Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Open Camera VS SelfControl

Compare Open Camera VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

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Open Camera logo Open Camera

Open Camera is an open-source camera app for Android phones and tablets.

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.
  • Open Camera Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-31
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Open Camera features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    Open Camera is a free app with no in-app purchases or ads, and its open-source nature allows for community contributions and transparency.
  • Feature-Rich
    The app offers a wide range of features such as auto-stabilization, manual controls, HDR, focus modes, and time-lapse, making it highly versatile.
  • Customizable
    Users can customize various settings to suit their preferences, including image/video resolution, file format, and user interface layout.
  • Lightweight
    With a relatively small app size, Open Camera is lightweight and efficient, making it accessible for devices with limited storage.
  • Frequent Updates
    The app receives regular updates, which often introduce new features, enhancements, and bug fixes based on community feedback.

Possible disadvantages of Open Camera

  • Complex Interface
    Due to its extensive features and settings, new users may find the interface overwhelming and less intuitive compared to simpler camera apps.
  • Limited Post-Processing
    Open Camera focuses on giving precise control over shooting parameters but offers limited post-processing and editing tools.
  • Device Compatibility
    Some features might not work optimally on all devices, depending on the hardware and software compatibility.
  • User Interface Design
    The appโ€™s user interface is functional but may not be as polished or visually appealing as some paid or proprietary camera apps.
  • Learning Curve
    Due to the wide range of features and customization options, users might need time to learn and fully utilize the appโ€™s capabilities.

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 Open Camera

Overall verdict

  • Open Camera is a strong contender for those seeking a versatile and feature-rich camera app without any cost. It delivers robust performance with a wide variety of settings, ideal for both casual users and more serious photographers.

Why this product is good

  • Open Camera is widely regarded as a good choice for photography enthusiasts who are looking for a free, open-source camera application. It offers a plethora of features that can enhance the mobile photography experience, including manual controls for exposure and focus, as well as support for Camera2 API. Its straightforward interface and accessibility make it easy to use, while advanced options allow users to fine-tune their shots. Furthermore, being open-source ensures transparency and community-driven improvements.

Recommended for

    Open Camera is highly recommended for Android users who want to explore manual photography controls, those who value open-source software, and individuals seeking a powerful yet free alternative to default camera applications.

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.

Open Camera videos

Open Camera Tips & Tricks - Works On ALL Phones!!!

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Open Camera App TUTORIAL (2019 Android Camera Apps)
  • Review - Which is Better - FiLMiC Pro or Open Camera for Android phones

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 Open Camera and SelfControl)
Graphic Design Software
100 100%
0% 0
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Image Editing
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 should be more popular than Open Camera. 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.

Open Camera mentions (15)

  • Alternative Camera Apps?
    Open Camera is one of my favorite. You can download it from the Fdroid app store (or from Google Play store). Source: about 3 years ago
  • Camera non-root vs root, Oneplus 5t ?
    I use https://opencamera.org.uk/ on my 5T running Lineage. Its photos are identical to the stock camera running on the official OS. Source: over 3 years ago
  • The Limits of Computational Photography
    You can go around some of the extra processing by using other camera apps, for example "Open Camera". It can even shoot RAW photos, so that the least amount of processing is applied to the image. Unfortunately, you can't disable all of the processing, because some of it happen on the hardware, or in the camera's kernel module. https://opencamera.org.uk/. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Can built in camera see more than showing?
    If you want to see what the biggest image available is, I suggest using this camera app https://opencamera.org.uk/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Realme camera software sucks so bad!
    Shout out to Open Camera though. It has so many features I would have never even thought of. Source: over 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 / 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 / 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
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Secure Camera - Modern camera app focused on privacy and security with QR & barcode scanning.

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!

PhotonCamera - Android Camera that uses enhanced image processing.

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

Libre Camera - A free and open source camera app for Android written in Flutter and Dart.

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