Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SelfControl VS Postbox

Compare SelfControl VS Postbox 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.

Postbox logo Postbox

The Power Email App for busy professionals, like you.
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • Postbox Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-21

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.

Postbox features and specs

  • Powerful Search Capabilities
    Postbox offers advanced search functions, allowing users to quickly find specific emails, attachments, or contacts through its robust indexing and filtering options.
  • Integration with Other Tools
    Postbox seamlessly integrates with other popular productivity tools and services, including Dropbox, OneDrive, Evernote, and various CRM systems, enhancing workflow efficiency.
  • Customizable User Interface
    Users can extensively customize the user interface in Postbox to suit their preferences, from theme options to adjustable layout components, providing a personalized email management experience.
  • Tab-Based Email Management
    The application features a tabbed interface for managing multiple emails concurrently, making it easier to navigate, organize, and prioritize messages.
  • Enhanced Security Features
    Postbox includes advanced security measures such as S/MIME and SSL/TLS encryption for emails, ensuring that user communication remains private and secure.

Possible disadvantages of Postbox

  • No Free Version
    Unlike some other email clients, Postbox does not offer a free version, which might be a limiting factor for users who are unwilling or unable to pay for an email client.
  • Limited Support for Extensions
    While Postbox does support some third-party extensions, its extension ecosystem is not as extensive as some competitors, potentially limiting additional functionality.
  • Steeper Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and customization options, new users may experience a steeper learning curve compared to simpler email clients.
  • Limited Mobile App Availability
    Postbox is primarily a desktop application and does not have native mobile apps, which could be a disadvantage for users who need to manage emails on the go.
  • Performance Overhead
    Because of its rich feature set, Postbox can be resource-intensive, potentially affecting the performance of older or less powerful computers.

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 Postbox

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Postbox is considered a good option for users looking for a feature-rich email client that supports multiple accounts and integrates well with various other tools and services.

Why this product is good

  • Postbox is often regarded as a robust email client due to its advanced features for managing emails, such as tagging, quick access to frequently used folders, and efficient search capabilities. It is favored by users who handle high volumes of email and need powerful organizational tools.

Recommended for

    Postbox is recommended for power users, professionals, and businesses that require advanced email organization features, customizability, and integration with other productivity tools.

SelfControl videos

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

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Postbox videos

App Pick of the Week: Postbox

More videos:

  • Review - Postbox E-Mail Client Review
  • Review - PostBox - A Smarter Email Client

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and Postbox)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Email
0 0%
100% 100
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0
Email Clients
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 Postbox

SelfControl Reviews

We have no reviews of SelfControl yet.
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Postbox Reviews

10 BEST Outlook Alternatives in 2023
Postbox is a tool that helps you to add dynamic data fields to responses and templates. It allows you to reuse HTML snippet within message replies. This Outlook mail client alternative app provides more than 25 design signature templates.
Source: www.guru99.com
10 Alternatives to Thunderbird Reddit โ€“ Ease Your Email Life!
Outlook, an email client with a similar Microsoft interface and similar features to Thunderbird, should be considered by anyone using Microsoft Office. Many power users like PostBox for Windows and Mac, MailMate for Mac, and almost even The Bat for Windows to enjoy extra features and configuration options.
Source: droidpile.com
11 Best Thunderbird Alternatives That Make Email Easier
Next up, on our list of the best Thunderbird alternatives, we have PostBox. It is accessible for Windows and Mac. It offers some advanced features as you can point out particular folders as favorites for quick action.
10 Alternatives to Mozilla Thunderbird
Search is fast and powerful and includes files and images. Encryption is provided through Enigmail, as it is with Thunderbird. The layout and interface can be customized, while the Quick Bar enables you to take action on an email with a single click. You can even add experimental features with Postbox Labs.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be more popular. 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 / 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

Postbox mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Postbox yet. Tracking of Postbox recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SelfControl and Postbox, 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!

Thunderbird - Thunderbird is a free email application that's easy to set up and customize - and it's loaded with great features!

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

Mailbird - Mailbird is the best email client for Windows 7, 8 and 10

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat

eM Client - eM Client is a fully-featured email client for Windows and macOS with a clean and easy-to-use interface. eM Client also offers features for calendars, tasks, contacts, notes, and chat.