Software Alternatives & Startups

SelfControl VS Things Counter

Compare SelfControl VS Things Counter and see what are their differences

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.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Things Counter

Count everything.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 79 times since March 2021.

social mentions
79 vs 0
Time Tracking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
236 vs 11

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

SelfControl
Things Counter
Website selfcontrolapp.com count-things.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

SelfControl 4 features
Things Counter 5 features
  • 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

  • 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.
  • Easy to use
    Things Counter offers a straightforward and intuitive interface that allows users to quickly count objects in photos without requiring technical expertise or extensive training.
  • Time-saving automation
    The app uses image recognition and AI technology to automatically count items in photos, significantly reducing the time compared to manual counting methods, especially for large quantities.
  • Versatile object recognition
    The tool can count a wide variety of objects such as inventory items, people, trees, pills, bolts, and many other types of items, making it useful across multiple industries and use cases.
  • Photo-based counting
    Users can simply take a photo or upload an image to get counts, which makes it convenient for fieldwork, warehouse management, construction sites, and other on-the-go scenarios.
  • Accuracy verification
    The app typically allows users to review and adjust the automated count results, letting them add missed items or remove incorrectly counted objects to ensure accuracy.

Possible disadvantages

  • Subscription or per-count costs
    The app often requires a paid subscription or charges per count for full functionality, which can become expensive for users who need to perform frequent or high-volume counting tasks.
  • Accuracy limitations
    The AI-based counting may struggle with overlapping objects, poor lighting, complex backgrounds, or items that are too similar in color to their surroundings, leading to inaccurate counts that require manual correction.
  • Internet dependency
    The app typically requires an internet connection to process images through cloud-based AI, which can be a limitation in remote locations or areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited free usage
    The free version of the app usually has significant restrictions on the number of counts or features available, pushing users toward paid plans to get meaningful use out of the tool.
  • Image quality dependency
    The accuracy of counts heavily depends on the quality of the photo taken. Blurry, poorly lit, or low-resolution images can significantly reduce counting accuracy and reliability.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

SelfControl
Things Counter

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.

Overall verdict

  • Things Counter is a simple, focused counting tool that does one job well, making it a reliable choice for anyone needing to tally items quickly and accurately without unnecessary complexity.

Why this product is good

  • Clean, intuitive interface that requires no learning curve
  • Free and accessible directly from a web browser with no installation needed
  • Great for quick manual counting tasks where accuracy matters
  • Lightweight and fast, working well across devices
  • Helps avoid errors that come from counting in your head or on paper

Recommended for

  • People counting inventory or stock items
  • Event organizers tracking attendance or entries
  • Hobbyists like knitters or crafters counting stitches or rows
  • Students and researchers tallying data points
  • Anyone needing a simple, distraction-free counting tool

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

SelfControl 2 videos + Add
Things Counter 0 videos + Add

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

More videos

  • - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

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

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
SelfControl
Things Counter
100% 100%
0% 0%
93% 93%
7% 7%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using SelfControl and Things Counter. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

SelfControl 79 mentions
Things Counter 0 mentions

View more

Tracking Things Counter since Nov 2023.

Alternatives to SelfControl and Things Counter

When comparing SelfControl and Things Counter, you can also consider the following products.