Unlockr
Free
$0
Free forever
Download free- 1 rule protecting 1 app
- Every challenge, with your own target and reward
- Schedules, streak and stats
- Daily Breathe bonus
Unlockr vs one sec An honest comparison
vs
Looking for a
one sec alternative?
Unlockr is a one sec alternative for when a breathing pause is too easy to wave through. Instead of a few seconds before each open, you do 20 squats, a plank or a quick Math round and earn a block of minutes that only count down while you use the app. Both are free for one app.
Unlockr vs one sec at a glance
| Feature | Unlockr | one sec |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 1 rule protecting 1 app | 1 app |
| Paid plans | $34.99/yr, $5.99/mo, $2.99/wk or $69.99 once | Annual, monthly or lifetime (shown in app) |
| What you do to get in | Squats, push-ups, a plank, Math or Memory | A few seconds of breathing |
| Long sessions | Earned minutes run out, then the app locks | Re-Intervention after a set time |
| Exercise to unlock | Yes, counted on device | No |
| Websites | Yes (Premium) | Yes (free Safari extension) |
| Published research | No | Yes (PNAS, 2023) |
Pricing and features checked November 2026. Sources: one sec on the App Store · Grüning et al. (2023), PNAS.
What one sec does well
- It is backed by research: a field study published in PNAS found a short pause plus an easy way out cut app openings by 57% after six weeks.
- It is the lightest possible nudge. A breath, not a workout, so it is easy to live with every day.
- A free Safari extension brings the same pause to websites.
- Loved by its users: 4.8 stars from more than 23,000 ratings on the US App Store.
When one sec is the better choice
If a short pause is enough to break your autopilot, one sec is the better pick: it asks less of you and it is the better-studied approach. Unlockr is for the moment you notice yourself breathing through the pause and opening the app anyway, and you want the price of opening to be higher.
Why try Unlockr
- Effort, not willpower — a set of squats, push-ups or a plank, or a Math or Memory round, stands between you and the app. Much harder to tap past on autopilot.
- Time that only counts while you use it — earned minutes tick down only while the app is open, so locking your phone never wastes them. They reset at midnight.
- Rules that follow your day — up to 8 rules for work hours, evenings or your own schedule, each with its own apps, challenge and reward.
- The camera stays on your iPhone — reps are counted on device. No frame is saved or uploaded, and Math, Memory and Breathe don't need the camera at all.
- Built and answered by one developer — Unlockr is made by Tin in Da Nang, Vietnam. When you email support, he answers.
Frequently asked questions
Is one sec or Unlockr better backed by research?
one sec. Its pause was tested in a field study published in PNAS. Unlockr builds on the same idea, that friction before an app reduces automatic opens, but has not been tested in its own trial.
Does Unlockr have a breathing pause like one sec?
Unlockr has Daily Breathe, a one-minute guided session on Home that adds 5 minutes once a day. Rules themselves use movement, Math or Memory.
Which is cheaper?
Both are free for one app. one sec shows its Pro prices in the app; Unlockr Premium is $34.99 a year, $5.99 a month, $2.99 a week or $69.99 once.
What people say about Unlockr.
★★★★★
Really help me reduce screen time 🥹
★★★★★
Very helpful app. Should use this to improve your health and reduce using your phone every day.
★★★★★
This app is very useful. It offers different ways to improve your health, and it also helps curb overusing your phone for entertainment.
★★★★★
Really suited to helping cut down daily phone use.
Pricing
Premium Best value: yearly
$34.99/year
3-day free trial for eligible users · or $5.99/month, $2.99/week, $69.99 once
Start free trial- Multiple apps, whole categories and websites
- Up to 8 rules for different times of day
- Everything in Free
- If Premium ends, your rules stay saved
Prices in US dollars. The App Store shows your local price before you buy.
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