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SelfControl VS TransferThing

Compare SelfControl VS TransferThing 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
Promote on VibeVoted
Alternatives Is it good?
TransferThing

Send big files without an account. Stored in the EU, no ads.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Freemium €2.99 / One-off (Per transfer, up to 50 GB)
Promote on VibeVoted
Alternatives Is it good?
Grapple
Do-It-Yourself Data Analytics & Business Intelligence, Powered by AI sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 80 times since March 2021.

social mentions
80 vs 0
Time Tracking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 16

Base details

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

SelfControl
TransferThing
Website selfcontrolapp.com transferthing.com
Pricing
Open source
Freemium €2.99 / One-off (Per transfer, up to 50 GB) Official pricing
Platforms —
Web
Company — Startup from France · 1 - 9 employees · 2026
Listed in
Productivity Time Management Focus Health And Fitness +1
Large File Transfer File Transfer File Sharing Productivity +1

About SelfControl and TransferThing

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

SelfControl
TransferThing

No description of SelfControl yet.

TransferThing sends big files without an account. Drop your files or a whole folder, get a private link and share it: the recipient previews images, videos and PDFs and downloads in the browser, file by file or as a .zip. Free: up to 5 GB and 200 files per transfer, link valid 1 to 3 days...

Read more about TransferThing

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

SelfControl 4 features
TransferThing 18 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.
  • No Account Needed
    Send without signing up or giving an email
  • Transfer Size
    Up to 5 GB and 200 files free; up to 2 TB paid once, 1 TB with Pro
  • Folders
    Send a whole folder, its structure kept
  • Link expiry
    1 to 3 days free, 7 days and more when paid, no expiry with Pro
  • Password
    Optional password on the link
  • Delete after download
    The link closes once every file is downloaded
  • Edit after sending
    Change the link's expiry or deletion right after sending
  • Resumable uploads
    Picks up where it stopped if the connection drops
  • Previews
    Recipients preview images, videos and PDFs before downloading
  • Download
    One file at a time or everything as a .zip
  • QR code
    Scan the link from a phone
  • Storage
    Files stored in the EU (Cloudflare R2, EU jurisdiction)
  • No ads
    No advertising, anywhere
  • Languages
    English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian
  • Free account
    Transfer history and download count per file
  • Pay per transfer
    Over 200 files from €1.49, above 5 GB from €2.99, paid once, no account needed
  • Pro plan
    From €8/month: 1 TB per transfer, links online while you subscribe
  • Send by email
    The link sent to up to 5 people, each with their own

Analysis

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

SelfControl
TransferThing

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.

No analysis of TransferThing yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

SelfControl 2 videos + Add
TransferThing 0 videos + Add

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

More videos

  • - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

No TransferThing 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
TransferThing
100% 100%
Time Tracking
0% 0%
0% 0%
Large File Transfer
100% 100%
96% 96%
Productivity
4% 4%
100% 100%
Time Management
0% 0%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing SelfControl and TransferThing.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

TransferThing's answer:

It does one thing and stays out of the way: pick files or a whole folder, get a link, share it. No sign-up, no ads, no upsell screens before the download. Links expire after 1 to 3 days, with an optional password and deletion after download, both changeable right after sending. A bigger transfer is paid once instead of forcing a subscription; Pro, from €8 a month, is there for those who send every week.

What's the story behind your product?

TransferThing's answer:

TransferThing is an independent product made in France. It started from a simple idea: sending a big file should take a few seconds, without creating an account or wading through ads. It is built to stay simple, with files stored in the EU and deleted when the link ends.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

TransferThing's answer:

TypeScript end to end, Astro and React for the site, Cloudflare Workers for the API, Cloudflare R2 (EU jurisdiction) for storage with presigned URLs so files never pass through our servers' code, and Cloudflare D1 for data.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

TransferThing's answer:

Anyone who needs to send something too big for email: freelancers, photographers, video editors, agencies and small businesses delivering work to clients, and people sharing files with family or friends.

What makes your product unique?

TransferThing's answer:

You can send up to 5 GB without an account, and your files go from your browser straight to storage in the EU without passing through our code. We have no tool to open them. Need more? Pay for that one transfer, from €2.99 up to 2 TB, still without an account or a subscription. The recipient can preview images, videos and PDFs before downloading, and an upload picks up where it stopped if the connection drops. No ads.

User comments

Share your experience with using SelfControl and TransferThing. 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 80 mentions
TransferThing 0 mentions
  • No Forest app for PC? The 3 layers where Windows focus apps block distractions
    SelfControl's site calls it "a free Mac application", so no. The nearest Windows equivalents of its locked block are in Layer 3: Cold Turkey's locking features or Freedom's Locked Mode. (selfcontrolapp.com). - Source: dev.to / about 20 hours ago
  • 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 / 8 months ago
  • Kiki – The accountability monster for people who are easily distracted
    Happy to see it still exists, and free https://selfcontrolapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago

View more

Tracking TransferThing since Oct 2026.

Alternatives to SelfControl and TransferThing

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

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