Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Matter VS SelfControl

Compare Matter VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

Matter logo Matter

Create a feedback-focused culture in Slack with Matter!

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.
  • Matter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-10

Recognize team members with Kudos, rewards, and feedback in Slack.

Matter is: - Free Forever - Easy Set Up - Unlimited Members - No Credit Card Required

Start #FeedbackFriday today!

  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Matter features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Matter features an intuitive design that simplifies navigation, enabling users to easily provide and receive feedback.
  • Customizable Feedback
    Users can tailor feedback templates to fit their unique needs and organizational culture, enhancing the relevance of the feedback.
  • Real-Time Notifications
    The app provides instant notifications, keeping users updated on feedback as soon as it is given.
  • Anonymous Feedback
    Matter allows for the submission of anonymous feedback, promoting honesty and reducing the fear of retribution.
  • Integration with Collaboration Tools
    Matter integrates seamlessly with popular collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, facilitating easy adoption into existing workflows.

Possible disadvantages of Matter

  • Limited Free Features
    The free version of Matter offers limited functionalities, which may necessitate a subscription to access more advanced features.
  • Learning Curve
    Although the interface is user-friendly, some users may initially find it challenging to understand how to make the most out of all the available features.
  • Dependency on User Participation
    The effectiveness of the app is highly dependent on active user participation, which may be inconsistent across teams.
  • Feedback Overload
    Users might become overwhelmed by the volume of feedback, making it difficult to prioritize and act on the most critical pieces of information.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Despite efforts to anonymize feedback, there may still be concerns about data privacy and the potential for identifying anonymous contributors.

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 Matter

Overall verdict

  • Matter is considered a good tool for teams that prioritize effective communication and continuous improvement. Its focus on feedback and recognition can help foster a more transparent and supportive work culture.

Why this product is good

  • Matter (matterapp.com) is a feedback and development tool designed to enhance team communication and personal growth. It is praised for its user-friendly interface, ability to facilitate constructive feedback, and promote a positive team culture. The platform allows users to send and receive feedback, track personal development progress, and recognize peers' achievements, making it a valuable tool for both individual and team development.

Recommended for

  • Teams seeking to improve communication and feedback processes
  • Managers looking to promote a culture of recognition and growth
  • Individuals who are focused on personal development and skill enhancement
  • Organizations aiming to build a positive and engaged workplace environment

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.

Matter videos

Matter Compilation: Crash Course Kids

More videos:

  • Review - What's Matter? - Crash Course Kids #3.1
  • Review - Matter | Review in 2 Minutes

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 Matter and SelfControl)
Productivity
67 67%
33% 33
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Tech
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 Matter and SelfControl

Matter Reviews

10 Workleap Competitors: Pricing & Reviews [2025 Guide]
About Matter: Matter is a versatile employee recognition technology that smoothly interacts with Slack and Microsoft Teams, making it ideal for companies looking to enhance employee engagement directly within their daily workflows. Designed as a Slack-first and Teams-first application, Matter enables peer-to-peer recognition with beautiful, customizable kudos cards, allowing...
Source: matterapp.com
7+ Assembly Alternatives: Pricing & Reviews [2024 Guide]
About Matter: Matter is a cutting-edge employee recognition platform that prioritizes peer-to-peer recognition and immediate feedback. Designed to integrate seamlessly with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, Matter allows teams to easily celebrate achievements and recognize each other's contributions. This focus on real-time interaction helps foster a culture of...
Source: matterapp.com

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 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.

Matter mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Matter yet. Tracking of Matter 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 / 7 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 Matter and SelfControl, you can also consider the following products

Readwise - Effortlessly rediscover and organize your Kindle highlights

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!

Raindrop.io - All your articles, photos, video & content from web & apps in one place.

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

Instapaper - Instapaper is a simple tool to save web pages for reading later.

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat