Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Chrome Developer Tool VS SelfControl

Compare Chrome Developer Tool VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

Chrome Developer Tool logo Chrome Developer Tool

Develop and Debug Chrome Apps & Extensions. By Google

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.
  • Chrome Developer Tool Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-08
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Chrome Developer Tool features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Chrome Developer Tools provides an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for developers of all levels to inspect and debug their web applications.
  • Comprehensive Features
    It offers a wide range of features such as Elements panel, Console, Network panel, and more, allowing developers to accomplish various tasks from debugging JavaScript code to optimizing network performance.
  • Integration with Browser
    Being built into the Chrome browser, it offers seamless integration, allowing developers to inspect and tweak their web applications in real-time without needing external tools.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Chrome Developer Tools is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, providing flexibility for developers working in diverse environments.
  • Regular Updates
    Google regularly updates Chrome DevTools with new features and improvements, ensuring developers have access to the latest tools and technologies for web development.

Possible disadvantages of Chrome Developer Tool

  • High Resource Usage
    Running Chrome Developer Tools can be resource-intensive, which might cause slower performance, especially on systems with limited hardware capabilities.
  • Steep Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While it's user-friendly for basic tasks, mastering advanced functionalities of Chrome DevTools can be challenging and may require additional learning and experience.
  • Limited to Chrome Browser
    As a Chrome-specific tool, its full functionality is only available in the Chrome browser, which may not be ideal for developers testing across different browsers.
  • Potential for Overwhelm
    With a plethora of features and options, some developers might find the tool overwhelming, especially those who are not familiar with all its capabilities.
  • Dependency on Chrome Updates
    New updates to the Chrome browser can sometimes introduce bugs or changes in the Developer Tools, potentially disrupting ongoing development workflows.

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 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.

Chrome Developer Tool videos

Google Chrome Developer Tools Crash Course

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 Chrome Developer Tool and SelfControl)
Productivity
18 18%
82% 82
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Developer Tools
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.

Chrome Developer Tool mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Chrome Developer Tool yet. Tracking of Chrome Developer Tool recommendations started around Mar 2021.

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 / 6 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 Chrome Developer Tool and SelfControl, you can also consider the following products

Lighthouse - Collaborate effortlessly on projects. Whether youโ€™re a team of 5 or studio of 50, Lighthouse will help you keep track of your project development with ease.

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!

GitHub - Originally founded as a project to simplify sharing code, GitHub has grown into an application used by over a million people to store over two million code repositories, making GitHub the largest code host in the world.

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

LaunchKit - Open Source - A popular suite of developer tools, now 100% open source.

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat