One sec app
One sec is a bootstrapped behavioral intervention app that inserts mandatory breathing, reflection, or blocking friction before users open targeted apps like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, helping individuals reduce screen time across iOS, Android, macOS, and desktop browsers with privacy-first on-device logic.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingSoftware
What One sec app does
One sec is a privately held, bootstrapped behavioral technology company (legal entities: riedel.wtf apps S.L. in Spain and riedel.wtf GmbH in Germany) founded in 2021 by Frederik Riedel. The company builds a screen-time intervention app that inserts mandatory friction — breathing exercises, reflection prompts, journaling, and configurable blocking — between a user and target apps (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, news sites) to break unconscious opening habits. The product is implemented natively across iOS (leveraging Apple's Screen Time API, Shortcuts automations, HealthKit, and Dynamic Island), Android (using Accessibility Service and App Overlay), macOS, and five browser extension platforms (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Arc), with all intervention logic running locally on-device and no data collection or profiling. Validation is a defining feature: peer-reviewed research with the Max-Planck Institute and Heidelberg University (PNAS 2023, CHI 2024) demonstrated a 57% reduction in app openings, the core self-nudge method is protected by U.S. Patent No. 12,468,828 (granted 2025), and the app has been endorsed by the governments of Germany and Denmark for digital wellbeing programs.
The company monetizes through a freemium consumer subscription (free tier limited to 1 app; Pro at $19/year unlocking unlimited apps, re-intervention, strict blocking, and integrations), sold separately per platform through Apple App Store, Google Play, and the company website (Paddle payment processor). A B2B team license tier ($0.83/user/month, billed annually) targets schools and corporate wellness buyers exclusively via direct web checkout. The customer base is overwhelmingly long-tail individual consumers (80,000–100,000+ 5-star App Store reviews, "App of the Day" feature from Apple), supplemented by a small institutional segment and individual endorsements from productivity experts such as Ali Abdaal. The company operates with a 1–10 person team, mostly part-time, with no outside investors, prioritizing privacy-first economics over data monetization.
One sec app firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- One sec app
- Legal name
- riedel.wtf apps S.L.
- Website
- https://one-sec.app
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- One sec is a bootstrapped behavioral intervention app that inserts mandatory breathing, reflection, or blocking friction before users open targeted apps like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, helping individuals reduce screen time across iOS, Android, macOS, and desktop browsers with privacy-first on-device logic.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
One sec app industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Wellbeing Software
- SIC
- Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Support Hotlines & Digital Wellbeing Tools (EDAJAIAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Student Safety, Wellbeing & SEL Technology (Monitoring, Reporting) (EDAJAMAJ), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC)
Keywords
Where One sec app is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
One sec app business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pro Subscription (iOS): Annual subscription for iOS users unlocking unlimited apps, re-intervention for unlimited apps, different intervention types, intentional app switching, notifications, time tracking, website blocking, strict block sessions, and a strict porn blocker. Priced at $19/year (with 50% student discount available).
- Pro Subscription (Android): Annual subscription for Android users unlocking unlimited apps, re-intervention, intentional app switching, time tracking, and the ability to remove in-app distractions (Reels, Shorts).
- Pro Subscription (Desktop Web Browser): Annual subscription for desktop web browser extension users, unlocking breathing exercises, re-interventions, intentional website switching, and website blocking.
- Team/Multi-Seat License: Volume licensing for teams and organizations (schools, companies) at $0.83 per user per month (billed annually). Purchased through the company website checkout via Paddle, allowing organizations to manage multiple seats.
- Free Tier (Freemium): Free tier allows users to test the core principle with one app. Includes breathing exercise (for 1 app) and re-intervention (for 1 app). Designed to demonstrate the app's effectiveness before converting users to paid Pro.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free tier with limited functionality |
| Subscription | Annual | Pro (iOS) - Annual subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Pro (Android) - Annual subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Pro (Desktop Web Browser) - Annual subscription |
| Subscription | Annual | Team/Multi-Seat License |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
One sec app product offering
Product offeringCore offering
one sec is a behavioral intervention app that delays access to social media apps and other distracting apps/websites through timed pauses, breathing exercises, reflection prompts, and configurable blocking modes to discourage impulsive phone use. The product is available on iOS, Android, macOS, and as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Arc, offered under a freemium model with a free tier limited to one app and Pro subscriptions unlocking unlimited apps and advanced features. Team/multi-seat licenses are also offered for organizations and schools seeking to deploy digital wellbeing programs at scale.
Product overview
one sec is a screen time reduction app with a core mobile app available on iOS, Android, and Mac, plus browser extensions for desktop browsers. The product portfolio includes the core one sec app (free with 1-app limit) and Pro subscription unlocking unlimited apps and advanced features. Available across iPhone/iPad, Android, Mac App Store, and all major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Arc). Enterprise offerings include team licenses for schools and businesses. The app uses scientifically-proven interventions including breathing exercises, journaling, intention tracking, and various blocking modes to help users reduce screen time and build healthier phone habits.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- one sec Mobile App (iOS/iPad and Android) Core one sec mobile app for iPhone/iPad and Android that interrupts social media and other distracting apps with breathing exercises, reflection prompts, journaling, intention tracking, and configurable blocking to help individual users reduce screen time and build healthier phone habits. Available as a free tier (limited to 1 app) and as a Pro annual subscription unlocking unlimited apps and advanced features.
- one sec Browser Extension Cross-browser desktop extension for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Arc that intervenes on distracting websites with breathing exercises, reflections, and configurable blocking, and supports intentional website switching. Sold as a separate Pro subscription via web.one-sec.app.
- one sec for Mac Native macOS app available on the Mac App Store that intervenes on distracting native macOS apps and web apps and includes a Safari extension for website blocking. Sold as a separate Pro subscription.
Quantifiable outcome
- 57% fewer app openings on average (backed by multiple peer-reviewed studies)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use One sec app
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
One sec app technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature22 records
One sec app partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Structured (Leo Mehlig)coreIntegration with the Structured planner app (made by Leo Mehlig, fellow indie developer). When a user has an active task on Structured that is not yet completed, one sec blocks apps until the task is marked complete. Additionally, upcoming tasks from Structured are displayed in one sec's healthy alternatives section. The integration requires users to grant calendar access to both apps.
- Lengo (Nils Bernschneider)coreIntegration with Lengo, a language learning app for more than 25 languages (made by Nils Bernschneider, fellow indie developer). one sec forces users to complete a quick vocabulary exercise through Lengo before being allowed to use social media, transforming toxic phone habits into productive language learning sessions. Users select their target language within one sec's Lengo Integration settings.
- Max-Planck InstitutecoreCollaborative research partnership with the Max-Planck Institute (Germany) and Heidelberg University. The partnership produced multiple peer-reviewed studies (published in PNAS and ACM CHI) demonstrating one sec's effectiveness in reducing smartphone use and changing habitual behavior. This research forms the scientific foundation of the app's claims.
- Heidelberg UniversitycoreCollaborative research partnership with Heidelberg University alongside the Max-Planck Institute. Produced peer-reviewed publications (PNAS 2023, CHI 2024) validating one sec's intervention methodology and effectiveness in changing smartphone usage habits.
- Government of GermanycoreThe German government has validated and endorsed one sec for digital wellbeing initiatives at national scale, indicating trust in the app's effectiveness for public health purposes.
- Government of Denmark (Danish Competition and Consumer Authority)coreThe Danish Competition and Consumer Authority (Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen) conducted and published a field experiment in June 2025 titled 'Disrupting social media habits — a field experiment with young Danish consumers,' validating one sec's effectiveness at scale with young consumers.
- Apple (U.S. Patent Office)coreApple's U.S. Patent Office granted one sec's patent (U.S. Patent No. 12,468,828) in 2025 for the core method of directing smartphone use through self-nudge interventions. Additionally, one sec leverages Apple's Screen Time API for iOS functionality and is distributed through the Apple App Store and Mac App Store.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
One sec app competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Apple Screen Time: Apple Screen Time is the iOS-native screen time and app limit feature bundled into every iPhone. It is the broadest incumbent competitor to one sec for the same user need on Apple's platform, available for free by default.
Direct peers
- Bevel: Bevel is a digital wellbeing app focused on screen time reduction and healthier phone habits. It directly overlaps with one sec's intervention-style approach and target consumer segment.
- Jomo: Jomo is a screen time blocker app that lets users set app usage limits and lock distracting apps, often via Screen Time integration. It overlaps directly with one sec's intervention-driven blocking approach on iOS.
- Cold Turkey: Cold Turkey is a desktop and mobile blocking application for focus and productivity. It is comparable through its strict blocking modes and cross-platform blocking that mirror one sec's Strict Blocking Mode feature.
- Brick: Brick is a screen-time intervention tool that pauses and reminds users when opening designated apps. It is directly comparable to one sec's iOS intervention experience and target use case.
- Freedom: Freedom is a cross-platform website and app blocker used for focus and productivity sessions. It is comparable to one sec because it offers cross-device blocking and session-based focus tools addressing the same attention-distraction pain point.
- RescueTime: RescueTime is a productivity and screen time tracking app with focus session tools. It is comparable through its screen time analytics and goal-setting features that overlap with one sec's time tracking and intention features.
- SPACE: SPACE is a phone-free focus and screen time management app that helps users build healthier phone habits. It is directly comparable as a consumer digital wellbeing app addressing the same compulsive use problem.
- Opal: Opal is a consumer screen time and focus app that uses interventions and focus sessions to reduce phone use. It is directly comparable because it targets the same user need (compulsive social media and app overuse) with a similar friction-based intervention model on iOS.
- Forest: Forest is a focus app that grows virtual trees when users stay off their phones, distributed globally. It is comparable to one sec because it targets the same user need (reducing phone distraction) with gamified habit mechanics.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
One sec app social profiles
Digital presenceOne sec app financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
One sec app leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
One sec app funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
One sec app M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about One sec app
What does One sec app do?
one sec is a behavioral intervention app that delays access to social media apps and other distracting apps/websites through timed pauses, breathing exercises, reflection prompts, and configurable blocking modes to discourage impulsive phone use. The product is available on iOS, Android, macOS, and as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Arc, offered under a freemium model with a free tier limited to one app and Pro subscriptions unlocking unlimited apps and advanced features. Team/multi-seat licenses are also offered for organizations and schools seeking to deploy digital wellbeing programs at scale.
Is One sec app a public or private company?
One sec app is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was One sec app founded?
One sec app was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is One sec app based?
One sec app is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does One sec app make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Pro Subscription (iOS) is the primary driver. The others are pro Subscription (Android), pro Subscription (Desktop Web Browser), team/Multi-Seat License and free Tier (Freemium).
Who are One sec app's main competitors?
Apple Screen Time is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Bevel, Jomo, Cold Turkey, Brick, Freedom, RescueTime, SPACE, Opal and Forest.
Does One sec app have an API?
No public API is recorded for One sec app.
What industry is One sec app in?
One sec app's product category is Digital Wellbeing Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAIAL, Student Support Hotlines & Digital Wellbeing Tools, with a secondary code of EDAJAMAJ, Student Safety, Wellbeing & SEL Technology (Monitoring, Reporting). Its SIC code is 7373.