DerotTwo different answers to the same impulse
If you open Instagram or TikTok without meaning to, you will find both Derot and one sec in the same search results. They try to solve that impulse in different ways.
one sec is built around an interruption. Before a distracting app or website opens, it inserts a pause — a breathing prompt or another short task — so you can decide whether you still want to continue. The company is clear that delaying access, rather than only blocking it, is the point. It also offers scheduled blocks, time limits, and a “doomscroll emergency brake” (re-intervention) after you have already opened an app.
Derot is built around proactive rules on your phone. You block selected apps by usage time, by how many times you open them, or by a fixed schedule. Habits in Derot are optional support. Completing a habit is not how you earn or unlock screen time.
Neither model is “more serious” than the other. A pause works well if a brief interruption is enough to break autopilot. A block works better if you already know you will tap past a breathing screen. Some people eventually want both kinds of friction; start with the one that matches how you actually behave tonight, not an ideal version of yourself.
How one sec works
one sec’s website and store listings describe a science-backed interruption model. The official site cites peer-reviewed work with the Max Planck Institute and Heidelberg University, including a claimed average of 57% fewer app openings, plus other collaborations. Those studies evaluate one sec’s approach; they are not results for Derot, and this page does not republish their figures as a comparison score.
Publicly described features include:
- A customizable interruption before an app or site opens (breathing, reflection, and other types listed on the site).
- The option to delay or repeat interruptions after a set time (re-intervention / emergency brake).
- Scheduled blocks when you want an app closed for a period of time, and time limits so a session cannot run on.
- On Android, the Google Play listing also describes blocking in-app surfaces such as YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels while leaving the rest of the app available.
- A browser extension and support across iOS, Android, and desktop browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The site says you can pay once and use one sec on the devices in your account.
- A free tier: a breathing interruption for one app. Pro unlocks unlimited apps and more options.
one sec’s own FAQ lists Pro pricing as €3.99 per month, €14.99 per year, and €99.99 lifetime, and notes that prices differ by region. The US App Store shows different dollar amounts (for example, a yearly and monthly Pro price, a lifetime price, and family plans). Always check the storefront you will pay in.
How Derot works
Derot, listed as “Stop Doomscrolling - Derot” with the subtitle “Screen Time & App Blocker,” asks you to pick the apps that steal time and then attach a rule:
- A daily (or set) usage cap.
- A cap on app opens.
- A schedule for hours when those apps should stay blocked.
You can track usage, follow a 7-day digital detox with challenges and streaks, and add real-life habits as a supplement. The official store copy states that completing habits is not a requirement for unlocking apps or gaining more screen time. No account is required, and much of the relevant data is described as stored locally.
Derot’s current public listings describe iPhone and Android. They do not describe a desktop app or a general website blocker. If most of your scrolling happens in a computer browser, one sec’s extension (or a dedicated desktop blocker) is the more direct tool.
Side-by-side
| Topic | Derot | one sec |
|---|---|---|
| Primary mechanic | Proactive block by time, opens, or schedule | Pause / interruption before the app opens |
| Also offers | 7-day digital detox, optional habits, usage insights | Scheduled blocks, time limits, re-intervention, journaling and intention tools (as listed on the site) |
| In-app feed blocking (e.g. Shorts / Reels) | Not described on Derot’s store listing | Described on the Android Play listing |
| Desktop / web | Not listed | Browser extension; Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Mobile | iOS and Android | iOS and Android |
| Free tier (official FAQ / listing) | Free to download with paid plans (see pricing) | Free for one app |
Pricing (public, may vary)
Derot (US App Store, 11 November 2026): Weekly $4.99, Monthly $9.99, Annual $59.99, Lifetime $99.99. Google Play: free download with in-app purchases; prices vary by country.
one sec (official FAQ): Pro at 3,99 € / month, 14,99 € / year, 99,99 € lifetime, with an explicit note that prices differ by region. Do not treat the US App Store dollar prices as a worldwide rate.
Which should you try first?
Try one sec first if your problem is opening an app on autopilot and a few seconds of friction would change the decision — or if you need the same pause on the desktop.
Try Derot first if you already know the limit you want (45 minutes of a feed, 8 opens, or no social apps after 22:00) and you want that rule enforced on your phone without trading habits for more time.
If you have tried pauses and still scroll past them, a schedule or an open limit is usually the clearer next step.
