Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SelfControl VS Elevate

Compare SelfControl VS Elevate and see what are their differences

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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.

Elevate logo Elevate

Elevate is an award-winning brain training tool designed to build communication and analytical skills.
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • Elevate Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-28

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.

Elevate features and specs

  • Personalized Training
    Elevate offers customized training programs that adapt to your skill level and learning pace, which helps users focus on areas that need improvement.
  • Variety of Skills
    The app covers a wide range of cognitive skills including reading, writing, listening, and math, providing comprehensive brain training.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The app has an intuitive and clean design, making it easy for users to navigate and engage with the exercises.
  • Progress Tracking
    Elevate tracks your progress over time, giving you insights into your performance and areas that have improved.
  • Daily Challenges
    The app provides daily challenges and reminders that help users stay consistent with their training routine.
  • Offline Access
    Exercises can be accessed offline, which allows users to train their brain anywhere without needing an internet connection.

Possible disadvantages of Elevate

  • Subscription Cost
    Access to the full range of exercises and features requires a subscription, which can be relatively expensive for some users.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of Elevate offers limited access to exercises, which may not be sufficient for users looking for a comprehensive brain training experience.
  • Repetitive Drills
    Some users may find the drills repetitive over time, which can affect long-term engagement with the app.
  • Potential Overemphasis on Speed
    Certain exercises prioritize speed, which may not be beneficial for all users, particularly those looking to focus on accuracy and comprehension.
  • One-size-fits-all Approach
    Despite personalization, the app may not cater to very specific learning needs or goals beyond its general training programs.

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.

Analysis of Elevate

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Elevate is a well-regarded tool for those looking to enhance their cognitive abilities in a fun and interactive way. While results can vary from person to person, many users find the app beneficial for maintaining and improving mental sharpness.

Why this product is good

  • Elevate is designed to train a variety of cognitive skills through engaging and personalized mini-games. Users have reported improvements in areas such as focus, writing skills, and mental math. The app uses adaptive algorithms to adjust to individual performance, offering a tailored experience that keeps the training challenging yet achievable. Additionally, its sleek design and ease of use make it accessible for users of all ages.

Recommended for

    Elevate is recommended for individuals interested in personal development, specifically those looking to boost their cognitive functions like memory, attention, and processing speed. It is also suitable for students, professionals, and anyone who enjoys casual brain training exercises.

SelfControl videos

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

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Elevate videos

Elevate App Review

More videos:

  • Review - IS THIS APP ANY GOOD? - Elevate (Brain Training & Brain Games) | App Review
  • Review - 30 days of Elevate Brain training Review | Elevate Free brain training apps | Does Elevate work

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and Elevate)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Social Media Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0
Social Media Apps
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

SelfControl Reviews

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Elevate Reviews

  1. Elian
    ยท I have autism, we can all be different sometimes. at High Horizens Magnet ยท
    Best app for brain training ever.

    It makes me smarter in different ways. It boost's my vocabulary, makes me better in math, and helps me with my memory.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Lumosity
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Makes me smart
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    None so far

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be a lot more popular than Elevate. While we know about 79 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Elevate. 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 / 5 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 / 10 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

Elevate mentions (3)

  • Bright student with ADHD starter pack
    /u/Guffikiss_ and /u/cygnusxone_ are correct, it's a brain training app called Elevate.   For me I've made it part of my morning routine, and it help me sort of kickstart my brain, reducing the number of days I'm getting absolutely nothing done as a thanks to executive disfunction. It has a 7-day free trial if you want to try it out. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Lithium slowing down my brain
    Sorry for rambling, a suggestion I have is maybe try some phone games that are g seed towards cognitive training? My two favorite games for this arenโ€™t marketed as that, but thatโ€™s what they are. I play Flow Free (the one where you connect different colored dots on a grid) and I Love Hue (you have images of color gradients that are split into pieces and you have to put them together like a puzzle). Another one I... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Symptom/Daily Tracker
    I highly recommend you look at Duolingo and Elevate. These are 2 companies that have done an amazing job at getting people to build daily habits. Source: over 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SelfControl and Elevate, 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!

Lumosity - Discover what your mind can do. Improve memory, increase focus, and find calm - with the #1 brain training app. Get started now.

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

ViralContentBee - Viral Content Bee is a web-based platform that utilizes a crowd-sourcing model to facilitate the generation of ย โ€œsocial buzzโ€ on content.

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

RecurPost - RecurPost is a social media scheduler with repeating schedules. It allows you to schedule content on multiple social accounts from a single dashboard.