SelfControl
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(36) 4.069444444444445

Block distracting websites for predetermined periods of time.   Free
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SelfControl is a free and open-source application for OS X 10.5 Leopard or later that lets you block your own access to distracting websites, your mail servers, or anything else on the Internet. Just set a period of time to block for, add sites to your blacklist, and click "Start." Until that timer expires, you will be unable to access those sites--even if you restart your computer or delete the application.
What's New
Version 1.5.1:
  • Fix crash
  • Add Italian translation
  • Other minor improvements and bug fixes
Requirements
Intel, OS X 10.5 or later



MacUpdate - SelfControl




  • Isolator
    +4

  • Concentrate
    +3

  • Think
    +2

  • Freedom
    +2

  • Focus
    +1

  • Pomodoro
    +1
SelfControl User Discussion (Write a Review)
ver. 1.x:
(36)
Your rating: Now say why...
Overall:
(36)

sort: smiles | time
burypromote


GowthamanA3647 reviewed on 19 Nov 2013
It works reliably and easy to control facebook and other social networks
[Version 1.5.1]


burypromote
+1

+77

Mikael B reviewed on 19 May 2013
Under OS X 10.6.8 Self Control works reliably and very well. No issues what so ever. I find the "unbreakable" block to relieve me of my pointless web browsing during work hours.

Great Value!
[Version 1.5.1]


burypromote
+1

+1

kennethchung reviewed on 22 Apr 2013
I like it, this is a type of utility that I was looking for. It works great!!!! There is some stability issues, but it is good!!!!
[Version 1.5.1]


burypromote
+1

+44

Jynto reviewed on 30 Mar 2013
Nothing else like it. I've tried browser-based blockers, and they don't work because you can just switch to another browser. But this... just works. The interface could do with a little work. I'd prefer if it lived in the menu bar, rather than the dock. And it would be better if there was an option to extend the time period before the previous period runs out.
[Version 1.5.1]


burypromote
-1

-1

boobear reviewed on 29 Mar 2013
Is it possible to block skype?
[Version 1.5.1]


burypromote
-4

-4

jmdeamer reviewed on 14 Nov 2012
Useless. Works inconsistently or not at all.
[Version 1.4]


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+2

+2

REMitchell reviewed on 12 Nov 2012
Yes, you can always bang your head against the wall, uninstall the software, restart your computer, figure out a sneaky way around it, or whatever -- but the activation energy to do that is way higher than it would be just to get back to work :-p

It works fantastically for me, whenever I get frustrated by work, I tend to go to Facebook/Reddit out of habit. No more! It's really saved my sanity, and hours of my time!
[Version 1.4]


burypromote

+92
Pik80 commented on 03 Aug 2012
1.4 is not a universal app. Why does MacUpdate get this wrong so often?
[Version 1.4]

2 Replies

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+195
MacUpdate-Warren replied on 03 Aug 2012
Sorry for the error. Corrections can always be submitted here (http://macupdate.com/developers/update/) or by emailing updates (at) macupdate (dot) com.
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+92
Pik80 replied on 14 Aug 2012
I noticed that on the page for Yojimbo Macupdate shows the last version that is available for PowerPC. This would be a really handy feature to add to the pages that feature software for Intel processors only.
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-3

-3

Alicedi reviewed on 26 Jul 2012
As pointed out, its just too intrusive. Blocks sites but then blocks even the associated sites. You cannot unblock them once blocked. And it frequently crashed. I have been using Qustodio (www.qustodio.com) for a while and shall keep using it. Given that its free, it has a whole lot of features such as data tracking, site blocking, and even monitoring activities. I am a firm believer in the fact that in order to accomplish total parental control, you need complete programs and not just extensions.
[Version 1.4]

2 Replies

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+36
Odysseus replied on 03 Aug 2012
But Qustudio doesn't run on Mac OS X, does it?
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+77
Mikael B replied on 26 Oct 2013
What is the IP of the blocked sites? Chances are they are on the same IP. You can have several hundred of sites on one IP.
This is not the fault of Self Control I think.
burypromote
+1

+1

generalmike23 reviewed on 08 Jun 2012
So far have had no problems, it blocks what i want and for how long i want. Other websites work fine. So far in college this app has helped me quite a bit. I would recommend this app, PLUS ITS FREE! Thanks for everyone who made it the app it is today and thanks for the creator for updating it!
[Version 1.3]


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leen8738 had trouble on 05 Dec 2012
Error -60031 received from the Security Server. How do I fix this??
[Version 1.4]


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xxcourt had trouble on 27 Sep 2012
I love selfcontrol! It has helped me get through homework several times...but now I have a problem. I guess the program is frozen, because the time is not counting down. I set it for an hour about 3 hours ago, and the clock is still stuck at 59 minutes. I've restarted the computer, restarted the app, etc trying to see if I can get it "unstuck" and get it to count down...but no luck thus far. Any help?
[Version 1.4]


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trest90 had trouble on 23 May 2012
https://twitter.com/ doesn't seem to be blocked? i have copied and pasted it from safari into the blacklist but nothing seems to happen..?? thanks.
[Version 1.3]

1 Reply

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trest90 replied on 23 May 2012
I take it back! there seems to be a bit of a delay but it's working fine now. Thanks, great app!
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Spaceranger had trouble on 18 Dec 2011
It works - but a lot of webpages looks like crap now!!! like if we were in 1995, I'm not an expert so I don't know how to discribe it. But it looks like some very simple HTML
[Version 1.3]

2 Replies

burypromote

+5
Reegor replied on 22 Dec 2011
I doubt this is due to SC. You can either get to a web site, or you can't - no effect on what happens once you are there.
burypromote

SmokingSquirrel replied on 16 Apr 2012
Spaceranger is right. When I use SC, CSS is disabled for some sites for some reason.
burypromote
-1

+17
Nmege had trouble on 25 Sep 2010
UDPATE almost year later, after downloading the latest version, SC still doesn't work on my MacMini Core Duo under 10.5.8. :(

I still get the same message: "error -208. Could not copy Selfcontrol's helper binary to PriviledgedHelperTools directory".

NM
[Version 1.3]


burypromote
+1

+17
Nmege had trouble on 13 Oct 2009
Doesn't work on my Mac. Entered parameters for one item in the blacklist, then clicked "start".
Got the following error message : "error -208. Could not copy Selfcontrol's helper binary to PriviledgedHelperTools directory".
[Version 1.2.1]


burypromote

+1
drfunko had trouble on 25 Jun 2009
I'm getting a problem where the whitelist feature doesn't work properly. If I set up a list of sites and select the "whitelist" option on the Domain Blacklist window, when I activate SelfControl my Internet access is cut off completely, even to the domains I whitelisted (Safari 4 continually says "Contacting 'domain.com'" in the status bar). The Internet does return after the set period of time. The blacklist feature works fine, though.

Personally, I'd prefer to use the whitelist mode, as it blocks out the majority of the internet, forcing me to only use certain on-task sites - but I guess if I blacklist the major search engines, that pretty much cuts me off too.
[Version 1.2.1]



+245

Monkeyjunkey rated on 20 Sep 2013

[Version 1.5.1]




Michael_b2d5a38d rated on 03 Sep 2013

[Version 1.5.1]



+1

KennethFu3046 rated on 19 Mar 2013

[Version 1.5.1]




Cstigler rated on 11 Feb 2013

[Version 1.5]




Cstigler rated on 06 Feb 2013

[Version 1.4]



+15

Quiiick rated on 12 Jul 2012

[Version 1.4]




woofry rated on 13 Jun 2012

[Version 1.3]




trest90 rated on 23 May 2012

[Version 1.3]




bronzejen rated on 17 Apr 2012

[Version 1.3]




Lalac88 rated on 22 Mar 2012

[Version 1.3]


Downloads:358,287
Version Downloads:52,256
Type:Productivity
License:Free
Date:13 Mar 2013
Platform:Intel 64 / Intel 32 / OS X
Price:Free0.00
Overall (Version 1.x):
Features:
Ease of Use:
Value:
Stability:
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SelfControl is a free and open-source application for OS X 10.5 Leopard or later that lets you block your own access to distracting websites, your mail servers, or anything else on the Internet. Just set a period of time to block for, add sites to your blacklist, and click "Start." Until that timer expires, you will be unable to access those sites--even if you restart your computer or delete the application.


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