Brick vs one sec

Brick

• People who override app-based blockers and want a physical barrier
• Households sharing one device across several phones
• Leaving distractions in another room during work, meals or sleep

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

Brick

• Unblocking needs the physical Brick; if it is lost, the app offers five Emergency Unbricks and more only on request.
• On iPhone it blocks any app except Phone, but only selected Safari sites from Apple's approved list.
• It needs iOS 17.0 or later or Android 12.0 or later; the App Store lists the app for iPhone only, and no desktop version is offered.
• Cases at $39 and the Brick Mount at $15 are sold separately from the $59 device.

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.

Brick

Tap to block, tap to unblock

Tapping the phone against the Brick blocks the chosen apps, and only another tap on the device restores them. It has no battery and needs no Wi-Fi.

Custom modes

Up to 10 modes, such as work, family, sleep or gym, each blocking its own set of apps. A mode can instead allow only chosen apps and block the rest.

Remote start

Holding the virtual Brick in the app for 5 seconds starts a session from anywhere. The physical device is still needed to end it.

Strict Mode

Closes common loopholes by preventing the app from being deleted or its settings changed in order to unblock.

Emergency Unbricks

The app includes five Emergency Unbricks that unblock every app if the device is lost. More can be requested from support by email.

Schedules and analytics

The site lists schedules and analytics alongside modes, and a focus timer starts with each session to record distraction-free time.

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.

Brick

• Brick$59

  one-time purchase per device

  One Brick device, used with the free companion app and any number of phones. Sold with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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.

Brick

• Other savings

  10% off two or more Bricks

  The product page prices two Bricks at $106.20 instead of $118, a 10% saving, and adds free shipping on orders of two or more.

• Other savings

  20% off for military, teachers and medics

  US military, first responders, teachers and medical professionals who verify through ID.me get 20% off a Brick. It applies to new customers and to the device only.

• Education

  Student discount

  Brick's site links a Student Discount page for unlocking a discount. The page text does not show 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.