AppBlock vs one sec

AppBlock

• Phone users who want blocks that start by time, place or Wi-Fi network
• People who need a block they cannot easily switch off
• Blocking the same sites on a phone and in a desktop browser

one sec

• People who want a pause before social apps rather than a hard block
• Using one purchase across iPhone, Android, Mac and desktop browsers
• Teams and schools buying multi-seat licenses

AppBlock

• Free limits differ by platform: iOS allows 2 schedules and 12 hours of Strict Mode, Android 3 schedules and 24 hours.
• Allowlist mode, adult content blocking, backup and the Quick Block timer need Premium on both iOS and Android.
• On a computer AppBlock runs only as an extension for Chrome, Edge and Brave; no Mac or Windows app is listed.
• The student discount and business licences are arranged through forms, and neither page states a price.

one sec

• The free version covers a single app or website; adding more needs one sec pro.
• The price depends on where you buy: one sec's web store charges $3.99 a month in the US, while the US App Store lists the monthly purchase at $6.99.
• No Windows or Linux desktop app is listed; on those systems one sec runs only as a browser extension.
• Not every Pro feature is on every platform: the help center's table marks strict block sessions and website blocking as unavailable on Android.

AppBlock

App and website blocking

Block apps, websites, specific URLs and keywords. On Android, Premium can also block newly installed apps and browsers the app does not support.

Schedules

Profiles for work, study or sleep switch on by time, day, location or connected Wi-Fi network and then run automatically.

Quick Block

Starts a block right away without a schedule. Free use is capped at 4 hours on iOS or 3 apps and 3 sites on Android; Premium adds a timer.

Strict Mode

Makes blocks harder to bypass, with a cooldown and approval by another person. The free plan caps it at 12 hours on iOS and 24 hours on Android.

Allowlist mode

A Premium mode that blocks everything except a set of chosen apps, which the vendor describes as a dumbphone-like setup.

Browser extensions

Extensions for Chrome, Edge and Brave block websites and keywords on a computer, with Quick Block and Schedules.

one sec

Interruptions before an app opens

A short pause appears before a chosen app or site opens. Types include a breathing exercise, a mirror, a math task, rotating the phone and typing random text.

Re-Intervention

After a set time inside an app, for example 5 minutes, one sec sends you out and asks you to go through another interruption to unlock more time.

Block sessions and schedules

Chosen apps and sites can be blocked completely during a block session or at scheduled times, and interruptions can be limited to set weekdays and hours.

Browser extension

Adds interruptions and blocking to websites in Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge on Windows, macOS and Linux, under the same account as the phone apps.

Intention and emotion tracking

Prompts ask why you are opening an app or how you feel, alongside journaling and nudges toward alternative activities such as reading or calling a friend.

Progress statistics

Charts and comparisons show how app use has changed and how much time the interruptions have saved.

AppBlock

• Free$0

  Blocking within limits: 2 schedules on iOS or 3 on Android, schedule usage limits of up to 30 minutes a day and time-capped Strict Mode.

• Premium (yearly)$29.99

  per year ($2.50 / month), after a free week

  Unlimited Quick Block, schedules and Strict Mode, plus Allowlist mode, adult content blocking and backup.

• Premium (monthly)$4.99

  per month

  The same Premium features paid month to month, with cancellation at any time.

• Premium (lifetime)$89.99

  one-time payment

  Premium features for a single payment with no subscription.

one sec

• Free$0

  The breathing interruption and Re-Intervention for a single app or website, with no ads.

• one sec pro (annual)$19.99

  per year, after a 1-week free trial

  Unlimited apps, other interruption types, website interruptions, block sessions and time tracking. Same price on the US App Store.

• one sec pro (monthly)$3.99

  per month, US price on the vendor's web store

  The same Pro features paid month to month. The US App Store lists its monthly in-app purchase at $6.99.

• one sec pro (lifetime)$99.99

  one-time purchase

  Pro features for a single payment, at the same price on the web store and the US App Store.

• Multi-seat planFrom $9.99

  per seat / year, at 50 or more seats

  Team and school licenses from the web store: $15.99 per seat a year for 4 to 9 seats, $12.99 for 10 to 49 and $9.99 for 50 or more.

• Family Plan$29.99

  per year, US App Store in-app purchase

  Also listed at $9.99 a month or $149 for a lifetime family unlock. The listing does not say how many people it covers.

AppBlock

• Annual discount

  Yearly Premium costs about half of monthly

  The pricing page lists Premium at $29.99 a year against $4.99 a month, which comes to $59.88 over twelve months.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Premium for a one-time payment

  The pricing page lists a Lifetime Premium option at $89.99, paid once.

• Education

  Student discount on Premium

  Students who submit their university, field of study and academic year get a link that shows a student discount in the app. The page does not state the amount.

one sec

• Annual discount

  Annual billing costs about 58% less than monthly

  On the web store's US prices, one sec pro is $19.99 billed yearly against $3.99 a month, which comes to $47.88 over twelve months.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime one sec pro for a one-time payment

  The web store and the US App Store both list a lifetime unlock of one sec pro at $99.99, paid once.

• Education

  50% discount for students

  one sec's help center says it offers students a 50% discount on one sec pro. The article does not describe how to claim it.

• Other savings

  Lower per-seat prices from 4 seats

  In the web store the annual US price per seat falls from $19.99 to $15.99 at 4 seats, $12.99 at 10 seats and $9.99 at 50 seats.