Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Ultimate Brain for Notion VS SelfControl

Compare Ultimate Brain for Notion VS SelfControl and see what are their differences

Ultimate Brain for Notion logo Ultimate Brain for Notion

The Ultimate Second-Brain Notion Template

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.
  • Ultimate Brain for Notion Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-08
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Ultimate Brain for Notion features and specs

  • Comprehensive Integration
    Ultimate Brain provides a seamless integration of tasks, notes, and projects within Notion, allowing users to manage all aspects of their productivity in one place.
  • Customization
    With its adaptable templates, users can customize Ultimate Brain to suit their personal workflow, preferences, and organizational needs.
  • Advanced Features
    The tool offers advanced features like automatic task scheduling and interlinked databases, which enhance productivity management beyond basic Notion capabilities.
  • Support and Community
    Thomas Frank provides support through tutorials and a community of users which can help beginners and advanced users alike to maximize the tool’s potential.
  • All-in-One System
    It consolidates various productivity tools into a single system, reducing the need to switch between different apps and platforms.

Possible disadvantages of Ultimate Brain for Notion

  • Learning Curve
    Given its rich feature set, new users might experience a steep learning curve to fully understand and utilize all functionalities of Ultimate Brain.
  • Cost
    As a premium template, Ultimate Brain requires a purchase, which could be a drawback for users looking for free solutions or operating on a tight budget.
  • Dependency on Notion
    Users are reliant on Notion’s infrastructure and limitations, meaning any issues or changes with Notion can directly impact the functionality of Ultimate Brain.
  • Overwhelming for Simple Needs
    For users with very basic productivity needs, the extensive features of Ultimate Brain might be overwhelming and unnecessary.
  • Customization Time
    While customizable, setting up and personalizing the system can be time-intensive initially, which may not be ideal for users seeking a quick 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 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.

Ultimate Brain for Notion videos

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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 Ultimate Brain for Notion and SelfControl)
Productivity
24 24%
76% 76
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Task Management
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be a lot more popular than Ultimate Brain for Notion. While we know about 75 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 7 mentions of Ultimate Brain for Notion. 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.

Ultimate Brain for Notion mentions (7)

  • What software should I use as an alternative to Microsoft OneNote?
    Notion. I adopted the Second Brain template https://thomasjfrank.com/brain/ and never looked back. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Does notion have something like org-agenda (coming from emacs + orgmode)
    Notion doesn't have any structure out of the box. Think of it as an empty database with no tables or schema. It's up to you to either import templates or design a system that works for your needs. In the world of notion, orgmode would be called a "Second brain" system. One where you can dump tasks, notes, etc.. And it keeps track of it for you. A lot of people have recommending this brain system:... Source: about 2 years ago
  • How does Todoist fit in with the rest of your tools?
    Feel free to DM, but I've probably not customized my system very much compared to a lot of other people. So it'd be a simpler setup as far as how I'm using it 🙂 A lot of my setup I've done based on Thomas Frank's Ultimate Brain template. And if you haven't seen it before, he has a ton of really good Notion information on his second YouTube Channel Thomas Frank Explains as well as his main website. It's probably... Source: about 2 years ago
  • Question for anyone else using Thomas Frank's Ultimate Brain template.
    The template? Like $80. I think it's worth it though, especially because it comes with a ton of supplemental material explaining how to use essentially every part of it, and it's still regularly being updated. Source: about 2 years ago
  • has anyone purchased a super expensive template?
    I’ve been sitting on getting Thomas Frank’s Ultimate Brain for Notion template because I’m wanting to have a “Second Brain”/resource to archive a lot of stuff I’m getting email newsletters for, using the PARA method to reduce digital clutter, and to streamline my tasks I need to do for personal projects (I use Sunsama a little for that already, but mostly for work on another laptop I have). It’s $80 and I’d need... Source: about 2 years ago
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SelfControl mentions (75)

  • 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 1 year ago
  • App to prevent distractions at work
    It is SelfControl. It is open-source and free. You select the website you want to block and the time. The moment you click the button no matter what you do, you can forget about accessing those websites until the time is over; there is no cancel button. Restarted mac won't work, you can delete the app no luck. Source: over 1 year ago
  • App to prevent distractions at work
    The SelfControl app lets you specify web sites that will be blocked. When you run the app, you specify a countdown timer, during which time those apps will be inaccessible. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Finals season
    - https://selfcontrolapp.com/ this is free app. block off all social media and time wasters .. Only for mac. if there is nothing to be distracted... IMO I eventually be bored and I was able to get into the zone... Not right away... But I told my self... Today I study... And I stay in the study room. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Looking for the right app
    Apps I have tried and are not enough: - https://heyfocus.com/ - https://freedom.to/ - https://selfcontrolapp.com/ - https://www.forestapp.cc/ - https://www.rescuetime.com/. Source: over 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Ultimate Brain for Notion and SelfControl, you can also consider the following products

Second Brain - Capture & organize everything in Notion.

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!

Notion Second Brain - Streamline your productivity with this Second Brain template for Notion. Manage tasks, boost focus, save and organize unlimited knowledge.

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

Notion - All-in-one workspace. One tool for your whole team. Write, plan, and get organized.

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