
Opal.so
Freedom.to
clearspace
Forest App
Cortex app makes you pause for a few seconds before opening Instagram, TikTok or YouTube. A pause, not a block. The iPhone answer to Android’s Pause Point. Free for one app.

Cold Turkey
Freedom.to
Opal.so
Forest App
LeechBlock
clearspace
FocusMe
one sec uses Shortcut automation in order to empower you to spend more time in the real world.

Which is more popular?
Based on our record, one sec seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 44 times since March 2021.
Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Website | cortexpause.com | one-sec.app |
| Pricing | — | |
| Company | Startup from Argentina · 1 - 9 employees · 2026 | — |
| Listed in |
In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.


Cortex is a screen-time app for iPhone that adds a short pause — not a block — before you open distracting apps like Instagram, TikTok or YouTube, so you open them on purpose instead of on autopilot. When you open a monitored app, Cortex runs a 5-second micro-intervention (a guided breath, a...
No description of one sec yet.
What each product offers, as listed by its team.


Possible disadvantages
Walkthroughs and reviews on video.
No Cortex App videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.
The app that makes Elon Musk cry — One Sec app setup & review
More videos
How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.


Share your experience with using Cortex App and one sec. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.


Tracking Cortex App since Sep 2026.
I think most users need more screen blocking control than they get out of the box on iOS. Ntools like one sec [1] have been invaluable for me. [1]: https://one-sec.app/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
One thing that finally worked for me was using: https://one-sec.app/ It basically forces you to do a little breathing exercise before you can visit the site that you have on its block list. It has been life changing. It adds enough... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
I've tried various forms of this. As long as there's a logged in session somewhere, I have to have various tricks and extensions on my browser to manage things. Most have been only varying degrees of successful, often ending up in me... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
When comparing Cortex App and one sec, you can also consider the following products.

Real Focus in Real-Time. Measure and improve your focus day by day, on iPhone, iPad and macOS.
Compare Opal.so to Cortex App or one sec:

Cold Turkey is a free productivity program that you can use to temporarily block distractions so that you can get your work done!
Compare Cold Turkey to Cortex App or one sec:

Freedom is a productivity hack that lets you block apps, websites or the entire Internet on iPhones, iPads, Windows and Mac computers.
Compare Freedom.to to Cortex App or one sec:


Forest is an app that helps you stay focused on the important things in life.
Compare Forest App to Cortex App or one sec: