Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SelfControl VS Owler

Compare SelfControl VS Owler and see what are their differences

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.

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.

Owler logo Owler

Owler is a crowdsourced data model allowing users to follow, track, and research companies.
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • Owler Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-18

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.

Owler features and specs

  • Competitive Insights
    Owler provides detailed competitive insights, including news, financials, and key personnel changes, enabling businesses to stay informed about their competitors.
  • User-Generated Data
    The platform leverages crowdsourced data, which can offer unique perspectives and more frequent updates on company information compared to official records.
  • Customizable Alerts
    Users can set up customizable alerts for specific companies or industries, ensuring they receive timely updates relevant to their interests.
  • Free Basic Plan
    Owler offers a basic plan at no cost, which is beneficial for startups and small businesses with limited budgets.
  • Community Interaction
    The platform encourages user interaction to rate and review companies, which can provide a more community-driven assessment of businesses.

Possible disadvantages of Owler

  • Data Accuracy
    Since much of Owler's data is user-generated, there may be concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information provided.
  • Limited Features in Free Plan
    The free plan has limited functionalities and access to deeper insights often requires a paid subscription.
  • User Interface
    Some users find the interface to be less intuitive and in need of improvements for better navigation and user experience.
  • Data Coverage
    Owler may not cover all companies or industries comprehensively, potentially leaving gaps in competitive analysis.
  • Dependence on Community Activity
    The quality and quantity of data can heavily depend on how active the user community is, which might lead to inconsistent information across different sectors.

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 Owler

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Owler is considered a good tool for individuals and businesses seeking to enhance their competitive intelligence capabilities. It offers a wide array of features that make it a valuable resource for staying informed about industry movements and competitor actions.

Why this product is good

  • Owler is a business information and crowdsourced competitive intelligence platform that provides company data, news updates, and industry analysis. It is useful for gaining insights into competitors, tracking market trends, and obtaining company profiles. Users appreciate it for offering data that is continuously updated and verified by a community of contributors.

Recommended for

    Owler is particularly recommended for business analysts, sales and marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs who need reliable and up-to-date information on competitors and market trends. It's also beneficial for investors and job seekers looking to research companies.

SelfControl videos

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

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Owler videos

Owler Introduction

More videos:

  • Review - Owler Ashford Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k 2017. Grit and Ice were the themes here...

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and Owler)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Data Dashboard
0 0%
100% 100
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0
Business & Commerce
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be a lot more popular than Owler. While we know about 79 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 1 mention of Owler. 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 / 5 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 / 7 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 / 12 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

Owler mentions (1)

  • A web app/executable that can collect data from a number of databases.
    Owler is a good example of the type of app I need: https://corp.owler.com/. Source: over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SelfControl and Owler, 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!

QlikSense - A business discovery platform that delivers self-service business intelligence capabilities

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

Whatagraph - Whatagraph is the most visual multi-source marketing reporting platform. Built in collaboration with digital marketing agencies

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat

Foxmetrics - We track the interactions of your customers with your web or mobile applications in real-time, and provide actionable metrics that will help increase your conversion.