Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Toby VS SelfControl

Compare Toby VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

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.

Toby logo Toby

Better Than Bookmarks

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.
  • Toby Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-29
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Toby features and specs

  • Enhanced Organization
    Toby offers a streamlined way to organize and categorize browser tabs into collections, which helps in managing large numbers of tabs effectively.
  • Cloud Sync
    With cloud synchronization, users can access their tab collections from any device, ensuring seamless continuation of work across different platforms.
  • Collaboration
    Toby allows users to share their tab collections with others, making it useful for collaborative projects and team-based work environments.
  • Reduce Tab Clutter
    By saving tabs into collections, Toby helps reduce browser clutter, improving the overall browsing experience and system performance.
  • Ease of Use
    The user interface of Toby is intuitive and easy to navigate, which minimizes the learning curve for new users.

Possible disadvantages of Toby

  • Privacy Concerns
    Because Toby syncs collections via the cloud, there may be concerns regarding the privacy and security of saved tabs and browsing data.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users may experience performance issues such as slower browser response times when using Toby, especially with a large number of saved tabs.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Toby's cloud features require an active internet connection, which means users cannot access their collections offline.
  • Limited Integration
    Toby might offer limited integration with other tools and services, potentially limiting its utility for users who rely on a broader ecosystem of productivity tools.
  • Subscription Costs
    For advanced features, users may need to subscribe to a paid plan, which could be a drawback for those looking for a free solution.

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 Toby

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Toby is generally considered a good tool for managing browser tabs effectively. It has received positive feedback from users who appreciate its simplicity and functionality.

Why this product is good

  • Toby is a browser extension designed to help users organize and manage their tabs for better productivity. It offers features such as creating collections, easy tab recovery, and a clean user interface which can help save time and improve workflow efficiency.

Recommended for

  • Students who need to organize research materials
  • Professionals managing multiple projects
  • Anyone who regularly works with a large number of browser tabs and needs a way to keep them organized

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.

Toby videos

Toby - The Secret Mine: Switch Review (Also on PS4, Xbox, PC, Mobile)

More videos:

  • Review - TOBY: THE SECRET MINE - PS4 REVIEW
  • Review - Ticci Toby Review

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 Toby and SelfControl)
Productivity
56 56%
44% 44
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Chrome Extensions
100 100%
0% 0
Time Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Toby and SelfControl. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Toby and SelfControl

Toby Reviews

Top 10 Bookmark Managers for Chrome 2024
You can tag your tabs and data to organize your collections or create notes for your to-dos. It is pretty much your content manager, just less nagging! Because Toby offers a โ€˜freemiumโ€™ plan, you can use a few premium features without any charge.
Top 10 New Tab Extensions for Chrome
This isn't a speed dial extension, if you have used OneTab, and want something similar for your new tab page, Toby is the extension youโ€™re looking for. To quickly save your tabs, use the browserโ€™s context menu or right click on Tobyโ€™s icon on the toolbar and select the Save Session option. Or open a new tab to access the pluginโ€™s interface, and drag tabs from the sidebar to...
Source: www.ghacks.net

SelfControl Reviews

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

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.

Toby mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Toby yet. Tracking of Toby recommendations started around Mar 2021.

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 / 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 / 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

What are some alternatives?

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

Raindrop.io - All your articles, photos, video & content from web & apps in one place.

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!

Workona - A better way to work in the browser.

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

OneTab - Whenever you find yourself with too many tabs, click the OneTab icon to convert all of your tabs into a list. When you need to access the tabs again, you can either restore them individually or all at once.

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