one sec is a clever, well-loved app (4.8 on the App Store). When you open Instagram, it shows a short breathing exercise first, then asks if you still want to continue. That small delay is often enough to break the habit loop. ARCO takes a firmer approach: plan the day, and block the apps during the hours you've set.
At a glance
| one sec | ||
|---|---|---|
| How it stops you | Blocks the app during set times | Pause before the app opens |
| Scheduled blocking | Blocked Hours, several windows | Yes |
| Can't-end-early mode | Strict mode | Not the focus; you can continue |
| Day planner / timeline | Yes | No (integrates with Structured) |
| Habits & streaks | Yes | No |
| Wake-up alarms | Yes | No |
| Platforms | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android |
| Price | 14 days free, then one subscription | Free for 1 app; Pro $19.99/yr or $99.99 lifetime (US) |
Details about other apps come from their App Store listings and help pages as of October 2026 and may change. Check the App Store for current prices in your country.
Where one sec shines
- Gentle friction: you can still open the app, just more mindfully. Great if a hard block feels too much.
- Lots of intervention types: breathing, typing, a quick sum, journaling.
- Free for one app, with affordable yearly and lifetime plans.
- Everywhere: iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android.
Where ARCO is different
- A hard stop when you need it: during a Blocked Hours window or focus session, the app is shut, not just delayed. Strict mode can't be ended early.
- Your day on a timeline: tasks, habits and events with times, plus a Plan your day flow.
- Habits, streaks and wake-up alarms in the same app.
Which one should you pick?
Pick one sec if you mostly open apps on autopilot and a moment of awareness is enough to stop you.
Pick ARCO if the pause has stopped working, you tap through it every time, and you want work hours and nights where the feeds simply aren't there, inside a planned day.
Some people use both: one sec for gentle friction all day, ARCO for hard blocks during deep work and at night. More on why soft limits fail: why Screen Time limits don't work.