Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TimeGlide VS SelfControl

Compare TimeGlide VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

TimeGlide logo TimeGlide

TimeGlide is an interactive timeline builder that allows you to create events with second-level precision spanning 3000 BC to 2100 AD. You can then zoom seamlessly from millennia to days on a single, intuitive canvas.

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.
  • TimeGlide
    Image date //
    2025-11-02
  • TimeGlide
    Image date //
    2025-11-02
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

TimeGlide features and specs

  • Markdown based
    True Data Ownership and Portabilityโ€”No Vendor Lock-In
  • Multi-use-case
    Great for history buffs and project planners alike

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.

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.

TimeGlide videos

Quick overview

SelfControl videos

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

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TimeGlide and SelfControl)
Timeline
100 100%
0% 0
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Productivity
5 5%
95% 95
Time Management
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing TimeGlide and SelfControl.

What makes your product unique?

TimeGlide's answer

TimeGlide is an the interactive timeline builder that allows you to create events with second-level precision spanning 3000 BC to 2100 AD. You can then zoom seamlessly from millennia to days all on a single, intuitive canvas.

Best timeline tool for: - History buffs & educators building historical timelines with rich context - Planners & productivity enthusiasts designing project timelines and future roadmaps - Writers & creatives crafting story arcs, plot timelines, and narrative sequences - Researchers logging data timelines and tracking results with precision

One visual timeline maker. Multiple scales. Endless use cases.

It is also Markdown based so your data can be exported anytime with no vendor lockin.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

TimeGlide's answer

Competitors are bulky and slow. Timeline is slick, modern and fast.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

TimeGlide's answer

Anyone that enjoys laying data out temporally and precisely will benefit from this app. That could be the hobby historian that wants to have a clearer picture of historical events or the project planner that likes to be able to move from overview to detail, quickly.

User comments

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

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be more popular. 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.

TimeGlide mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of TimeGlide yet. Tracking of TimeGlide recommendations started around Nov 2025.

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 / 3 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 / 5 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 / 10 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
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What are some alternatives?

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

Preceden - Preceden makes it easy to build simple, powerful timelines

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!

Tiki-Toki - Tiki-Toki is web-based timeline software for creating beautiful interactive timelines that you can share on the web.

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

Timeline JS - Beautifully crafted timelines based on Google Spreadsheets that are easy, and intuitive to use.

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