Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

RegExr VS Freedom.to

Compare RegExr VS Freedom.to and see what are their differences

RegExr logo RegExr

RegExr.com is an online tool to learn, build, and test Regular Expressions.

Freedom.to logo Freedom.to

Freedom is a productivity hack that lets you block apps, websites or the entire Internet on iPhones, iPads, Windows and Mac computers.
  • RegExr Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-28
  • Freedom.to Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-23

RegExr features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    RegExr offers an intuitive and visually appealing interface that makes it easy for users to write, test, and understand regular expressions.
  • Real-time Feedback
    Changes to the regular expression and input text are reflected immediately, allowing users to see the effects of their adjustments in real-time.
  • Built-in Cheatsheet
    RegExr includes a handy cheatsheet that provides quick access to common regex patterns and syntax, making it easier for users to learn and reference rules.
  • Community Examples
    Users can explore and share community-generated regex patterns, which can serve as valuable examples or starting points for creating their own regex.
  • Detailed Explanation
    Each part of the regex pattern can be hovered over to display detailed tooltips explaining its function, aiding in the understanding of complex expressions.
  • Cross-Platform Accessibility
    As a web-based tool, RegExr can be accessed from any modern browser without the need for installation, making it convenient to use on multiple devices.

Possible disadvantages of RegExr

  • Limited Offline Use
    Since RegExr is a web-based application, it requires an internet connection, limiting its utility for users who need to work offline.
  • Learning Curve
    While the tool is user-friendly, users still need to have a foundational understanding of regular expressions to use RegExr effectively.
  • Performance Issues
    For extremely large inputs or very complex regular expressions, the tool may experience performance lags or slowdowns.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    RegExr may lack some advanced features found in more specialized or professional regex tools, such as integration with development environments or extensive scripting capabilities.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Users inputting sensitive data need to be cautious, as the web-based nature of the tool could raise privacy or data security concerns.

Freedom.to features and specs

  • Block Distractions
    Freedom.to allows you to block distracting websites and apps, thereby increasing productivity and focus by removing distractions.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    The service works across multiple devices and operating systems, ensuring that you can stay focused no matter what device you are using.
  • Customizable Sessions
    You can customize your blocked sessions, choosing specific times and durations to improve productivity according to your schedule.
  • Focus Mode
    Freedom.to offers a special 'Focus Mode' that helps users enter deep work states by minimizing distractions.
  • Website and App Blocking
    It supports the blocking of both websites and applications, offering comprehensive coverage for digital distractions.

Possible disadvantages of Freedom.to

  • Subscription Cost
    Freedom.to is a subscription-based service, which may not be affordable for everyone, especially for long-term use.
  • Initial Setup Time
    Setting up the tool to fit your specific needs may take some initial time and effort, reducing its immediate utility.
  • Potential Over-Blocking
    There is a risk of blocking productivity tools or necessary resources if not configured correctly, which can be counterproductive.
  • Limited Offline Functionality
    The service is less effective when you are working offline, as it primarily focuses on blocking online distractions.
  • Possible Workarounds
    Advanced users may find workarounds to bypass the blocking, which can diminish the tool's effectiveness.

Analysis of RegExr

Overall verdict

  • RegExr is widely regarded as an excellent tool for working with regular expressions due to its comprehensive feature set and ease of use.

Why this product is good

  • RegExr is considered a good tool for learning, creating, testing, and sharing regular expressions (regex). It offers a user-friendly interface, extensive documentation, real-time regex parsing, highlighting, and explanations, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced users. The platform provides a library of community-contributed patterns and a robust set of tools that helps users understand and construct regex patterns effectively.

Recommended for

  • Beginners learning regular expressions.
  • Developers needing to test and refine regex patterns.
  • Educators teaching regex concepts.
  • Anyone requiring an intuitive interface to work with regular expressions.

Analysis of Freedom.to

Overall verdict

  • Freedom.to is a good tool for those looking to improve focus and reduce digital distractions. It offers robust features that cater to a variety of needs, making it a strong choice for productivity enhancement.

Why this product is good

  • Freedom.to is well-regarded because it effectively helps users block distracting websites and apps, enhancing focus and productivity. It provides an easy-to-use interface with customizable blocking schedules, making it suitable for individuals seeking to manage their digital consumption.

Recommended for

    Individuals who struggle with digital distractions, remote workers needing help with time management, students seeking to concentrate on studies, and anyone looking to build healthier digital habits.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to RegExr and Freedom.to)
Programming Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Regular Expressions
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
66 66%
34% 34

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, RegExr should be more popular than Freedom.to. It has been mentiond 368 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.

RegExr mentions (368)

  • Learning Perl - Regular Expressions
    Use Online Tools: There are many online regex testers and visualizers that can help you see how your patterns match against sample text. These tools often provide explanations for each part of the regex. I personally use https://regexr.com/. - Source: dev.to / 3 days ago
  • The importance of the environment in Regex pattern matching
    However - here it becomes weird - when testing the original regex rule (the first one, without the \u00A0 part) on the same string in an interactive visualiser (https://regexr.com/ for instance), there is a match:. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Ask HN: How did you learn Regex?
    Learned regex in the 90's from the Perl documentation, or possibly one of the oreilly perl references. That was a time where printed language references were more convenient than searching the internet. Perl still includes a shell component for accessing it's documentation, that was invaluable in those ancient times. Perl's regex documentation is rather fantastic. `perldoc perlre` from your terminal. Or... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Ask HN: How did you learn Regex?
    I read a lot on https://www.regular-expressions.info and experimented on https://rubular.com since I was also learning Ruby at the time. https://regexr.com is another good tool that breaks down your regex and matches. One of the things I remember being difficult at the beginning was the subtle differences between implementations, like `^` meaning "beginning of line" in Ruby (and others) but meaning "beginning of... - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Ask HN: How did you learn Regex?
    Mostly building things that needed complex RegEx, and debugging my regular expressions with https://regexr.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
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Freedom.to mentions (184)

  • [NeedAdvice] 20 Years old with no discipline. Morning Routine?
    I found it hard to stick to, so I use this app which seems to work quite well: https://freedom.to. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Looking for the right app
    Apps I have tried and are not enough: - https://heyfocus.com/ - https://freedom.to/ - https://selfcontrolapp.com/ - https://www.forestapp.cc/ - https://www.rescuetime.com/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Cognitive Load and Your Development Environment
    There are plenty of apps and organizational systems that will help you remember future tasks and reduce distractions. For example, Focus blocks distractions and schedules your breaks and Freedom will block distractions on all of your devices at once. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Developing habits I should’ve developed as a child
    Freedom. For $2.50 a month, Freedom will block all social media sites on all your devices during hours you specify. Source: over 1 year ago
  • 25 Best Productivity Apps: 2023 Review Guide
    Ever find yourself unable to pull away from the digital distractions that disrupt your workflow? Well, Freedom is one of the best distraction-blocking apps that allows you to block websites, mobile apps, and any other digital distractions that prevent you from getting things done. Users can create personalized schedules that temporarily block access to distracting websites, apps, and even the entire internet if... - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing RegExr and Freedom.to, you can also consider the following products

regular expressions 101 - Extensive regex tester and debugger with highlighting for PHP, PCRE, Python and JavaScript.

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!

rubular - A ruby based regular expression editor

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.

Expresso - The award-winning Expresso editor is equally suitable as a teaching tool for the beginning user of regular expressions or as a full-featured development environment for the experienced programmer with an extensive knowledge of regular expressions.

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