Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SelfControl VS PlainAdmin

Compare SelfControl VS PlainAdmin 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.

PlainAdmin logo PlainAdmin

PlainAdmin is an Open-source freemium Bootstrap 5 based vanilla JS multipurpose admin template comes with - all essential dashboard components, pages, UI elements, charts, graphs, libraries and everything you may need for a data-rich backends.
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • PlainAdmin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-03

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.

PlainAdmin features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    PlainAdmin offers a clean and intuitive interface that simplifies navigation and administration for users, making it accessible even for those with minimal technical expertise.
  • Customizable Themes
    The platform provides numerous themes that can be easily customized to suit individual preferences or brand guidelines, ensuring a consistent look and feel across the application.
  • Responsive Design
    PlainAdmin is designed to be fully responsive, ensuring a seamless user experience on both desktop and mobile devices, which is crucial for modern web applications.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    Extensive and well-organized documentation aids developers and administrators in understanding and utilizing the platform's features effectively, reducing the learning curve.
  • Integration Capabilities
    The platform supports easy integration with various third-party services and APIs, allowing for enhanced functionality and versatility in different applications.

Possible disadvantages of PlainAdmin

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Compared to some other admin panel solutions, PlainAdmin might lack certain advanced features and customization options needed for more complex applications.
  • Potential Performance Issues
    As with any web application, the performance of PlainAdmin could be compromised if not properly optimized, especially when dealing with large datasets.
  • Dependency on External Libraries
    The reliance on external libraries and plugins could lead to potential security vulnerabilities if those libraries are not properly managed and updated.
  • Learning Curve for Customization
    While there is comprehensive documentation, users may still face a learning curve when attempting to implement deeper customizations or integrate complex functionalities.
  • Limited Community Support
    Being relatively new or niche, PlainAdmin may not have a large community for support and community-driven development compared to more established admin panel solutions.

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.

SelfControl videos

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

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

PlainAdmin videos

No PlainAdmin videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and PlainAdmin)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
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 PlainAdmin. While we know about 79 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 1 mention of PlainAdmin. 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
View more

PlainAdmin mentions (1)

  • Launched ๐Ÿš€ Open-source Bootstrap Admin Template on ProductHunt and Its Trending on Top โšก
    Today, I launched an open source Bootstrap admin template on Product Hunt and its trending on top #7 ๐Ÿ”ฅ You can check out demo or download from our site or GitHub if you never heard of about this admin template. Source: over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SelfControl and PlainAdmin, 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!

Soft UI Dashboard - Admin dashboard template for Bootstrap 5

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

Flatlogic - Software House for startups and companies

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat

ArchitectUI - Modern dashboard template for bootstrap 4