Software Alternatives & Startups

SelfControl VS Gotify

Compare SelfControl VS Gotify 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
Gotify

a simple self-hosted server for sending and receiving messages

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
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 should be more popular than Gotify. It has been mentioned 80 times since March 2021.

social mentions
80 vs 39
Time Tracking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 109

Base details

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

SelfControl
Gotify
Website selfcontrolapp.com gotify.net
Pricing
Open source
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

SelfControl 4 features
Gotify 7 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
    Gotify is open-source software, meaning its source code is publicly available. This allows users to inspect, modify, and distribute the software freely.
  • Self-Hosting Capable
    Users can self-host Gotify on their own servers, giving them full control over their data and message delivery.
  • Real-Time Notifications
    Gotify provides real-time notifications, ensuring that messages are delivered promptly.
  • Web UI and API
    Includes a web-based user interface for ease of management and a comprehensive API for integration with other systems.
  • Customizable
    Gotify supports message customization, including priority levels and message formatting, enabling users to tailor notifications to their needs.
  • Lightweight
    Gotify is designed to be lightweight, with minimal resource usage, making it suitable for a wide range of hosting environments.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Gotify offers clients for multiple platforms, including mobile apps for both iOS and Android.

Possible disadvantages

  • Requires Server Knowledge
    Setting up and maintaining a self-hosted instance of Gotify requires a certain level of technical knowledge and server management skills.
  • Maintenance Overhead
    Self-hosting Gotify means that users are responsible for keeping the software up-to-date and secure, potentially requiring ongoing attention.
  • Limited Ecosystem
    Compared to more established notification systems, Gotify has a smaller ecosystem in terms of plugins, integrations, and community support.
  • Message Delivery
    Since Gotify relies on self-hosting, the reliability of message delivery is dependent on the stability and performance of the user's server infrastructure.
  • Scalability Concerns
    Running Gotify on a small server might not scale well for high volumes of notifications, potentially requiring more complex infrastructure for larger use cases.

Analysis

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

SelfControl
Gotify

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

  • Overall, Gotify is considered a solid choice for individuals or organizations looking for a simple, self-hosted push notification system without the complexities and costs of third-party services. Its focus on privacy, control, and ease of use make it especially attractive to tech-savvy users or those with specific requirements for data hosting.

Why this product is good

  • Gotify is often praised for its simplicity and open-source nature, making it appealing for users who need straightforward server-side push notification solutions. It supports self-hosting, which allows for greater control over data privacy and server customization. Additionally, Gotify is known for its ease of integration, thanks to its REST API, and the flexibility it offers in terms of notification management and customization.

Recommended for

  • Developers and tech enthusiasts seeking a self-hosted push notification solution.
  • Organizations that prioritize data privacy and need greater control over their notification infrastructure.
  • Users looking for an uncomplicated and easily customizable push notification service.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

SelfControl 2 videos + Add
Gotify 0 videos + Add

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

More videos

  • - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

No Gotify 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
Gotify
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

SelfControl no reviews yet
Gotify no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

SelfControl 80 mentions
Gotify 39 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 / 1 day 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 / 9 months ago

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  • Ntfy – open-source Push to Mobile
    I've been using Gotify [1] for a very long time and have been quite happy with it. Basically no impact on battery life. For devs - there are mature libraries like shoutrr [2] and apprise [3] that let you support multiple notification... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Ntfy.sh – Send push notifications to your phone via PUT/POST
    I do use gotify [1] which seems to be pretty much the same, and does the job quite well. Not sure how they compare, does ntfy goes through Google / Apple network or it's directly connected to your server instance? [1] https://gotify.net/. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Pushover
    Gotify is a self-hosted notification server with a clean web UI for managing applications and messages. Each application gets its own token, and messages arrive via WebSocket — no polling, no push service dependency. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago

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Alternatives to SelfControl and Gotify

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