Comparison
Deadbolt vs One Sec
The friction-first app — a deep breath before you open anything. Here’s how it stacks up against Deadbolt — honestly, including where One Sec is the better pick.
| Feature | Deadbolt | One Sec |
|---|---|---|
| Hard blocking (not just a nudge) | ✓ | ~ |
| Scheduled auto-blocks | ✓ | ~ |
| On-device via Apple Screen Time | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deliberate emergency exit | ✓ | ~ |
| Walk-to-unlock (physical steps) | ✓ | — |
| No account required | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | Free · $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr | Free · ~$19.99/yr |
✓ full · ~ partial / different model · — none. Competitor details from public reviews & App Store listings (2026) and can change — always check the latest.
Where One Sec shines
- The breathe-before-you-open intervention is well designed
- Strict Block and time cut-off options for harder limits
- Cheaper than most paid blockers (~$19.99/yr)
- Nice "healthy alternative" suggestions
Where Deadbolt wins
- Deadbolt’s scheduling is deeper (recurring daily blocks that run themselves)
- Walk-to-unlock is unique to Deadbolt
- Deadbolt’s Strict Mode is the whole point, not an add-on
Which should you choose?
Pick One Sec if: You mainly want a mindful pause and occasional hard block, and you like the breathing intervention.
Pick Deadbolt if: you’ve bypassed every other blocker and want one that’s genuinely hard to cheat — strict sessions, a cooldown, and a 200-step walk-to-unlock — with no account and a free tier to start.
One Sec details from public reviews and its App Store listing (2026); features change, so check the latest before deciding.
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