one sec | screen time + focus vs BePresent
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
one sec | screen time + focus
This app introduces intentional friction to distracting apps and websites, helping users reduce screen time and improve focus. It delays access rather than blocking, promoting long-term behavioral change. Integrates with other apps for enhanced productivity.
- Adds friction to distracting apps
- Delays app access instead of blocking
- Reduces app usage significantly
- Doom Scroll Emergency Brake (Re-Intervention)
- Free Safari extension for websites
- Integrates with other productivity apps
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Willpower is not enough against social media algorithms! That’s why I made one sec: one sec adds friction to distracting apps to make them less appealing…long-term! This principle works really well: we have gained scientific evidence in numerous research studies with the Max-Planck Institute, with the German and Danish government, and in dozens more scientific collaborations: one sec has incredible effects on your screen time: app usage drops by 57% on average! …just read our App Store reviews or try it for yourself if you don’t believe me (…you should really try it)! How is one sec different from Screen Time limits or app blockers? - one sec DELAYS access to distracting apps instead of blocking apps completely – that’s an important difference psychologically. - This way, we solve the screen time problem at its roots: long-term & sustainably! - one sec is always on, and makes using social media just slightly more annoying…so you’ll end up using it only when you actually have a reason! Which apps can I use with one sec? - You can set up one sec with any app you’d like to use less / more intentional. - Most popular use-cases are: social media, games, video streaming, dating, stock/coin trading, adult content. - Using one sec with one app of your choice if completely free, for more you’ll need to purchase one sec pro (we also need to finance development of our app!). What if I get stuck scrolling? - No worries, one sec offers a Doom Scroll Emergency Brake: We call it Re-Intervention. - After a set time (e.g. 5 minutes) you’ll be kicked out of social media, and you’ll have to go through an intervention again to unlock more time. Where can I learn more about the scientific background of one sec? → https://one-sec.app/research Can I use one sec to interrupt access to websites as well? → Yes, one sec offers a free Safari extension as well. How does one sec work technically? - one sec uses Shortcuts Automation to toggle a deep breath animation whenever you open one of the configured apps (Instagram, Twitter, YouTube…). - This breaks unconscious social media habits short-term (literally, as soon as you have set it up) and even helps long-term by adding more friction when opening these apps. Integrations: - Structured: one sec blocks apps during unfinished tasks. - LENGO: learn vocabulary to unlock social media. I developed one sec for myself in 2020…and it worked so well I decided to upload it to the App Store. Especially for people with ADHD one sec is a great tool to gain back control for incredible focus and concentration. – Frederik Legal information: Available Subscription Options: one sec pro (annual / monthly / lifetime unlock) one sec can contribute mindful moments to the Health App via HealthKit. one sec is covered by U.S. Patent 12,468,828 B2. Terms (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://one-sec.app/privacy/
BePresent
This app helps you regain control of your screen time through app blocking, gamified challenges, and real-life rewards. It encourages users to reduce phone usage, improve productivity, and enhance mental well-being by making digital detox engaging and beneficial.
- App Blocking Sessions (Individual, Group, BEAST MODE)
- Set Daily Goals and Build Streaks
- Monetary Stakes for Commitment
- Weekly Leaderboards and Friend Challenges
- Earn Real-Life Rewards (e.g., subscriptions, classes)
- Hourly Scrolling Awareness Reminders
- Time Tracking and Daily Reports
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BePresent is the #1 app to control your screen time and supercharge your productivity, mental health, and quality of life. Experience life beyond the screen as you reclaim Your Time and earn rewards that improve your life with BePresent! 25 years. That’s the average time you will spend on your phone. With a combination of app blocking, gamification, social competition with friends, and real-life rewards, you will reclaim YEARS of your life like thousands of BePresent members already have. We know you’ve tried to solve this problem before. But we’re not like other screen time apps. ▶ WHAT USERS ARE CELEBRATING ◀ • “I was able to go from 7+ hours per day to less than 2 hours! 10/10 would recommend” - Andrew M. • “FINALLY an app that actually curbs my screen addiction instead of time limits that I just ignore!” - Gina V. • “I’ve tried everything but nothing has worked. I almost gave up before I used BePresent! Thank god I tried it as I’ve reduced my screen time by over 3 hours a day!” - Jack W. Download now to experience life to the fullest. Instead of annoying app blockers or time limits, BePresent makes it fun and easy to stay off your phone. ▶ FEATURES ◀ [ BePresent App Blocking Sessions - Individual, Group, & BEAST MODE ] • Dive into Present Sessions! Dedicate breaks from screens, whether it's a focused study session or a no-phone night out. Team up with friends for Group Sessions and joint tech time-outs. Share updates, cheer, and keep one another accountable—all from within the app. Need a stringent break? Enter BEAST MODE, ensuring unwavering commitment [ Set Daily Goals and Build Your Streak ] • Choose your digital boundaries. Maintain your streak by sticking to set screen time limits. Back your commitment with a monetary stake — overshoot, and that stake's gone. Customize reminders and design your journey to digital well-being. [ Compete on Weekly Leaderboards and Challenge Your Friends] • Show off your productivity prowess by competing against others on weekly leaderboards. Advance tiers so you’ll feel like a productivity superhero every day. Practicing mindful phone habits has never been so motivating and rewarding! [ Earn Real-Life Rewards ] • The ultimate motivation - earn points you can redeem for real-life rewards by limiting your screen time. Best of all, your rewards will also improve your life. Learn to meditate with a premium Headspace subscription. Redeem free workout classes with ClassPass. Schedule discounted therapy sessions with BetterHelp. Earn these rewards and more all by staying off your phone. [ Never Doomscroll Again ] • Set hourly scrolling awareness reminders so you never lose track of time doomscrolling again [ Time Tracking & Daily Reports ] • Measure the moments you're truly present. Access daily and weekly breakdowns, complemented by a comprehensive day-before report, amplifying your adherence to reality. [ Improve Your Well-Being ] • By reducing screen time, you'll improve your overall well-being and gain access to educational content that explains how reducing screen time can benefit you in multiple ways. Learn how to manage ADHD better, improve your mental health, and be more present with your loved ones, all while improving your sleep and becoming less distracted. [ Complete Privacy and Data Security ] • Data dignity, delivered. All of your data is private and safe with Apple’s Screen Time API. We do not have access to any specific content you access on your iPhone, and none of your personal data ever leaves your device. ▶ WE'RE HERE FOR EVERY QUERY ◀ Questions or feedback? Reach us at https://www.getpresentapp.com/ or shoot an email at contact@getpresentapp.com. Let's journey to mindful tech use together. Note: All rewards are sponsored by BePresent and our partners. Apple does not sponsor any of the in-app rewards. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.getpresentapp.com/privacy-policy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: one sec | screen time + focus at none against BePresent's shown. one sec | screen time + focus also leads on device support (4 vs 1). BePresent's advantage is chart position (#29 vs unranked) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. one sec | screen time + focus sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and BePresent sells 23 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for one sec | screen time + focus against 4.8 for BePresent. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24K and 67K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of one sec | screen time + focus's written reviews are positive against 68% of BePresent's.
one sec | screen time + focus ships an update every 2 weeks, BePresent every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | one sec | screen time + focus | BePresent |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (24K ratings) | 4.8 (67K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.8% of reviews — better | 68.1% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 24K | 67K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #29 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 367 MB | 105 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | riedel.wtf apps S.L. | Screen Detox Inc |
Customer experience
one sec | screen time + focus
BePresent
User reviews
one sec | screen time + focus
From 24K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Saves time
- 👍 Helps reduce screen time
- 💡 Customizable interventions
- 👍 Effective at curbing habits
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy at times
- 💰 Premium features behind paywall
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy/data collection
- 🔒 Inability to fully disable the app
- 🐛 Inconsistent behavior across apps
BePresent
From 67K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Helps reduce screen time
- 👍 Gamification and rewards system
- 🤝 Ability to compete with friends
- 🕰️ Provides helpful notifications and reminders
- 💡 Innovative approach to tackling phone addiction
Room to improve
- 🐛 Inconsistent screen time tracking
- 🔒 Inability to selectively block apps
- 💰 Paywall for advanced features
- 🤖 Condescending and passive-aggressive notifications
- 🔧 Buggy and glitchy performance
Bugs and requests
one sec | screen time + focus
Reported bugs
4 issues- App switching issues
- Interventions not triggering properly
- Inconsistent behavior with shortcuts
- Crashes and freezes on certain devices
Requested features
6 requests- Ability to block more apps for free
- Customizable intervention timers
- Scheduled app blocking/access
- Passcode protection for settings
- Sync settings across devices
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- More intervention types (e.g. games)
BePresent
Reported bugs
5 issues- Freezing and crashing issues
- Inaccurate screen time reporting
- Inability to restore purchases
- Persistent app blocking even after uninstallation
- Setup process getting stuck on permissions
Requested features
5 requests- Allow selective app blocking
- Exclude certain apps from screen time tracking
- More customization options for notifications
- Expand to iPad and other devices
- Improve overall stability and reliability
In-app purchases
one sec | screen time + focus
- one sec pro (1 Month)$6.991 Month
- one sec pro | Family Plan (1 Month)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- one sec pro (1 Year)7 Days trial$19.991 Year
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- one sec pro | Family Plan (1 Year)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- one sec pro | Lifetime$99.99
- one sec pro | Family Lifetime$149.00
BePresent
- Monthly$3.991 Month
- Monthly (Mid Tier)$6.991 Month
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$6.991 Month
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- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
- Annual$24.991 Year
- Annual (Mid Tier)$24.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- BePresent Pro (Annual)$24.991 Year
- Free Trial for BePresent Pro7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Monthly (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$24.991 Month
- BePresent Pro (Annual)$29.991 Year
- BePresent Pro Family$39.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
- Annual (High Tier)$44.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- BePresent Family7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (3-Day Free Trial)3 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (30-day Trial)1 Month trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$59.991 Year
- Annual (2-week Free Trial)14 Days trial$59.991 Year
- BePresent Pro Family (iCloud)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
- Annual (1-Week Free Trial)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
Questions
Is one sec | screen time + focus free?
Is BePresent free?
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