Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

One Thing VS SelfControl

Compare One Thing VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

One Thing logo One Thing

Full-time open-sourcerer. Indie Mac developer. โค๏ธ Swift. Makes macOS apps & Node.js stuff. Made @awesome__re. New repos: @sindre_gh_repos

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.
  • One Thing Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-18
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

One Thing features and specs

  • Simplicity
    One Thing offers a straightforward and minimalist interface, making it easy to use without a significant learning curve.
  • Focus Enhancement
    The app is designed to help users concentrate on a single task, reducing distractions and enhancing productivity.
  • Customization
    Users can personalize the interface to suit their needs, allowing for a tailored user experience.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    One Thing is accessible on multiple platforms, ensuring users can maintain focus seamlessly across different devices.

Possible disadvantages of One Thing

  • Limited Features
    The application's focus on simplicity means it lacks some advanced features that competitors might offer.
  • Dependence on User Input
    Effectiveness relies heavily on users consistently updating their focus tasks, which requires discipline.
  • Potential for Oversight
    Focusing on one task could lead to neglecting other important tasks or deadlines if not managed carefully.
  • Less Suitable for Complex Workflows
    For users with multifaceted projects or requiring intricate task management, One Thing might not fully meet their needs.

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.

One Thing videos

The ONE Thing Book Review (Gary Keller & Jay Papasan)

More videos:

  • Review - One Thing Niacinamide Glutathione Toner & Serum โ˜† Skincare Review
  • Review - [Review] The ONE Thing (Gary Keller) Summarized

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 One Thing and SelfControl)
Productivity
23 23%
77% 77
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Task Management
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 a lot more popular than One Thing. While we know about 79 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 7 mentions of One Thing. 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.

One Thing mentions (7)

  • Show HN: NowDo โ€“ a super-simple todo app for procrastinators (macOS)
    Pretty sure that exists already. Iโ€™ve been using this in a similar way: https://sindresorhus.com/one-thing. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Show HN: NowDo โ€“ a super-simple todo app for procrastinators (macOS)
    Another tool in this space is https://sindresorhus.com/one-thing. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Mac app to display JSON data in menu bar?
    Https://sindresorhus.com/one-thing supports scripting. Maybe a good starting point. Source: about 3 years ago
  • To-do or task app that displays currently 'on deck' task _all the time_?
    Check out One Thing: https://sindresorhus.com/one-thing "Put a single task or goal in your menu bar", pretty much does what it says. You can make it bold, brightly colored, which helps it stand out. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Software Developer Mac Apps
    One Thing. Very useful app to have a visual reminder of what youโ€™re supposed to focus on. Source: about 3 years 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 / 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 / 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 / 11 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 One Thing and SelfControl, you can also consider the following products

Todoist - Todoist is a to-do list that helps you get organized, at work and in life.

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!

iBucket - A social bucket list apps that helps you achieve your goals & trips. Available for iOS, Android and Web. Dream it. Plan it. Do it.

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

FocusOKR - Focus and achieve your goals using Objectives and Key Results

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat