Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SelfControl VS Pyto

Compare SelfControl VS Pyto 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.

Pyto logo Pyto

Coding Python Scripts
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • Pyto Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-11

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.

Pyto features and specs

  • Full Python Support
    Pyto provides a complete Python 3 environment on iOS devices, enabling users to run Python scripts on the go without needing a computer.
  • Custom Modules
    It supports importing custom modules, enabling the execution of complex Python applications and scripts involving various libraries.
  • UI and Integration
    Pyto has an integrated development environment with features like syntax highlighting and code completion, making coding on mobile devices more comfortable.
  • iOS Shortcuts
    Integration with iOS shortcuts allows for automation and the execution of scripts via Siri or widget shortcuts, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
  • Execution of Jupyter Notebooks
    Allows users to run and edit Jupyter notebooks directly from the app, which is beneficial for data science tasks.

Possible disadvantages of Pyto

  • Device Limitations
    Due to the iOS environment's constraints, certain Python libraries or functions that require native system access may not work as expected.
  • Performance
    Running resource-intensive tasks may lead to slower performance compared to executing the same tasks on traditional computers due to hardware limitations of mobile devices.
  • Touch Interface Limitations
    The touch interface might not be as efficient as a keyboard and mouse setup for extensive coding, particularly for larger projects.
  • Learning Curve
    There might be a learning curve for those accustomed to coding on desktops due to the differences in interfaces and functionalities.
  • Cost
    As a paid app, it might not be accessible to users who are seeking a free Python coding solution on iOS devices.

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

Pyto videos

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

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and Pyto)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Text Editors
0 0%
100% 100
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0
Software Development
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 Pyto. While we know about 79 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 1 mention of Pyto. 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

Pyto mentions (1)

  • Maker of RStudio launches new R and Python IDE
    Pythonista is nicer but ships older Python: https://omz-software.com/pythonista/ Pyto is maybe less approachable but more up to date, with clang compiler and LLVM bitcode interpreter: https://pyto.app/ Juno is Python notebooks: https://juno.sh/https://juno.sh/ In general I prefer Blink Code: https://docs.blink.sh/advanced/code. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SelfControl and Pyto, 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!

GitNotebooks - Jupyter Notebook Reviews Done Right!

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

Juno - Cloud computing IDE for iPad

Focus App - New Tab page that gives you a moment of calm and inspires you to be more productive.

Koder Code Editor - Koder Code comes with Syntax highlighting for PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, JavaScript, Delphi, Visual Basic, Diff, Erlang, Groovy, Powershell, Latex, Scala etc.