Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Hashnode VS SelfControl

Compare Hashnode VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

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Hashnode logo Hashnode

A friendly and inclusive Q&A network for coders

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.
  • Hashnode Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-08-24
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Hashnode features and specs

  • Developer-Focused Community
    Hashnode is tailored specifically for developers, fostering a specialized community where you can share technical content and engage with like-minded individuals.
  • Free Custom Domain
    Hashnode allows you to link a custom domain to your blog for free, enabling you to build a personal brand without additional costs.
  • SEO Optimization
    The platform is designed to be SEO-friendly, which helps your posts rank better on search engines, increasing visibility and reach.
  • Markdown Support
    Hashnode supports Markdown, making it easy for developers to write and format their content efficiently.
  • Analytics
    The platform provides built-in analytics, allowing you to track the performance of your posts and understand your audience better.
  • Community Engagement
    Hashnode has features like comments and reactions to facilitate interaction with readers and other community members.

Possible disadvantages of Hashnode

  • Limited Customization
    While you can link a custom domain, the customization options for the blog's appearance and functionality are limited compared to self-hosted solutions.
  • Developer Niche
    The focus on a developer community can be a double-edged sword if your content appeals to a broader audience, as the reach might be limited.
  • Dependency on Platform
    Relying on a third-party platform means you are subject to their policies, rules, and potential changes in service.
  • Content Export
    If you decide to move your blog to another platform, exporting your content can be less straightforward compared to self-hosted solutions.
  • Feature Limitations
    While Hashnode offers various features, it may not provide the extensive range of functionalities available with other blogging platforms or custom-built websites.

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 Hashnode

Overall verdict

  • Hashnode is generally considered a good option for developers who want to share their knowledge and experiences through blogging. Its focus on the tech community and tools tailored for developers make it a valuable platform.

Why this product is good

  • Hashnode is a platform specifically designed for developers and tech enthusiasts to publish blogs and articles. It offers features like SEO optimization, the ability to map custom domains, and integration with GitHub, making it easy for users to write and share technical content. The community is active and supportive, providing a rich environment for feedback and engagement.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking to build an audience through technical blogging.
  • Tech enthusiasts who want to share and discuss innovative ideas.
  • Individuals seeking a community of like-minded tech professionals.
  • Anyone interested in reading up-to-date content on software development and technology.

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.

Hashnode videos

Take Your Online Presence to the Next Level with Hashnode

More videos:

  • Review - Hashnode: giving voice to people with a blogging platform for Developers - with Sandeep Panda
  • Tutorial - How To Use Custom CSS To Make Your Hashnode Blog Awesome

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 Hashnode and SelfControl)
CMS
100 100%
0% 0
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Blogging
100 100%
0% 0
Time Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

Hashnode Reviews

Best Forums for Developers to Join in 2025
Hashnode is the best place to go for free knowledge sharing. Because we want to foster a good relationship between you and your readers, they don't show any ads or pop-ups on the articles developers share.
Source: www.notchup.com
Top 10 Developer Communities You Should Explore
Hashnode is an online developer community and blogging platform that allows developers to share their experiences, insights, and tutorials. It provides a supportive space for developers to build their personal brand, connect with others, and engage in discussions about software development.
Source: www.qodo.ai
25+ Medium Alternative Platforms for Publishing Articles
Hashnode is a one-stop platform to start blogging as a developer. If you are a developer or tech person, you can start writing with hashnode.
Source: forgefusion.io

SelfControl Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Hashnode should be more popular than SelfControl. It has been mentiond 136 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.

Hashnode mentions (136)

  • Docker for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know
    If you found this guide useful or have questions, donโ€™t hesitate to drop a comment below. What was your first Docker project? Share your experiences, and letโ€™s learn together! Donโ€™t forget to follow me on Dev.to and Hashnode for more developer insights. Happy Dockering! - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • What is a canonical URL?
    So, let's say that you are writing a post on your website, but you also want to publish it on other platforms, like medium.com, dev.to or hashnode.com. There is no way you can compete with these domains in terms of domain authority. This means that, to Google, they are more valid sources of content then your small and less visited website. However, you can leverage the reach that those platforms can give you and... - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • How i use AI tools to make dev articles more useful (and more fun to read)
    Hashnode Developer-focused blogging platform with built-in formatting, graphs, and custom domains. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • How we built our docs site
    We looked into a few different providers including GitBook, Docusaurus, Hashnode, Fern and Mintlify. There were various factors in the decision but the TLDR is that while we manage our SDKs with Fern, we chose Mintlify for docs as it had the best writing experience, supported custom React components, and was more affordable for hosting on a custom domain. Both Fern and Mintlify pull from the same single source of... - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Are you Juniorโ€ฆ or Jedi Master? Why your first dev job feels like chasing a myth
    Hashnode write dev blogs and build a reputation. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
View more

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 / 3 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 Hashnode and SelfControl, you can also consider the following products

DEV.to - Where software engineers connect, build their resumes, and grow.

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!

Medium - Welcome to Medium, a place to read, write, and interact with the stories that matter most to you.

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

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.

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