Software Alternatives & Startups
Register | Login

SelfControl VS Nothing Compass

Compare SelfControl VS Nothing Compass 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
Promote on VibeVoted
Alternatives Is it good?
Nothing Compass

A minimalistic, elegant compass and inclinometer application for Android in Nothing aesthetics. - ISO53/Nothing-Compass

No screenshot yet
Rating
0 reviews
Promote on VibeVoted
Alternatives Is it good?
InboxAgent
InboxAgent uses AI to read your shared mailboxes, like info@ and sales@, plus everyone's own inbox, on Microsoft 365, Gmail, Zoho Mail or IMAP. It finds the sales leads and gives each an owner on a board. Never sends from your mailbox. sponsored
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 3

Base details

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

SelfControl
Nothing Compass
Website selfcontrolapp.com github.com
Pricing
Open source
—
Listed in
Productivity Time Management Focus Health And Fitness +1
Classifieds Ads Classifieds Calendar iPhone +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

SelfControl 4 features
Nothing Compass 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.
  • Clean Nothing-inspired UI
    The app features a minimalist, dot-matrix style design that closely mimics the distinctive Nothing OS aesthetic, making it visually appealing for fans of the Nothing Phone ecosystem.
  • Open source
    The project is fully open source under a GPL-3.0 license on GitHub, allowing developers to inspect, modify, and contribute to the codebase freely.
  • Lightweight and focused
    The app serves a single, clear purpose — providing a compass — without unnecessary bloat, extra permissions, or unrelated features, keeping it simple and efficient.
  • Custom widget included
    The app includes a home screen widget with the Nothing-style design, allowing users to access compass information directly from their home screen without opening the app.
  • No ads or tracking
    As an independent open-source project, the app does not include advertisements, analytics trackers, or data collection, respecting user privacy.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited functionality
    The app is essentially just a compass with a Nothing-themed skin. It lacks additional features like level/inclinometer, GPS coordinates display, map integration, or navigation tools that other compass apps offer.
  • Not an official Nothing app
    Despite the branding and aesthetic, this is not an official Nothing product, which may cause confusion and means it has no guarantee of long-term support or alignment with Nothing OS updates.
  • Device compatibility concerns
    The app relies on the device having a magnetometer sensor, and its Nothing-style UI may not look or feel consistent on non-Nothing phones that use different design languages.
  • Small community and limited maintenance
    As a relatively niche open-source project by an individual developer, the app has a small contributor base, which may lead to slower bug fixes, fewer updates, and potential abandonment over time.
  • Accuracy depends on hardware calibration
    Like all software compasses, the accuracy is entirely dependent on the device's magnetometer quality and calibration, and the app doesn't appear to provide advanced calibration guidance or interference detection.

Analysis

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

SelfControl
Nothing Compass

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

  • Nothing Compass appears to be a solid, lightweight open-source compass application that leverages device sensors to provide clean, minimalist directional navigation, making it a dependable choice for users seeking a simple, ad-free tool.

Why this product is good

  • Open-source nature allows for transparency, community contributions, and the ability to audit the code for privacy and security
  • Minimalist, clean interface design that focuses on core compass functionality without unnecessary clutter
  • Free to use with no ads or hidden costs, aligning with the ethos of open-source software
  • Lightweight and resource-efficient, making it suitable for a wide range of devices
  • Community-driven development means bugs can be reported and features requested directly through GitHub

Recommended for

  • Users who prefer open-source and privacy-respecting applications
  • Hikers, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts needing basic directional guidance
  • Developers interested in studying or contributing to a straightforward sensor-based app
  • Minimalists who want a no-frills, ad-free compass tool
  • People who appreciate the Nothing brand's design aesthetic

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

SelfControl 2 videos + Add
Nothing Compass 0 videos + Add

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

More videos

  • - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

No Nothing Compass 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
Nothing Compass
100% 100%
Time Tracking
0% 0%
0% 0%
Classifieds
100% 100%
100% 100%
Productivity
0% 0%
0% 0%
Classifieds Ads
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using SelfControl and Nothing Compass. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

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

SelfControl 80 mentions
Nothing Compass 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 / 5 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 Nothing Compass since Apr 2026.

Alternatives to SelfControl and Nothing Compass

When comparing SelfControl and Nothing Compass, you can also consider the following products.

Loading...