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SelfControl VS Alfread

Compare SelfControl VS Alfread and see what are their differences

Grapple
Do-It-Yourself Data Analytics & Business Intelligence, Powered by AI sponsored
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.
Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

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.

Alfread logo Alfread

Actually read articles saved for later
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
Not present

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.

Alfread features and specs

  • Enhanced Productivity
    Alfread helps users manage their reading list efficiently, allowing them to prioritize and organize articles, which boosts productivity.
  • Cross-Device Synchronization
    The app offers seamless synchronization across devices, enabling users to access their reading list from anywhere, at any time.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Alfread has a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate and manage their saved articles without a steep learning curve.
  • Offline Access
    The app allows users to download and read articles offline, which is useful for reading on the go without needing an internet connection.

Possible disadvantages of Alfread

  • Limited Free Features
    The free version of Alfread may have limited features compared to the paid version, which might restrict functionality for users not wanting to pay.
  • Platform Dependence
    As an external app, users might become dependent on the platform, which could be an issue if the service is discontinued or altered.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are easy to use, some advanced organizational tools might require a learning curve, especially for less tech-savvy users.
  • Potential Synchronicity Issues
    There might be occasional issues with synchronizing the reading list across multiple devices, affecting the accessibility of the latest updates.

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.

SelfControl videos

+ Add

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

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Alfread videos

+ Add

ALFREAD CREATED BY ZACK SNYDER WHO MEANS WHAT HE SHOOTS

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and Alfread)

SelfControl

Alfread

Time Tracking
100 100%
Time Tracking
0% 0
Productivity
78 78%
Productivity
22% 22
Time Management
100 100%
Time Management
0% 0
Social Bookmarking
0 0%
Social Bookmarking
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 Alfread. While we know about 79 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 1 mention of Alfread. 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.

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 / 7 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 / 12 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

Alfread mentions (1)

  • We built an app to actually read articles saved for later. Or skip them. No pressure
    Learn more about it here: https://alfreadapp.com/. Source: over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

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!

Matter - Create a feedback-focused culture in Slack with Matter!

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

Instapaper - Instapaper is a simple tool to save web pages for reading later.

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat

Summari - Summari is a web and mobile app that can summarize long text articles into bullet points.

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