Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

QuickTile VS SelfControl

Compare QuickTile 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.

QuickTile logo QuickTile

A lightweight utility for allowing you to quickly snap windows to a tiling grid under your existing...

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.
  • QuickTile Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-29
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

QuickTile features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    QuickTile provides a straightforward approach to window tiling, allowing users to manage window layouts efficiently without complex configurations.
  • Customization
    It supports extensive customization, enabling users to define their own tiling layouts and shortcuts to suit their workflow needs.
  • Lightweight
    QuickTile is lightweight and doesn't consume significant system resources, making it suitable for older or less powerful machines.
  • Cross-Platform
    QuickTile is compatible with various Linux distributions, making it accessible to a wide range of Linux users.

Possible disadvantages of QuickTile

  • Linux Only
    QuickTile is designed for Linux systems, which means users on other operating systems like Windows or macOS cannot use it.
  • Limited Features
    Compared to full-fledged tiling window managers, QuickTile offers a more limited set of features focused solely on tiling.
  • Manual Configuration
    Some users may find the initial setup and configuration to be manual and time-consuming, especially if they want to tailor their shortcuts extensively.
  • No GUI
    QuickTile operates without a graphical user interface, which might not appeal to users who prefer visual configuration tools.

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.

QuickTile videos

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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 QuickTile and SelfControl)
Window Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
OSX Tools
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 QuickTile. While we know about 79 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 4 mentions of QuickTile. 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.

QuickTile mentions (4)

  • My (challenging) experience building a window switcher for Ubuntu
    As the author of QuickTile, which is written in Python but even closer to what you describe than a window manager would be, I have to say that, yeah, doing X11 stuff takes a lot of knowledge that's not ideally documented in non-print sources. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Rust's problematic reliance on GitHub
    Actually, I plan to add a .nojekyll file and then use something like Pelican with custom plugins, then set GitHub Actions to run my update.sh on push... Similar to how http://ssokolow.com/quicktile/ is a Sphinx-based site hosted on GitHub Pages and automatically regenerated from the pushed sources. Source: about 4 years ago
  • tilling wm on elementary os ?
    I've been using ssokolow.com/quicktile for this purpose, it does what I need and doesn't replace the wm. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Converting an array, slice or vector to base58 encoding WITH check
    The best I could do for the API documentation for this project of mine was to use the automodule directive to autogenerate at the coarsest level possible and remember to never create new .py files if I could possibly avoid it. 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 / 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 / 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 QuickTile and SelfControl, you can also consider the following products

GridMove - GridMove - A window management tool that can quickly arrange your windows into desktop grids.

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!

Preme for Windows - Speeds up your window switching.

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

WinDock - WinDock is a window manager ideal for large, or multi-monitor setups. Features:

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat