ChainBreaker.eu VS SelfControl

• Cemented Commitments
  Lock individual rules after explicit confirmation to prevent casual editing, disabling or deletion.
• Deliberate Rule Release
  Releasing a cemented rule requires a separate confirmation and a one-time micropayment.
• Website Blocking
  Block selected distracting websites using domain-based rules.
• Application Blocking
  Block selected Windows applications by their executable paths.
• Website Allowlist
  Allow selected websites while restricting other Internet access, subject to system exceptions and higher-priority rules.
• Website Schedules
  Schedule website blocking or access windows for selected weekdays or a specific date.
• Application Schedules
  Block selected applications during recurring weekly intervals or on a specific date.
• Website Usage Limits
  Set daily, weekly or monthly limits for selected websites.
• Application Usage Limits
  Set daily, weekly or monthly limits based on an application's foreground usage.
• Computer Usage Limits
  Set daily, weekly or monthly boundaries for active computer use.
• Browser Usage Limits
  Use active time in supported foreground browsers as the basis for a usage limit.
• Flexible Usage Counters
  Choose the relevant website, browser or computer activity counter for supported limits.
• Strictest Counter Mode
  Trigger supported limits using the greatest selected activity counter, without double-counting overlapping time.
• Idle Time Detection
  Exclude keyboard and mouse inactivity lasting more than five minutes from computer and browser usage counters.
• Automatic Limit Resets
  Reset usage allowances daily, weekly on Monday, or at the start of each month.
• Recurring Weekly Schedules
  Repeat supported rules on selected weekdays at specified times.
• Date-Specific Schedules
  Create supported rules for a particular calendar date.
• Overnight Schedules
  Keep website and application schedules active across midnight.
• Scheduled Internet Restrictions
  Schedule Internet restrictions and restoration while preserving required network exceptions.
• Usage-Based Internet Restrictions
  Restrict Internet access when a configured usage allowance is exhausted.
• Scheduled Shutdown
  Automatically shut down the computer at scheduled times.
• Scheduled Sleep
  Automatically put the computer to sleep at scheduled times.
• Usage-Based Power Actions
  Trigger shutdown or sleep when a configured computer usage limit is reached.
• Advance Power Warnings
  Display a warning and live countdown before shutdown or sleep, with configurable advance notice.
• Monitor Schedules
  Automatically apply display settings according to a schedule.
• Grayscale Mode
  Apply grayscale through monitor schedules or after reaching a usage limit.
• Brightness Reduction
  Lower display brightness through schedules or usage limits on supported monitors.
• Blue Light Filtering
  Schedule blue-light filtering or strengthen it after a usage limit on supported hardware.
• Rule Priority Explanations
  See which website rule takes priority and which conflicting rules were overridden.
• Website Block Explanation Page
  Show a local page in supported browsers explaining the block, its source and when it ends.
• Application Block Notifications
  Receive localized notifications identifying the rule that blocked an application and its end or reset time.
• Configuration Overview
  Review the number of configured schedules, limits and blocks in the Statistics section.
• Application Blocking History
  Review locally recorded application-blocking events and the rules responsible.
• Rule Change History
  Review local configuration changes to understand how your commitments evolve.
• Background Enforcement
  Keep supported schedules and blocking rules active while the main application window is closed.
• Startup Enforcement
  Restore configured blocking rules after Windows restarts without manually opening the interface.
• System Tray Operation
  Close the main window while keeping ChainBreaker running in the Windows system tray.
• Background Process Recovery
  A Windows supervisor service restarts required background components after unexpected termination.
• Local Activity Statistics
  Store activity statistics on the device instead of uploading them to an analytics service.
• Limited Website Activity Data
  Measure supported website usage by hostname without storing page content, URL paths or query strings.
• Multiple Browser Support
  Support hostname detection and block explanations in Chrome, Chromium, Edge, Brave, Firefox, Opera, Opera GX and Vivaldi.
• Multilingual Interface
  Choose the application language, with automatic detection of a supported Windows display language on first launch.
• Supported Operating Systems
  Windows 10 and Windows 11.
• No User Account Required
  Use the desktop application without creating a user account.
• Local Data Storage
  Store desktop settings and activity statistics in a local SQLite database.
• Online Services
  Internet access supports activation, licensing, payments and cemented-rule management.
• Free Trial
  Includes a 7-day free trial.
• One-Time Purchase
  Purchase a device-bound license with a one-time payment. Cemented-rule release payments are separate.
• License Type
  Proprietary software.

• 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

• 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.

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

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Tracking ChainBreaker.eu since Sep 2026.

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