Software Alternatives & Reviews

Focusmate VS SelfControl

Compare Focusmate VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

Focusmate logo Focusmate

Distraction-free productivity via virtual coworking

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.
  • Focusmate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-29
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Focusmate videos

One Month on FocusMate

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How a Focusmate Session Works - Tutorial for New Users
  • Review - My experience with Focusmate.

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 Focusmate and SelfControl)
Productivity
50 50%
50% 50
Time Tracking
21 21%
79% 79
Health And Fitness
100 100%
0% 0
Time Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Focusmate and SelfControl. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

SelfControl might be a bit more popular than Focusmate. We know about 75 links to it since March 2021 and only 72 links to Focusmate. 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.

Focusmate mentions (72)

  • How tf do I stop being lazy and stop wasting my life away???
    I struggle with similar feelings. For desk/at home work, the Focusmate app (focusmate.com) has been a huge help. It kind of single-handedly helped me earn back trust in myself. You get 1:1 virtual coworking sessions with another user where you follow a friendly entry/exit protocol, tell each other what your plans are and how it went at the end, and keep your camera on the whole time while you work (usually muted).... Source: 10 months ago
  • How do you connect with coworkers when working remote?
    Maybe you can get your company to create a Focusmate group or a discord channel? If you haven’t heard of Focusmate you should definitely check it out. I wfh and absolutely could not do so without it. It gives me a fix for interaction but not too much to get me distracted and it also helps remind me to take breaks. Source: 12 months ago
  • [LPT Request] 38M, feeling lost and stagnant. How can I make a significant change in my life?
    Hey, I'm not sure if you work from home / remotely but if you are trying to achieve something from home, I'll just tell you about something that has really helped me: A co-working site like focusmate.com has been a game-changer for me. For some reason my productivity / commitment shoots up when I'm working alongside someone. Hope this helps. Source: 12 months ago
  • Help me finish grading
    I occasionally run into professors using http://focusmate.com to help get through grading. Source: 12 months ago
  • Side project at my startup: A quiet online coworking room because you are more productive when you work alongside other people
    Ive seen something like this its focusmate. I tried it once few years ago, back then it's only a one on one session. Not sure if they support something like yours. Source: about 1 year ago
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SelfControl mentions (75)

  • 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 / 4 months ago
  • App to prevent distractions at work
    It is SelfControl. It is open-source and free. You select the website you want to block and the time. The moment you click the button no matter what you do, you can forget about accessing those websites until the time is over; there is no cancel button. Restarted mac won't work, you can delete the app no luck. Source: 5 months ago
  • App to prevent distractions at work
    The SelfControl app lets you specify web sites that will be blocked. When you run the app, you specify a countdown timer, during which time those apps will be inaccessible. Source: 5 months ago
  • Finals season
    - https://selfcontrolapp.com/ this is free app. block off all social media and time wasters .. Only for mac. if there is nothing to be distracted... IMO I eventually be bored and I was able to get into the zone... Not right away... But I told my self... Today I study... And I stay in the study room. Source: 5 months ago
  • Looking for the right app
    Apps I have tried and are not enough: - https://heyfocus.com/ - https://freedom.to/ - https://selfcontrolapp.com/ - https://www.forestapp.cc/ - https://www.rescuetime.com/. Source: 6 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Focusmate and SelfControl, you can also consider the following products

Social Pomodoro - Meet an accountability buddy for 25 minutes of focused work.

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!

Flow Club - Feel good getting work done

Focus - New Tab page that gives you a moment of calm and inspires you to be more productive.

Cowrkr - Bringing social accountability to work 🙊

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