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Scroll Brake VS SelfControl

Compare Scroll Brake VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

Scroll Brake

Cognitive app & website blocker for iOS and Chrome that stops doomscrolling with adaptive math puzzles. Generous free tier (up to 3 limits for unlimited apps), 100% local privacy, optional one-time Lifetime Pro.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Freemium $29 / One-off (Lifetime Pro Unlock (Free Forever tier included))
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Alternatives Is it good?
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.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Promote on VibeVoted
Alternatives Is it good?
cobwebs.app
Tap a thing and the counter resets. A quiet, local-first day counter for the things you keep meaning to do. No account needed, no spreadsheet. sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 79 times since March 2021.

social mentions
0 vs 79
Website Blocking Software popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
15 vs 234

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Scroll Brake
SelfControl
Website novasynapse.com selfcontrolapp.com
Pricing
Freemium $29 / One-off (Lifetime Pro Unlock (Free Forever tier included)) Official pricing
Open source
Platforms
iOS Google Chrome
—
Company Startup from Estonia · 2026 —
Listed in
App Blockers Website Blocking Software Focus Personal Productivity Time Management Privacy-Focused +3
Productivity Time Management Focus Health And Fitness +1

About Scroll Brake and SelfControl

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Scroll Brake
SelfControl

Scroll Brake is a native iOS (Screen Time / FamilyControls API) and Chrome Extension app & website blocker that replaces passive countdown timers with active cognitive friction — requiring you to solve adaptive mental math challenges before distracting feeds open. Key Capabilities Cognitive...

Read more about Scroll Brake

No description of SelfControl yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Scroll Brake 3 features
SelfControl 4 features
  • Cognitive Math Friction
    Interrupts automatic doomscrolling with adaptive mental math challenges
  • Escalating Daily Difficulty
    Math difficulty increases automatically on repeat unlock attempts
  • 100% On-Device Privacy
    Zero cloud servers, zero accounts, and zero telemetry via Apple Screen Time API & Chrome MV3
  • 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

  • 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

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Scroll Brake
SelfControl

No analysis of Scroll Brake yet.

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.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Scroll Brake 0 videos + Add
SelfControl 2 videos + Add

No Scroll Brake videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

How to block websites that distract you ? Selfcontrol [Mac App review and tutorial]

More videos

  • - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Scroll Brake
SelfControl
100% 100%
Website Blocking Software
0% 0%
0% 0%
Time Tracking
100% 100%
4% 4%
Time Management
96% 96%
100% 100%
Personal Productivity
0% 0%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Scroll Brake and SelfControl.

What's the story behind your product?

Scroll Brake's answer

We noticed that standard app blockers fail in two ways: strict hard blocks force users to delete the blocker during an urgent message, while passive 5-second delays become invisible to muscle memory. Escalating mental math creates the exact cognitive pause needed to close the app voluntarily.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Scroll Brake's answer

Native Swift, SwiftUI, Apple FamilyControls / ManagedSettings / DeviceActivity frameworks on iOS, and TypeScript / Manifest V3 for the Chrome Extension.

What makes your product unique?

Scroll Brake's answer

Instead of passive countdown timers or breathing animations that muscle memory learns to ignore within days, Scroll Brake uses active cognitive friction — requiring you to solve adaptive mental math puzzles (with escalating daily difficulty) before distracting apps or websites open.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Scroll Brake's answer

  • Cognitive System 2 Interruption: Arithmetic challenges break automatic dopamine scrolling loops.
  • 100% On-Device Privacy: Built on Apple Screen Time API (FamilyControls) and Chrome Manifest V3 with zero cloud servers and zero browsing logs.
  • No $99/Year Subscriptions: Generous Free Forever tier (up to 3 active limits covering unlimited apps) + optional $29.99 one-time Lifetime unlock.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Scroll Brake's answer

Developers, students, founders, and knowledge workers with ADHD or high screen exposure who want to stop compulsive doomscrolling on iPhone and Chrome without surrendering their privacy or paying $100/year.

User comments

Share your experience with using Scroll Brake and SelfControl. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Scroll Brake 0 mentions
SelfControl 79 mentions

Tracking Scroll Brake since Oct 2026.

View more

Alternatives to Scroll Brake and SelfControl

When comparing Scroll Brake and SelfControl, you can also consider the following products.

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