Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SelfControl VS interviewing.io

Compare SelfControl VS interviewing.io 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.

interviewing.io logo interviewing.io

Free, anonymous technical interview practice
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • interviewing.io Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-02

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.

interviewing.io features and specs

  • Anonymity
    Interviewing.io allows candidates to remain anonymous during the interview process, which can help reduce bias and make candidates more comfortable.
  • High-quality practice
    The platform provides opportunities to practice with real engineers from top tech companies, offering high-quality feedback and experience.
  • Cost-effective
    Many features on Interviewing.io are free, including the ability to conduct practice interviews and access to recordings and feedback.
  • Feedback and metrics
    Candidates receive detailed feedback and performance metrics after each interview, helping them identify areas of improvement.
  • Networking
    The platform can provide valuable networking opportunities by connecting candidates with engineers and potential employers from top tech companies.

Possible disadvantages of interviewing.io

  • Limited industry focus
    Interviewing.io primarily focuses on tech interviews, so it may not be useful for candidates looking for practice in other industries.
  • Variable interviewer quality
    The quality of interviewers can vary, which might affect the consistency of the practice and feedback received.
  • Scheduling challenges
    Finding convenient times for interviews can sometimes be challenging, especially if both the candidate and interviewer have busy schedules.
  • Stress and performance pressure
    Despite being a practice platform, candidates might still experience stress and performance pressure, similar to real interview scenarios.
  • Limited personalization
    The feedback and practice sessions are somewhat standardized, which may not always cater to the specific needs or unique backgrounds of individual candidates.

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 interviewing.io

Overall verdict

  • Interviewing.io is considered a good resource for individuals looking to improve their technical interviewing skills. It is particularly beneficial due to its anonymous nature, which encourages honest feedback and reduces anxiety, and the quality of interviewers involved, who often come from well-known tech companies.

Why this product is good

  • Interviewing.io is a platform designed to help candidates practice technical interviewing through mock interviews, which can be especially useful for those aiming to enter fields such as software engineering. It offers anonymous practice sessions with engineers from top tech companies, providing real-world experience and feedback. The platform also offers flexible scheduling, expert insights, and resources to improve interview performance.

Recommended for

  • Aspiring software engineers
  • Recent computer science graduates
  • Professionals transitioning into tech roles
  • Individuals preparing for technical interviews at major tech companies

SelfControl videos

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

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

interviewing.io videos

Technical Interviewing Anonymous: Aline Lerner, CEO @ Interviewing.io

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and interviewing.io)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Online Learning
0 0%
100% 100
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0
Online Education
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 interviewing.io

SelfControl Reviews

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interviewing.io Reviews

The Best Code Interview Prep Platforms in 2020
Interviewing.io takes a very unique approach to coding interview prep. Rather than providing content and practice coding challenges, Interviewing.io has a library of actual video interviews that you can watch, and you can pay to anonymously take a mock interview with an engineering hiring manager.

Social recommendations and mentions

interviewing.io might be a bit more popular than SelfControl. We know about 102 links to it since March 2021 and only 79 links to SelfControl. 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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interviewing.io mentions (102)

  • AI Interview Prep in 2026 Is Broken. Here's What Nobody Wants to Admit.
    Interviewing.io charges $100โ€“225 per session. Genuinely useful, but you can't do 5 sessions a day for a month. And a stranger on a 45-minute call doesn't know your history. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • System Design Roadmap for Freshers 2026: From Zero to Placement-Ready
    Mock interviews: Pramp, Interviewing.io (free tier), or batchmates. Aim for 8โ€“10 mocks. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • Interviewing in tech changed drastically after 2022 โ€” hereโ€™s what I learned trying to navigate it
    Interviewing is very performative so along the way you should absolutely do mock interviews just to get the nerves out and to practice being calm under pressure. I paid for several using Interviewing.io. They were certainly helpful, but I actually found the free ones I did with peers, both on interviewing.io and tryexponent.com to be more helpful. Why was it more helpful? Itโ€™s worthwhile being on the interview... - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • How to Become a Backend Developer in 2025 ?
    Interviewing.io โ€“ Anonymous mock interview platform with real engineers from top tech companies. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • My Journey of Mastering Data Structures and Algorithms in 6 Months: Dos and Don'ts๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿ’ป
    Conduct Mock Interviews: Simulate interview scenarios using platforms like Pramp or Interviewing.io. This helps you manage time, pressure, and articulating your thought process. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SelfControl and interviewing.io, 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!

LeetCode - Practice and level up your development skills and prepare for technical interviews.

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

Final Round AI - Interview Copilot - Real Time AI interview Assistant

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat

AlgoExpert.io - A better way to prep for tech interviews