Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Xmind VS SelfControl

Compare Xmind 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.

Xmind logo Xmind

Xmind is a brainstorming and mind mapping application.

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.
  • Xmind Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-11-05

Xmind is a full-featured mind mapping and brainstorming tool that helps to unleash creativity, capture inspiration, brainstorm ideas, boost productivity, and more.

From startups to Fortune 500 companies, Xmind is the best choice for teams working on any project. Since the founding of Xmind in 2006, Xmind has been downloaded 100+ million times, and Xmind is a featured app with 4.8 stars/300,000+ reviews.

Xmind works on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS/iPadOS, Android, and Web. To learn more, please visit http://www.xmind.app/.

  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19

Xmind features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Xmind features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Xmind is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, offering great versatility for users.
  • Variety of Templates
    The software provides a wide range of pre-designed templates, allowing users to create polished mind maps quickly.
  • Collaboration Features
    Xmind allows for easy sharing and collaboration, making it perfect for team projects and group brainstorming sessions.
  • Advanced Customization Options
    Offers extensive customization options for maps, including themes, fonts, and coloring, allowing for personalized designs.

Possible disadvantages of Xmind

  • Subscription Cost
    Xmind operates on a subscription model which may be expensive for some users, particularly when compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of Xmind offers limited features, which might not be sufficient for more advanced needs.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance lags, especially when working on larger mind maps.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic functionalities are user-friendly, mastering advanced features may require a steeper learning curve.
  • Cloud Storage Restrictions
    The software offers limited cloud storage options, which might be a drawback for users who rely heavily on cloud-based saving.

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 Xmind

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Xmind is generally considered a good tool for mind mapping and brainstorming.

Why this product is good

  • Xmind is well-regarded for its intuitive interface, variety of templates, and rich feature set that includes options for creating complex diagrams, flowcharts, and organizational charts. Its cross-platform availability ensures that users can access their mind maps from various devices. Additionally, Xmind offers collaboration features, which make it easier for teams to work together on projects.

Recommended for

    Xmind is recommended for students, professionals, project managers, educators, and anyone who needs to organize thoughts, plan projects, or brainstorm ideas in a visual format.

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.

Xmind videos

Xmind Zen Vs Xmind 8

More videos:

  • Review - Introduction to XMind (Oct 2019)
  • Review - XMind Review - Mind Mapping Software - Visual Mapping Review Series 2013

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 Xmind and SelfControl)
Brainstorming And Ideation
Time Tracking
0 0%
100% 100
Idea Management
100 100%
0% 0
Time Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

Xmind Reviews

9 Best Brainstorming Tools for Startups & Entrepreneurs in 2023
Everyone has the capacity to inspire creativity and construct mind maps for practically anything thanks to the non-linear nature of mind maps and Xmindโ€™s intuitive features. In particular, for complicated challenges or huge projects, a clever integration of multiple structures on the same branch makes your mind map more cohesive and balanced. Pitching ideas is made simple...
Source: dhandhokaro.com
Best mind map software of 2021
XMind has been singled out for praise online for its clear focus on business users, as well as its minimalist interface which allows for easy mind map creation through a series of templates. Another respectable feature includes 'day and night' mode which dims the screen to protect your eyes.
Best Mind Mapping Software For Classrooms and Learning
There are two different products for different needs. XMind 8 is the classic mind mapping software for businesses users who require Gantt charts and slide presentations. XMind Zen creates beautiful mind maps with the new snowbrush engine for graphics and is 100% mobile compatible.
Best 7 Free Online XMind Alternatives for Windows
XMind is an intuitive mind-mapping software that inspires creativity and organization. It comes with amazing structures to visualize different information. From the org chart, matrix, fishbone, or any complex processes are possible using XMind. You can also customize the style of a map according to your personal preference, choose from templates or combine several structures...
Source: gitmind.com

SelfControl Reviews

We have no reviews of SelfControl yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl seems to be a lot more popular than Xmind. While we know about 79 links to SelfControl, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Xmind. 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.

Xmind mentions (3)

  • What Makes a Good QA Engineer Part 2: Effective Communication Skills ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ๐Ÿ’ฌ
    Create detailed and comprehensible test plans, cases (When needed), and reports. Use visual aids (like charts or flow diagrams) to enhance understanding, especially for complex processes. Personal recommendation: I encourage you to check out MindMaps to visualize your work. Some tools like Xmind, and [MindMeister]. (https://www.mindmeister.com/)(Will have an article on how to use MindMaps as a QA Engineer soon). - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • What would you say is the simplest way to visually plot out complex plots?
    You might try XMind. It has support for building flow charts. Source: about 4 years ago
  • How to get a story out of your head and onto the paper
    XMind is an excellent mindmapping tool for this purpose. Source: over 5 years ago

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 / 6 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
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What are some alternatives?

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

MindMeister - Create, share and collaboratively work on mind maps with MindMeister, the leading online mind mapping software. Includes apps for iPhone, iPad and Android.

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!

MindManager - With MindManager, flexible mind maps promote freeform thinking and quick organization of ideas, so creativity and productivity can live in harmony.

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

Coggle - Coggle is a simple, beautiful, powerful way of structuring information.

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat