Fitlock vs one sec: a one sec alternative built around movement
one sec and Fitlock both interrupt the automatic, thoughtless tap that opens a distracting app. They just do it in different ways, which is what makes Fitlock worth a look as a one sec alternative.
How one sec works
one sec is a friction app for iOS, Android and desktop browsers (Windows, macOS and Linux extensions). When you open an app you’ve flagged, it doesn’t block you outright. Instead, it inserts a short pause first, such as a breathing exercise or a prompt to type a reflection, and only then lets you continue or close the app. It also has a separate “blocking mode” for scheduled periods where flagged apps can’t be opened at all. one sec’s own site reports that its users cut their app opens by around 57% on average; we haven’t independently audited that figure ourselves.
How Fitlock works as a one sec alternative
Fitlock doesn’t pause you. It blocks the app outright and keeps it blocked until you’ve done something measurable. Set a schedule, choose the apps or websites, and pick a goal: steps, an exercise session, or push-ups and squats counted by your phone’s camera. There’s no “continue anyway” option; on Fitlock’s default schedule level the block lifts once the goal is met, a break is used, or the schedule is switched off. In Strict Mode (Fitlock Pro), only meeting the goal gets you back in.
The trade-off
one sec’s friction is quick to set up and works across more platforms, including Android and the desktop browser, which helps if most of your distraction happens outside an iPhone. Its pause can be dismissed in a few taps by design, meant to interrupt the reflex rather than physically stop you. Fitlock removes that option entirely and trades it for effort. You can’t tap through a movement goal the way you can dismiss a breathing exercise, but that also means Fitlock can’t help you anywhere except on iOS.
What Fitlock does differently
- No dismiss button in Strict Mode (Fitlock Pro). The block only lifts once Apple Health, or the camera, confirms the goal is done. Outside Strict Mode, a break or switching the schedule off both get you back in sooner.
- Escalating breaks. Each extra break makes the next one wait longer.
- Free blocks up to two apps behind one schedule and one goal; Fitlock Pro removes the two-app limit, adds allowlist mode, every goal type, and lets you combine goals with AND. See pricing for what’s included at each tier.
Where one sec may suit you better
one sec has been on the App Store since 2020, runs on Android and in the browser as well as iOS, and its lighter friction suits people who mainly need a nudge, not a hard stop. Fitlock is iOS only, tied to Apple’s Screen Time and HealthKit frameworks, and asks for real effort rather than a moment’s pause. If a physical, no-app answer appeals more than either of these, see how Fitlock compares to Brick.
What Fitlock does with your data
Analytics are anonymised, so we can’t identify you from them, and the only personal details we hold are ones you choose to share with support. Screen time data is securely managed by Apple and inaccessible to us. Health data is stored only on your device and never externally. We never sell user data to third-party companies.