SelfControl
Product status: Status not recorded
No lifecycle review is recorded for this listing. Its inclusion in the directory does not confirm current availability; check the vendor before relying on it.
No status check date recorded
A free macOS website and mail-server blocker using timed lists. It is a conventional productivity utility rather than an AI assistant. No lifecycle review is recorded for this listing. Its inclusion in the directory does not confirm current availability; check the vendor before relying on it.
Product preview
Decision notes
Official-document research
Based on the cited documentation. We did not use the product, purchase a plan, or run quality, speed or reliability tests in this review.
Consider it for
- Mac users choosing their own timed blocking lists
Choose another approach if
- AI coaching, cross-platform controls or guaranteed VPN-proof blocking
Pricing and conditions
Documented terms
The official macOS app is free; no subscription, seat or model/API charge is documented. Your Mac, network and maintenance are separate. Currency/tax billing does not apply to the free download; optional services or third-party tooling have their own costs. No purchase or installation was made.
Pricing source read:
Pricing or terms sourceCode, model and service licensing
GPLv3 source permits commercial use and charging for copies under its notice, modification, licensing and corresponding-source conditions; it is not an AGPL network-use requirement. macOS and third-party rights remain separate. This is not a model/hosted-generation service. The v4 privacy statement describes anonymized update metadata and Sentry errors, excluding blocklists and identifying data, with both collections switchable off. Treat that as the project's statement, not verified anonymity or zero transmission. Diagnostic backend retention and deletion timing were not established.
Basis and limits of the recorded score
Original 4.6/5 retained; the original scoring worksheet and hands-on evidence are unavailable. This document review did not re-score it.
Overview
SelfControl is a conventional macOS focus utility, not an AI product. It blocks configured websites or mail servers for a chosen period and can save blocklists/allowlists. The project describes blocks surviving an app deletion or restart; this was not tested and is not an invulnerability guarantee.
The FAQ warns of VPN and DNS-over-HTTPS limitations, shared-domain side effects and no built-in future/recurring scheduler. Version4 adds optional anonymized update and error reporting, so current releases must not be described as having no telemetry.
Sources
The factual claims in this review were read from the pages below. Each date is when an editor last opened the source, not when the product changed.
- Vendor site Checked 2026-10-15
- Vendor documentation Checked 2026-10-15
- Vendor documentation Checked 2026-10-15
- Vendor documentation Checked 2026-10-15
- Vendor documentation Checked 2026-10-15
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Free GPLv3 macOS utility
- Reusable timed blocklists and allowlists
Cons
- Network configuration can undermine blocking
- No built-in recurring scheduler or AI planning
Who it's for
Voluntary timed limits on distracting sites
Reusing a reviewed list during focused work
Bottom line
Consider it for deliberate Mac website blocking, with network limitations and diagnostics settings reviewed.
Key Features
Tags
Frequently asked questions
Is SelfControl currently available?
No lifecycle review is recorded for this listing. Its inclusion in the directory does not confirm current availability; check the vendor before relying on it.
What is SelfControl?
SelfControl is a Productivity tool developed by Charlie Stigler. A free macOS website and mail-server blocker using timed lists. It is a conventional productivity utility rather than an AI assistant.
What costs and terms should I check for SelfControl?
The official macOS app is free; no subscription, seat or model/API charge is documented. Your Mac, network and maintenance are separate. Currency/tax billing does not apply to the free download; optional services or third-party tooling have their own costs. No purchase or installation was made.
Is SelfControl open source?
GPLv3 source permits commercial use and charging for copies under its notice, modification, licensing and corresponding-source conditions; it is not an AGPL network-use requirement. macOS and third-party rights remain separate. This is not a model/hosted-generation service. The v4 privacy statement describes anonymized update metadata and Sentry errors, excluding blocklists and identifying data, with both collections switchable off. Treat that as the project's statement, not verified anonymity or zero transmission. Diagnostic backend retention and deletion timing were not established.
What are the best alternatives to SelfControl?
Notable Productivity alternatives include Notion AI, Grammarly, Canva AI. Browse all 159 tools in our Productivity category for a full overview.
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Basic Info
- Pricing
- Free
The official macOS app is free; no subscription, seat or model/API charge is documented. Your Mac, network and maintenance are separate. Currency/tax billing does not apply to the free download; optional services or third-party tooling have their own costs. No purchase or installation was made.
- Editorial score
- ★ 4.6 / 5 How we score
- Platforms
- macOS
- Last verified
- Not recorded
