Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SelfControl VS Headspace

Compare SelfControl VS Headspace 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.

Headspace logo Headspace

Meditation made simple. Brilliant things happen in calm minds.
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • Headspace Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-02

Headspace

$ Details
-
Release Date
2010 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Andy Puddicombe
Employees
250 - 499

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.

Headspace features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Headspace offers a clean, intuitive, and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for beginners and experienced users alike.
  • Wide Range of Programs
    Includes various meditation courses, from stress management and sleep improvement to focused meditation sessions, catering to diverse needs.
  • High-Quality Content
    Provides professionally produced audio and video sessions, led by experienced meditation teachers, ensuring high quality and effective guidance.
  • Regular Updates
    New content is frequently added, keeping the app fresh and engaging for users over long periods.
  • Guided Meditations
    Offers a variety of guided meditations that help users stay on track and develop their practice step-by-step.
  • Offline Access
    Allows users to download sessions to use offline, providing flexibility for those without constant internet access.

Possible disadvantages of Headspace

  • Cost
    Subscription-based service which might be expensive for some users, despite offering a free trial period.
  • Limited Free Content
    The free version of Headspace has very limited content, requiring a subscription to access the full library.
  • Repetitiveness
    Some users may find the content repetitive after extended use, possibly leading to diminished engagement.
  • Requires Commitment
    Meditation, to be effective, requires regular practice which might be a commitment that some users find difficult to maintain.
  • Generic Approach
    Some advanced users may find the guidance too generic and not tailored enough to specific meditation traditions or advanced practices.

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 Headspace

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Headspace is considered a good choice for individuals looking to incorporate meditation and mindfulness practices into their daily routine. Its high-quality content, user-friendly design, and wide accessibility make it a valuable resource for those new to meditation as well as experienced practitioners.

Why this product is good

  • Headspace is a popular meditation and mindfulness platform that offers a wide range of guided meditations and exercises designed to help reduce stress and improve mental well-being. It provides an easy-to-use interface and a variety of content to cater to different needs, such as sleep improvement, stress relief, and focus enhancement. The app has been praised for its effectiveness and the gentle, approachable style of its guides.

Recommended for

  • Beginners who are new to meditation
  • Individuals seeking stress relief and improved mental health
  • People looking to enhance their focus and productivity
  • Anyone interested in incorporating mindfulness into their daily routine
  • Those struggling with sleep and looking for guided practices to improve sleep quality

SelfControl videos

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

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Headspace videos

Headspace Review: What I Really Think of the App

More videos:

  • Review - Meditation Apps: Headspace vs Calm!
  • Review - Headspace App - My Experience & Honest Opinion | Is Headspace Worth it?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and Headspace)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Health And Fitness
0 0%
100% 100
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0
Meditation
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 Headspace

SelfControl Reviews

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Headspace Reviews

The 7 Best Meditation Apps of 2024
We tried Headspace for a month and were overwhelmingly impressed with its offerings. We could choose exercises from four different categoriesโ€”Meditation, Sleep, Stress, and Mindfulnessโ€”and with the hundreds available, we never ran out of options. We liked that as soon as we signed up, we could fill out symptom trackers for our stress and anxiety, and the app followed up a...
10 Best Headspace Alternatives
Unlike Headspace, most of Insight Timerโ€™s content is free, meaning you donโ€™t need a premium subscription to start meditating. Additionally, Headspace is geared toward beginner meditators, with a 30-minute limit on most sessions. Insight Timer is ideal for practitioners of all levels, from beginner to advanced. Meditation practices range from five-minute introductory sessions...
Eight Meditation Apps That Are Cheaper (and Better) Than Headspace and Calm
Waking Up takes the elements of Buddhism, Stoicism, and mindfulness meditation to create a 28-day long course. All you have to do is spend 10 or so minutes on the practice every day. The $99/year membership is not cheaper than Headspace, but if youโ€™re trying to explore the mindfulness meditation space, you can try out the 28-day beginnerโ€™s courseโ€”you can use the program for...
Source: lifehacker.com
The 20 Best Health and Fitness Apps of 2023
Headspace is another leading meditation and mindfulness app. It focuses on helping individuals reduce stress, improve focus, and cultivate a sense of calm through guided meditation sessions.
12 best mindfulness apps to help you keep calm during a crisis
Headspace was one of the first meditation apps and remains one of the best-known on the market. Following its launch in 2010, it has accrued more than 65 million members across 190 countries โ€“ and itโ€™s not hard to see why. The app is a great choice if you want to learn the essentials of meditation and mindfulness, with hundreds of guided meditations on subjects including...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl should be more popular than Headspace. 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
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Headspace mentions (17)

  • How is the McNair unit?
    This is a list of resources that provide mental health education, as well as strategies and tools to manage mental health. โ€ข Anxiety BC: http://anxietybc.ca โ€ข BIPOC Mental Health: https://www.ubcpactra.ca/bipoc-and-lgbtq-mental-health- Supports/ โ€ข Centre for Clinical Interventions: http://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/Resources/Looking- After-Yourself โ€ข First Nations Mental Health:... Source: about 3 years ago
  • Transference of awareness from the periphery to the centre
    Meditating on headspace.com offers real acceleration, easy techniques,. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Smiling through the financial problems in this unbearable capitalist world โœจ
    Check out the headspace.com app I found it real helpful to make my mind a kinder place. Source: over 3 years ago
  • I naturally LD every night. AMA
    I think practicing mantra work and meditation and mindful exercise -- will help you touch this experience with ease in waking and in dreams. I enjoyed the headspace.com app. The advanced courses are great. Also learning and studying a religion. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Something I've thought about
    i'm here for you, meditation helps the mind, don't let your thoughts boss you around, you are the awareness behind them, check out headspace.com helped me with my thoughts, take care! Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SelfControl and Headspace, 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!

Calm - Calm.com can help you reduce stress and increase calm.

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

Medito - 100% Free Meditation App that will improve your Mental wellbeing with the help of Guided Meditations, Breathing Exercises, Mindfulness Practices, Relaxing Sounds, and more.

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

Insight Timer - Support your meditation practice through a massive community powered app.