one sec alternatives for Android
one sec has one of the cleverest ideas in the whole category: before a distracting app opens, you take a single deep breath. That's it. It's rated 4.7* from over 46,000 reviews, and the company reports that app usage drops by more than half on average. So why look elsewhere? Usually because that breath has become something you wait out rather than something you notice.
Want a pause with more teeth? ScreenZen or App Pause. Want a real wall? AppBlock. Want the apps gone for a whole work or study block? FocusComet — and it pairs beautifully with one sec.
What one sec gets right
It works at the exact moment the habit fires — the instant your thumb lands on Instagram — and it asks for almost nothing: one breath, then carry on if you really meant it. There's no willpower battle and nothing to configure every day. For breaking unconscious opening, it's hard to beat.
Why people look for an alternative
- The breath becomes routine. After a few weeks, some people wait through it on autopilot and open the app anyway.
- It's built for moments, not blocks. A pause catches a single reach. It doesn't clear your phone for a two-hour study session.
- They want more control — daily limits, schedules or website blocking.
The alternatives
ScreenZen — the closest cousin
Rated 4.8* from 33,000 reviews. ScreenZen's pause gets longer every time you open the same app, which keeps it from fading into the background. It can also cut long scrolling sessions into short bursts, set daily limits per app, and tailor everything by day and time.
App Pause — pause plus a session timer
A smaller app (10K+ downloads, rated 4.6*) with a smart twist: you set how long a session should last before you open an app, and you're paused again when it's up. It also blocks websites across Chrome, Firefox, Brave and DuckDuckGo, and runs on schedules.
AppBlock — when you want a wall, not a pause
If friction has stopped working, you may want a real block. AppBlock (10M+ downloads, rated 4.7*) blocks apps and websites on schedules, with a strict mode built to resist being switched off.
FocusComet — when you want the apps gone
This is ours, and it takes a different angle. one sec intervenes each time you reach; FocusComet's Immersive mode makes sure there's nothing to reach for. The apps you pick disappear from your home screen, app drawer and dock for the whole session, notifications pause, and everything comes back when the timer ends. Your focus time grows into a universe of stars and planets.
Digital Wellbeing — the free baseline
Already on your phone. Focus mode pauses chosen apps on a schedule, and the dashboard shows exactly where the time goes. Not as clever as one sec, but zero setup.
At a glance
| App | How it stops you | Best for | Rating · downloads* |
|---|---|---|---|
| one sec | A breath before opening | Unconscious opening | 4.7 · 1M+ |
| ScreenZen | A pause that grows each time | Pauses that stay fresh | 4.8 · 1M+ |
| App Pause | Pause plus session timer | Limiting each visit | 4.6 · 10K+ |
| AppBlock | A block screen | Hard rules | 4.7 · 10M+ |
| FocusComet | Apps hidden for the session | Deep work and study blocks | Newer app |
| Digital Wellbeing | Timers and Focus mode | A free starting point | 3.6 · 10B+ |
The best setup might be two apps
Friction and hiding solve different problems, so they stack well. Keep one sec running all day to catch the stray reach, and start a FocusComet session when you sit down to work, so the apps you'd reach for simply aren't there. The breath handles the moments; Immersive mode handles the hours.
*Ratings, review counts and download figures as observed on the US Google Play Store on 28 September 2026. They change over time.
Make the whole session distraction-free
FocusComet hides your distracting apps for as long as you're focusing and brings them back when you're done. Free to start on Android, no ads, no account needed.
Get it on Google PlayFrequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to one sec on Android?
ScreenZen is the closest alternative, with a pause that grows each time you open the same app. App Pause adds a session timer, AppBlock offers hard blocks, and FocusComet hides distracting apps entirely for a focus session.
Is one sec free on Android?
one sec is free to install with in-app purchases, according to its Google Play listing, and it contains no ads.
Can I use one sec and FocusComet together?
Yes. one sec adds a breath whenever you reach for a distracting app during the day, while FocusComet hides those apps completely during focus sessions.
What is the difference between a pause app and an app hider?
A pause app lets you open the app after a short delay. An app hider removes the app from your home screen and app drawer for a set time, so there is nothing to open until the session ends.