple solution to reduce digital distractions during focused work periods.

Be Nice! videos

No Be Nice! videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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SelfControl videos

How to block websites that distract you ? Selfcontrol [Mac App review and tutorial]

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Be Nice! and SelfControl)
Productivity
7 7%
93% 93
Time Tracking
3 3%
97% 97
Email
100 100%
0% 0
Time Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 79 times since March 2021. 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.

Be Nice! mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Be Nice! yet. Tracking of Be Nice! recommendations started around Jan 2023.

SelfControl mentions (79)

  • Oregon School Cell Phone Ban: 'Engaged Students, Joyful Teachers'
    A combination of https://selfcontrolapp.com/ and Hammerspoon automation and you can lock yourself out of pretty much everything. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Kiki โ€“ The accountability monster for people who are easily distracted
    Happy to see it still exists, and free https://selfcontrolapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • How do you fight YouTube addiction and procrastination? I'm struggling with it
    I have found that a useful method for getting distractions off my work laptop has been https://selfcontrolapp.com/ (if you're on mac). - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot
    Pro tip for macos/ios folks: - Macos: Install https://selfcontrolapp.com/, add every website and their alternatives you know, set it to 24 hours. Really hard to bypass this even if you know networking stuff - iOS: Enable downtime 24/7 ask someone else to set the password. I'm down to about 35 minutes a day of mobile usage, and laptop usage is only work related things. You really need two or three days to clear... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • My 30-Year Quitting Addiction
    There is a free and open source app called SelfControl for macOS. It allows one to block access to any site one adds to the list in the app for the amount of time the user chooses. Attempt to use multiple browsers, restarting one's machine, deleting the app, etc. won't get around the block either. It's been super helpful for me, so I thought I'd just throw it out there. https://selfcontrolapp.com. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Be Nice! and SelfControl, you can also consider the following products

Little Streaks - The to-do list that helps kids form good habits

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!

Gemma - Sell or rent your property without an agent using Gemma. Save on commission and take control of your sale or rental with expert support, marketing, and listing services.

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

Kairos - Kids Chores Tracker - Turn your everyday chores into a game!

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat