Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SelfControl VS Chunk

Compare SelfControl VS Chunk and see what are their differences

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.

Chunk logo Chunk

Chunk is your time-blocking command center. Plan tasks with precision, get fullscreen alerts, and stay in flow all day. Built for focus, with calendar integration that fits your workflow.
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • Chunk 1
    1 //
    2026-03-08
  • Chunk
    Image date //
    2026-03-08
  • Chunk
    Image date //
    2026-03-08
  • Chunk
    Image date //
    2026-03-08
  • Chunk
    Image date //
    2026-03-08

Chunk โ€“ The Minimalist Menubar Task Timer for macOS

Chunk is a lightweight menubar app for macOS that helps you time-block your day with ease. Designed for makers, freelancers, and anyone who thrives on structure, Chunk keeps your plan visible and your focus sharp โ€” without the bloat of traditional productivity tools.

๐Ÿง  Why Chunk?

Chunk was built to solve a simple problem:
Planning your day shouldn't get in the way of doing your work.

Instead of overwhelming you with features, tabs, or integrations you don't need, Chunk lives quietly in your menubar โ€” always accessible, never distracting.

๐Ÿ”ง What You Can Do with Chunk

  • ๐Ÿ•’ Time-Block Your Day
    Plan your day using "chunks", focused blocks of time for specific tasks. Add, edit, and reorder them quickly.

  • ๐ŸŽจ Full Customisable
    Chunks are full customisable. Pick your colour, duration, emoji etc...

  • โฐ Stay on Track with Alerts
    Get notified when a new task begins. Fullscreen notifications make sure you never miss a transition.

  • ๐Ÿ“… Sync with Your Calendar
    Keep everything in one place by syncing with your Apple, Google or Outlook calendar.

  • ๐Ÿ” Save Templates & Routines
    Create reusable task templates that load with a click or daily routines that auto load on selected days.

  • ๐Ÿ“Š Track Your Progress
    See how much of your day you've completed with a visual progress bar in the menubar.

  • ๐Ÿง˜โ€โ™‚๏ธ Built for Focus
    No long form calendars. Just your plan for today, your time, and your focus.

โšก Who Itโ€™s For

  • People who like time-blocking but hate complex planners
  • Developers, freelancers, ADHD and creatives who want a clear schedule
  • Anyone looking to stay intentional about how they spend their time

๐Ÿš€ Try Chunk Free

Chunk comes with a 7-day free trial โ€“ no card required.
Give it a spin and see if it helps you get more done with less stress.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Download Chunk

Built for focus, not friction.

SelfControl

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

Chunk

$ Details
paid Free Trial $19.99 / One-off (Lifetime License)
Platforms
MacOS
Release Date
2025 May
Startup details
Country
France
City
Paris
Employees
1 - 9

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.

Chunk features and specs

  • Calendar Integration
    Chunk now syncs you calendar events from Apple, Google and Outlook calendars
  • Routines and Templates
    Create reusable templates and select days you want these to autoload as routines.
  • Fullscreen Notifications
    Never miss a chunk with fullscreen notifications to keep you always focussed.
  • Full Customisation
    Tasks are fully customisable. Pick your title, colour, emoji and more

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

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

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Chunk videos

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

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and Chunk)
Time Tracking
95 95%
5% 5
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing SelfControl and Chunk.

What makes your product unique?

Chunk's answer:

Chunk allows users to really experience all the benifits of timeblocking from directly in the menubar. No bloat, no fuss. We built it for focus not friction.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Chunk's answer:

Our main customer base is professionals seeking to maximise productivity, the ADHD community and students preparing for exams or studying.

User comments

Share your experience with using SelfControl and Chunk. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare SelfControl and Chunk

SelfControl Reviews

We have no reviews of SelfControl yet.
Be the first one to post

Chunk Reviews

  1. Super helpful with my ADHD having fullscreen alerts

    I had low expectations for this if i'm honest and its actually been really good I Just bought the lifetime access and was gutted you didn't support Apple calendar but then you released apple support the very next day. What are the chances lol

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Todoist, Structured
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Cheap price|Ui is very attractive|Adhd tool
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    No mobile app yet

The Best ADHD Apps for Adults: Top 8 Picks for Better Productivity
Chunk integrates smoothly with Apple, Google, and Outlook calendars. Accessible right from your Macโ€™s menubar, it ensures distraction-free access to your tasks. Its minimalist fullscreen notifications offer clear, gentle reminders as you transition between tasks.
Source: dev.to
Top 10 Productivity Apps for MacOSย 2025
Chunk is a new tool Iโ€™ve started using, and itโ€™s simple but fills a crucial gap for anyone looking for a straightforward single-day planner. As someone with ADHD, I find it perfect for keeping track of my day without feeling overwhelmed. The app sits quietly in the menubar, and thereโ€™s no unnecessary setup it just works right out of the box. If youโ€™re into timeblocking,...
Source: dev.to

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be more popular. 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.

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 / 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
View more

Chunk mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Chunk yet. Tracking of Chunk recommendations started around Apr 2025.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SelfControl and Chunk, 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!

Google Calendar - Spend less time managing your day & more time enjoying it

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

TickTick - TickTickis a cross-platform to-do list app & task manager helps you to get all things done and make life well organized.

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat

Fantastical 2 - Fantastical, the Mac calendar app you'll enjoy using. Quickly create new events with natural language input and more.