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Gloom Scroller vs one sec.
How we differ. What we share. Where they win.
Gloom Scroller and one sec are both iOS apps that add friction before social media use, but one sec inserts a 5–10 second breathing exercise before each app open while Gloom Scroller requires 60 seconds of physical movement verified by a camera fingertip pulse check.
one sec is built around a 5–10 second breathing pause before app open. We're built around a 60-second movement break verified by camera pulse. Different bets on the same problem.
Side by side
| Gloom Scroller | one sec | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $1.99/wk · $4.99/mo · $24.99/yr | $3.99/mo · $24.99/yr · lifetime ~$49.99 (periodic) |
| Free tier | 1 blocked app, all exercises, full pulse check, streak tracking | 1 blocked app + breathing intervention |
| Core mechanic | 60-second movement interrupt + camera-based fingertip pulse check | breathing-exercise interrupt before app open |
| Platform | iOS only | iOS + Android |
| Hardware required | phone (rear camera + flashlight) | phone only |
| Privacy posture | heart-rate data stays on-device; no cloud HR | iOS Shortcuts / Android Accessibility Services |
Pricing accurate as of May 2026.
What one sec does
one sec inserts a 5–10 second breathing exercise before each app open. Frederik Riedel, the developer, has a published JMIR study showing the forced breathing pause changes behavior at the moment of app open — about 57% of users dismiss the app rather than continuing through after the breath. The intervention is short, gentle, and elegant.
one sec also runs on Android, which we don't. No configuration profile, no exercise, no extra hardware. The product targets a light intent-check rather than a hard block.
What we do differently
The mechanic is active versus passive. one sec asks for a pause; we ask for movement. After a few weeks, a 5–10 second breath can become reflex — breathe, skip, in the app. A 60-second movement break is harder to make reflexive because the body's response (heart rate) is the verification.
Gloom Scroller is built for non-exercisers. The bar is reachable in pyjamas, at a desk, in a hallway — anything that gets the heart rate up. Read how the pulse check works if camera-based PPG is unfamiliar.
Last updated .