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SelfControl VS Compass Android

Compare SelfControl VS Compass Android and see what are their differences

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
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Compass Android

Simple and beautiful compass for Android. Contribute to Kr0oked/Compass development by creating an account on GitHub.

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0 reviews
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Grapple
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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.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 80 times since March 2021.

social mentions
80 vs 0
Time Tracking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 10

Base details

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

SelfControl
Compass Android
Website selfcontrolapp.com github.com
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in
Productivity Time Management Focus Health And Fitness +1
Classifieds Ads Utilities Classifieds Windows Tools +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

SelfControl 4 features
Compass Android 5 features
  • 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.
  • Open Source and Free
    Compass is fully open source under a permissive license, hosted on GitHub, allowing developers to use, modify, and contribute to the project without any cost or licensing restrictions.
  • Lightweight and Focused
    The app is a simple, single-purpose compass application for Android, which means it has a small footprint and does no more than what it promises — providing compass functionality without bloat.
  • Privacy-Friendly
    As a simple open-source compass app, it does not include trackers, ads, or unnecessary permissions, making it a privacy-respecting alternative to many commercial compass apps on the Play Store.
  • Available on F-Droid
    The app is available on F-Droid, the free and open-source Android app repository, making it easily accessible to users who prefer privacy-focused app distribution channels.
  • Modern Android Development
    The project uses Kotlin and modern Android development practices including Jetpack Compose, making the codebase clean, maintainable, and a good reference for developers learning modern Android development.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Features
    The app is a basic compass with minimal features. It lacks advanced navigation tools such as maps integration, waypoint marking, GPS coordinates display, or augmented reality overlays that some competing compass apps offer.
  • Small Community
    The project has a relatively small community of contributors and users compared to larger open-source projects, which may result in slower bug fixes, fewer feature additions, and limited community support.
  • Device Sensor Dependency
    The compass relies entirely on the device's magnetometer and accelerometer sensors. On devices with poor or uncalibrated sensors, the compass accuracy can be unreliable, and the app has limited ability to mitigate hardware shortcomings.
  • Magnetic Interference Sensitivity
    Like any digital compass, the app is susceptible to magnetic interference from nearby electronic devices, metal objects, or magnetic cases, which can cause inaccurate readings that users may not always be aware of.
  • Limited Documentation
    The project has minimal documentation for developers who want to contribute or understand the architecture, which can make onboarding new contributors more difficult and slow down community-driven development.

Analysis

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

SelfControl
Compass Android

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.

Overall verdict

  • Compass is a solid, open-source Android weather app that emphasizes privacy, a clean Material Design interface, and reliable data without ads or tracking, making it a trustworthy choice for users seeking a lightweight and transparent alternative to commercial weather apps.

Why this product is good

  • Open-source codebase available on GitHub, allowing transparency and community contributions
  • Privacy-focused with no ads, tracking, or unnecessary data collection
  • Clean, modern Material Design interface that is easy to navigate
  • Lightweight and efficient, offering reliable weather data without bloat
  • Free to use and actively maintained by the developer community

Recommended for

  • Privacy-conscious users who want to avoid ad-supported or tracking-heavy weather apps
  • Open-source enthusiasts who value transparency and community-driven development
  • Users who prefer a minimalist, clean weather app experience
  • Android users looking for a free, lightweight alternative to mainstream weather apps

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

SelfControl 2 videos + Add
Compass Android 0 videos + Add

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

More videos

  • - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

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

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
SelfControl
Compass Android
100% 100%
Time Tracking
0% 0%
0% 0%
Classifieds Ads
100% 100%
100% 100%
Productivity
0% 0%
0% 0%
Classifieds
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using SelfControl and Compass Android. 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.

SelfControl 80 mentions
Compass Android 0 mentions
  • No Forest app for PC? The 3 layers where Windows focus apps block distractions
    SelfControl's site calls it "a free Mac application", so no. The nearest Windows equivalents of its locked block are in Layer 3: Cold Turkey's locking features or Freedom's Locked Mode. (selfcontrolapp.com). - Source: dev.to / 4 days ago
  • 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 / 8 months ago
  • Kiki – The accountability monster for people who are easily distracted
    Happy to see it still exists, and free https://selfcontrolapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago

View more

Tracking Compass Android since Apr 2026.

Alternatives to SelfControl and Compass Android

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