Want a one sec alternative? Compare a pause with a budget.
one sec is a well-loved app that makes you take a breath before a distracting app opens. Time Debt works differently: you get a daily allowance, and if you borrow extra today, tomorrow's starts shorter. Four questions will show which suits you.
Which one fits you? 4 quick questions
one sec vs Time Debt at a glance
| one sec | Time Debt | |
|---|---|---|
| Core idea | A deliberate pause before a distracting app opens | A daily allowance; borrowing today shortens tomorrow |
| What stops you | A breath and a moment to reconsider | A visible debt you repay the next day |
| Account and data | See its listing | No account, no ads; never sees app names or content |
| Pricing | Free, with one sec pro (annual, monthly or lifetime) | Free core plan, optional Pro |
| App Store ratings | 4.8 from about 24,000 ratings | Newer, fewer ratings so far |
Facts from each app's App Store listing, November 2026. Time Debt is made by Honest Little Apps, the studio behind this page.
Friction or budget?
There are two proven ways to cut phone time: add friction before the habit, or set a budget with a cost for overspending. Friction works for automatic, mindless opens. A budget works when you open apps on purpose but stay far too long.
See your own numbers with our year progress bar.
Time Debt: Screen Time gives you a daily allowance. Borrow ten extra minutes today and tomorrow's allowance starts ten minutes shorter. No account, no ads; it never sees app names or content.
Free on the App StoreQuestions
Is there an alternative to one sec?
Time Debt takes a budget approach instead of a pause: extra time today comes out of tomorrow's allowance.
Can Time Debt see what I do in apps?
No. It never sees app names or content; Apple provides anonymous tokens.
Where did these comparison facts come from?
From each app's App Store listing in November 2026. Features and prices change, so check the listing before you decide.
Updated November 11, 2026.
- Start the ten-minute urge delay timerFeel the pull to open an app? Start a ten-minute timer, breathe with the circle, then decide. A free pause-before-you-scroll tool with a running tally.
- Year progress barA live year progress bar: see exactly what percent of the year is gone, how many days and weekends are left, and how many of those hours your phone will take.
- Your Life in Weeks: See Every Week You Have Lived on One PageEnter your birth date and see your whole life as a grid of weeks: the ones you have lived filled in, the rest still open. Download it as a poster. Free, nothing stored.