Software Alternatives & Startups

SelfControl VS Wasmer

Compare SelfControl VS Wasmer 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
Wasmer

The Universal WebAssembly Runtime

Rating
2.0 · 1 review
Pricing
Open source
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.

Which is more popular?

SelfControl might be a bit more popular than Wasmer. We know about 79 links to it since March 2021 and only 54 links to Wasmer.

social mentions
79 vs 54
Time Tracking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
236 vs 97

Base details

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

SelfControl
Wasmer
Website selfcontrolapp.com wasmer.io
Pricing
Open source
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

SelfControl 4 features
Wasmer 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.
  • Cross-platform
    Wasmer enables running WebAssembly modules on various platforms like Linux, macOS, and Windows, enhancing portability and flexibility for developers.
  • Performance
    Wasmer is capable of near-native execution speeds, allowing applications to run efficiently by leveraging just-in-time (JIT) or ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation.
  • Language Agnostic
    Wasmer supports multiple programming languages, enabling developers to write in their preferred language and compile it to WebAssembly, enhancing inclusivity and ease of use.
  • Sandboxing
    With Wasmer, applications can run in a secure sandboxed environment, reducing potential security risks often associated with executing untrusted code.
  • Integration
    Wasmer can be embedded into different host languages like JavaScript, Rust, Python, etc., allowing seamless integration into existing projects and workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Ecosystem
    Compared to more established technologies, the relatively newer ecosystem around Wasmer might result in fewer libraries, tools, and community support.
  • Complexity
    For developers unfamiliar with WebAssembly or looking for a simple solution, the setup and configuration of Wasmer might pose an initial learning curve.
  • Maturity of WebAssembly
    As WebAssembly is still evolving, some advanced features might not be fully supported, potentially affecting application development and deployment.
  • Debugging
    Debugging WebAssembly modules can be more challenging compared to more traditional binary formats or languages due to limited tooling and support.

Analysis

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

SelfControl
Wasmer

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 Wasmer yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

SelfControl 2 videos + Add
Wasmer 2 videos + Add

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

More videos

  • - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Syrus Akbary – Wasmer for web3 apps

More videos

  • - My Thoughts on ChurnKit, FlowCV and WAPM!

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
Wasmer
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

SelfControl no reviews yet
Wasmer 2.0 · 1 review

We have no reviews of SelfControl yet. Be the first one to post

  • Wasmer
    SaaSHub review
    · Oct 2025

    Not so good it worked at first but now i can't update my static sites i get errors and i waiting for support to reply and fixe the errrors.

Social recommendations and mentions

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

SelfControl 79 mentions
Wasmer 54 mentions

View more

  • Ask HN: Who is hiring? (April 2026)
    Wasmer (YC S19) | https://wasmer.io/ | Multiple Roles | Remote (EU) or Office (US) | Full-time We are building the next generation of infrastructure for AI without Docker containers, but with a better container technology based on... - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • IoT Architectures Under Pressure: hosting a portable firmware (Part 3)
    Several WASM runtimes are available to execute our code. In this example, we'll use Wasmer, though other options exist. If we compile AOT (Ahead-of-Time), we don’t even need a runtime at all! - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Hello world from a WASM module in a static binary
    I decided initially to use Wasmer and ended filing a question on their repository because their own native binary build command doesn't work as expected. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago

View more

Alternatives to SelfControl and Wasmer

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