Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Guru VS SelfControl

Compare Guru VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Guru logo Guru

Guru makes it easy for employers and freelancers to connect, collaborate and get work done flexibly and securely. Browse 1. 5 million freelancers for hire and thousands of projects.

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.
  • Guru Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-13
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Guru features and specs

  • Wide Range of Freelancers
    Guru has a large database of freelancers across various fields, making it easier to find the right talent for any specific project.
  • Payment Protection
    Guru offers a SafePay service that holds funds securely, ensuring that both employers and freelancers are protected during the transaction process.
  • Flexible Payment Options
    Guru allows employers to choose from multiple payment methods and scheduling options such as hourly, milestone-based, and recurring payments.
  • Workroom Feature
    Guru provides a Workroom where employers and freelancers can manage their projects, communicate, share files, and track progress efficiently.
  • Cost-Effective
    Guru charges relatively lower fees compared to some other freelancing platforms, making it a cost-effective option for both employers and freelancers.

Possible disadvantages of Guru

  • Website Downtime
    As indicated by the site down page, Guru may experience occasional website downtimes, which can disrupt access to services and communication.
  • User Interface
    Some users find Guru's user interface less intuitive and harder to navigate compared to other freelance platforms.
  • Limited Customer Support
    Users have reported that Guru's customer support can be slow to respond and less helpful, which can be frustrating during urgent issues.
  • Service Fees
    While it's generally cost-effective, Guru still charges service fees which can accumulate, especially for freelancers who deal with multiple small projects.
  • Quality Variability
    With such a wide pool of freelancers, the quality of work can vary significantly, making it necessary for employers to thoroughly vet candidates.

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 Guru

Overall verdict

  • Guru.com is considered a good platform for freelancers and clients looking for reliable project-based work. It provides various tools and resources to support project management and ensure successful collaborations. However, like any platform, it has its share of limitations, such as competition and service fees.

Why this product is good

  • Guru.com is a reputable freelancing platform that connects freelancers with clients across a wide range of industries. It is known for its user-friendly interface, flexible payment options, and diverse job categories. The platform offers a secure workroom environment for communication and file sharing, facilitating smooth collaboration between clients and freelancers.

Recommended for

    Guru is recommended for freelancers seeking flexible work opportunities in fields such as writing, graphic design, programming, and digital marketing. It's also suitable for clients looking for skilled professionals to complete short-term or long-term projects.

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.

Guru videos

How To Get Clients EASILY on Guru.com (Step-By-Step Method for Freelance Websites)

More videos:

  • Review - Guru.com review video

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 Guru and SelfControl)
Freelance Marketplace
100 100%
0% 0
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Work Marketplace
100 100%
0% 0
Time Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Guru and SelfControl. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Guru and SelfControl

Guru Reviews

The 10 Best Alternatives to Upwork
Guru offers several advantages over Upwork that make it a preferred choice for freelancers and businesses alike. With its secure payment system, flexible payment options, and collaborative WorkRooms, Guru provides a streamlined and efficient platform for freelancers and clients to work together seamlessly.
Source: www.twine.net
UPWORK ALTERNATIVES: THE 10 BEST PLATFORMS FOR FINDING FREELANCERS
Guru caters to freelancers with diverse skills and expertise by offering a wide range of project categories. Whether freelancers specialize in writing, design, programming, marketing, or other fields, they can find relevant opportunities on Guru.
Source: medium.com
Top 10 free Websites to find Remote Job
Guru is a freelance marketplace that connects employers with freelancers for various projects, including remote jobs. It provides a platform for freelancers to find remote job opportunities, collaborate with clients, and receive payment, making it a useful resource for individuals seeking remote work.
Top Sites Like Fiverr โ€“ The Best Alternatives For Freelancers in 2022
It is one of the best Fiverr competitors that gives an easy way to get contacted by potential employers. This platform posts a massive amount of jobs every day. Guru deducts 5% to 9% payment you got after successfully completing a task.
9 Best Upwork Alternatives
Guru offers access to over 3 million freelancers from around the world. You can hire experienced freelancers for anything from logo design to sound engineering.

SelfControl Reviews

We have no reviews of SelfControl yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be a lot more popular than Guru. While we know about 79 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Guru. 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.

Guru mentions (3)

  • I tried to kill myself today
    Guru.com and similar website have tons of resources for starting freelancers. You won't land yourself a cushy programming job in the first week, you may need to hustle long work weeks and multiple employers, but if you are a trained programmer, you shouldn't have much trouble finding a job, after you take care of yourself. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Web stack for advertisement platform
    Cloud hosted, haven't done any assessment. Maybe something like freelancer.com or guru.com is similar. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • How do you get the initial SEO backlinks?
    Go to guru.com and get a data miner to find you a list of 500 relevant blogs, contact details etc. Source: about 5 years ago

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 / 4 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 / 5 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 / 10 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
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Upwork - Forget the old rules. You can have the best people. Right now. Right here.

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!

Freelancer.com - Search for jobs related to Www freelancer com homepage or hire on the world's largest freelancing marketplace with 12m+ jobs. It's free to sign up and bid on jobs.

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

Fiverr - One marketplace, millions of professional services.

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