Comparison

one sec | screen time + focus vs Rotless

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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/

About

Rotless

Features
Read full description

Your feed wants one more scroll. Then another. Then somehow it’s 2 a.m. That’s brain rot. Rotless helps you rot a little less—and live a little more. Pick the apps that keep pulling you back. When you want to scroll, do something real first: touch grass, drink water, read a few pages, tidy up, work out, get some sun, or cook a meal. Snap a live photo. If it checks out, your brain plant gets healthier and you earn points. Spend those points to unlock your chosen apps for a limited time. No guilt trip. No “delete every app and become a monk” speech. Just a tiny pause between the impulse and the scroll. HOW TO ROT LESS Block the apps that eat your time. Do one small thing in real life. Snap it. Earn points. Grow your plant. Trade points for scroll time. Enjoy the scroll—because this time, you chose it. TOUCH GRASS. LITERALLY. • Touch Grass • Drink Water • Read a Few Pages • Tidy Up • Workout • Get Some Sun • Cook a Meal ALSO INSIDE • App blocking powered by Apple’s Screen Time controls • AI-assisted live photo check-ins • Flexible unlock times • Adjustable difficulty—from Easy to Monk • A brain plant that knows when you’ve been scrolling too much • Restore Purchase and subscription management YOUR PHOTO DOESN’T LIVE HERE Rotless uses your live photo only to verify the check-in you chose. It isn’t saved, and Rotless doesn’t need access to your photo library. Apple protects the identities of apps selected through Screen Time controls. Rotless does not use your activity for advertising or cross-company tracking. SUBSCRIPTION Rotless offers auto-renewable Weekly and Yearly subscriptions. If a free trial is offered and you are eligible, your subscription begins automatically when the trial ends unless you cancel before then. Payment is charged to your Apple Account. Your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel it in your App Store account settings. Availability, trial eligibility, and pricing may vary by region. Privacy Policy: https://rotless.app/pages/privacy/index Terms of Use: https://rotless.app/pages/terms/index

Screenshots

one sec | screen time + focus4 screens
Rotless4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Rotless at every 3 days against one sec | screen time + focus's every 2 weeks. one sec | screen time + focus's advantage is device support (4 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. one sec | screen time + focus sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Rotless sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

one sec | screen time + focus ships an update every 2 weeks, Rotless every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
one sec | screen time + focus versus Rotless: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterone sec | screen time + focusRotless
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (24K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings24K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size367 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerriedel.wtf apps S.L.凡燕 曾

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
Show 1 more
  • More intervention types (e.g. games)

Rotless

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

one sec | screen time + focus

Subscriptions4
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • one sec pro | Family Plan (1 Year)7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time2
  • one sec pro | Lifetime$99.99
  • one sec pro | Family Lifetime$149.00
2 purchases

Rotless

Subscriptions2
  • Rotless Weekly7 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Rotless Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is one sec | screen time + focus free?
one sec | screen time + focus is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Rotless free?
Rotless is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do one sec | screen time + focus or Rotless have ads?
Neither one sec | screen time + focus nor Rotless shows ads.
Which is updated more often, one sec | screen time + focus or Rotless?
one sec | screen time + focus ships an update every 2 weeks, and Rotless every 3 days. Most recently, one sec | screen time + focus was updated on October 14, 2026 and Rotless on October 8, 2026.

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