Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SelfControl VS RemNote

Compare SelfControl VS RemNote 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.

RemNote logo RemNote

All-in-One Tool For Thinking & Learning
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • RemNote Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-05

Supercharge your learning, thinking, and organization.

Portals, References, and Backlinks Link notes and ideas to supercharge your memory, organization, and thinking skills.

Notes and Flashcards Reunited Create flashcards directly within your notes to rapidly break down and remember any body of knowledge.

Spaced Repetition Consolidate knowledge in your long-term memory with a personalized spaced-repetition learning schedule.

Powerful Search Super-fast global search turns your notes into a lifelong knowledge base and library.

Knowledge Sharing Easily share documents (including flashcards) with teams, students, peers, or the world.

Rich Import and Export You own your data. Import content directly from Markdown, Workflowy, Roam, Dynalist, and Anki. Export in multiple formats.

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.

RemNote features and specs

  • Spaced Repetition
    RemNote integrates a spaced repetition system that helps with long-term retention of information by scheduling reviews at optimal intervals.
  • Knowledge Management
    Offers powerful tools for connecting, referencing, and organizing information, making it easier to manage a large amount of knowledge.
  • Note-taking and Flashcards
    Supports both note-taking and flashcard creation within the same platform, providing convenience and a seamless user experience.
  • Bi-directional Linking
    Allows users to create links between notes, enabling a network-like organization of information which can help in understanding complex topics.
  • Customizable Interface
    The interface is highly customizable, allowing users to tailor the experience to their specific needs and preferences.
  • Offline Access
    Enables users to access their notes and flashcards offline, making it convenient for studying anywhere, anytime.
  • Community and Support
    Active online community and support resources help users troubleshoot issues and share usage tips.

Possible disadvantages of RemNote

  • Steep Learning Curve
    The software has a steep learning curve due to its extensive features, which can be overwhelming for new users.
  • Pricing
    While RemNote offers a free tier, some features are locked behind a premium subscription, which may not be affordable for all users.
  • Interface Complexity
    The complex interface, while powerful, can be cluttered and may distract from focused study or note-taking sessions.
  • Mobile App Limitations
    The mobile app is not as fully featured as the desktop version, which can limit productivity on the go.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, such as lag or crashes, especially when handling large databases of notes.
  • Limited Export Options
    Export options are somewhat limited, making it difficult to transfer notes and flashcards to other applications.

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 RemNote

Overall verdict

  • Yes, RemNote is considered a good tool for those who are looking for an all-in-one solution that combines note-taking with an integrated spaced repetition system. Its strengths lie in its ability to link concepts easily, create detailed outlines, and ensure that knowledge is effectively retained over time.

Why this product is good

  • RemNote is a versatile tool designed for students, educators, and knowledge workers to effectively manage and organize knowledge. Its highlight features include spaced repetition flashcards, a powerful note-taking system that allows for hierarchical organization through 'Rems', backlinking, and the ability to create a personal knowledge database. These features facilitate long-term retention of information and the interconnection of ideas, which is especially beneficial for effective learning and knowledge management.

Recommended for

  • Students who need an efficient way to study and retain information.
  • Educators looking for a tool to organize their teaching materials and share them with students.
  • Professionals who require a tool for knowledge management and concept mapping.
  • Lifelong learners who are interested in creating a comprehensive and interconnected knowledge base.

SelfControl videos

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

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

RemNote videos

RemNote - Roam like App with Spaced Repetition System

More videos:

  • Review - RemNote - The Note-taking App EVERY Student Needs. NOW.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and RemNote)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Education
0 0%
100% 100
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0
Studying
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 RemNote

SelfControl Reviews

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RemNote Reviews

  1. Tobias Brunnbauer
    RemNote - A tool to remember and organize what you learn

    We all love the idea of building a "second brain". RemNote has become increasingly popular since the start of 2020. Why? *Because it combines studying with Knowledge Management in a way that hasn't been seen before. *

    If you are searching for a rather learning-related tool for โ€œconnected thinkingโ€, RemNote is the way to go. In RemNote, you can create spaced repetition flashcards while taking notes with the outlining feature. This is beneficial because the order of your notes will always keep tidied up - You will always have an overview.

    Additionally, RemNote adds new features every month. You can use it for Project Management, Note-Taking, or even journaling.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Roam Research, Obsidian.md, Logseq
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Free basic plan|Quick response time from developers|Combines note-taking with spaced repetition|Outlining|Spaced repetition feature
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Ocassional bugs|Seems complicated/complex at first

10 Best Anki Alternatives 2022
RemNote adopts a more structured way of learning. For starters, the app is a note-taking app first, and the flashcard feature is secondary. This means that you can take well-organized notes and then convert them into effective flashcards if you need to.
Anki Alternatives โ€“ 9 Similar Learning Apps You Need To Know
RemNote was developed by Anki users who found the โ€œQuestion โžก๏ธ Answerโ€ format too one-dimensional. Instead of squeezing the required knowledge into โ€œQuestion โžก๏ธ Answerโ€ blocks, you can use RemNote to present it the way it is structured in your brain.
Source: tools2study.com
Best Next-Level Note Apps for 2021
What began as a research project at MIT developed into the software RemNote, a thinking and learning workspace to assist students in knowledge management. RemNote is a non-linear app enabling knowledge sharing. Particular useful features such as flashcards, references, and backlinks assist users in the practice and process of knowledge retention. Users who prefer revising or...
Source: zenkit.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl should be more popular than RemNote. 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 / 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

RemNote mentions (13)

  • Remnote
    Has anybody used remnote.com for IGCSE? If so, how do you use it to make notes/revise? Source: about 3 years ago
  • Any effective study tips that donโ€™t take up your whole day? Especially for midterm season.
    Flashcards/spaced repetition is a great way to get familiar with concepts and terms for memorization based subjects. Some apps like Remnote and Quizlet are great since they make you practice concepts you're less familiar with more often and concepts you're more familiar with more often. You could open it up any time you're idle like on the bus too. It'd either require you to make your own flashcards first or get... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Remnote error message!
    We've found and deployed a workaround; http://remnote.com and syncing are back! Thank you again for your patience. We'll post a final update once the underlying issue from our hosting provider is solved. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Time to go?
    Meanwhile, does the webapp (remnote.com) work for you? Source: almost 4 years ago
  • What is the best way of note-taking? Like, is there a certain "note-taking system" that you've devised that works well for you?
    I use RemNote, but "my" framework is tool-agnostic:. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing SelfControl and RemNote, 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!

Anki - Anki is a program which makes remembering things easy. Because it's a lot more efficient than traditional study methods, you can either greatly decrease your time spent studying, or greatly increase the amount you learn.

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

Quizlet - Quizlet allows you to review and create flashcards for a variety of subjects, such as math and reading.

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

Memrise - Learn a new language with games, humorous chatbots and over 30,000 native speaker videos.