Second Key vs one sec
A pause, or a person.
one sec is a friction app with published research behind it: before a distracting app opens, it makes you take a breath, then asks if you still want in. Second Key doesn’t ask you. It asks someone else.
| Question | one sec | Second Key |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for one app; about $19.99 a year for more, per independent reviews (Sept 2026) | Planned: $59.99 a year, not charged yet; holding a key is free |
| What happens when you open a blocked app | A short intervention (a breath, a question, a delay), then you choose to continue or close | The app stays shielded until the schedule ends or your keyholder approves an early unlock |
| Who decides | You, after a pause | The person you chose, with your reason in front of them |
| Evidence | A 2023 PNAS study found 57% fewer app openings after six weeks | New, so no published study yet |
| Another person in the loop | None described in the sources below | The whole product: requests, decisions, a shared weekly tally |
The fair version.
one sec is the better choice if a moment of friction is enough, and for many people it is: the published study found users closed the app on 36% of attempts. Second Key is for the other nights, when you tap through the pause every time and need the decision to belong to someone else.
Pick one sec if
A breath before opening an app is enough to stop you.
Pick Second Key if
You tap straight through pauses, and want a person to hold the exit.
Checked September 2026 against: Grüning, Riedel & Lorenz-Spreen, PNAS 2023 · one sec review (Blok) · one sec (riedel.wtf). Spotted something out of date? Tell us at hello@secondkey.link.