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Opal vs one sec

one sec interrupts the impulse; Opal removes the option. Start with one sec: cheaper, gentler, surprisingly effective. Escalate to Opal when pauses stop working and you need scheduled hard blocks. Running both is legitimate: pause by default, lockdown for deadlines.

Every score on this page comes from the same published rubric. how we score

Opal

TRIAL FIRST

72/100

  • Setup friction 14 out of 20
  • Capture friction 11 out of 15
  • Forgiveness 10 out of 15
  • Reward design 7 out of 10
  • Notification quality 8 out of 10
  • Price honesty 6 out of 10
  • Accessibility 8 out of 10
  • Staying power 8 out of 10

Heavy-duty app blocking with sessions, schedules, and hard modes.

Full Opal review →

one sec

KEEP

81/100

  • Setup friction 16 out of 20
  • Capture friction 13 out of 15
  • Forgiveness 13 out of 15
  • Reward design 8 out of 10
  • Notification quality 8 out of 10
  • Price honesty 8 out of 10
  • Accessibility 8 out of 10
  • Staying power 7 out of 10

A forced breath before distracting apps open; the pause kills the impulse.

Side by side

Opal compared with one sec across the scoring rubric
CriterionOpalone sec
Setup friction /201416
Capture friction /151113
Forgiveness /151013
Reward design /1078
Notification quality /1088
Price honesty /1068
Accessibility /1088
Staying power /1087
Taps to captureNot yet measuredNot yet measured
Price$$$$
Total7281

Pick by scenario

Pick one sec if…

Your problem is reflex opens. A short pause kills a large share of them at a low price.

Pick Opal if…

You have already proven that pauses do not stop you, and you want scheduled blocks that hold.

Running both

Pause by default, lockdown during deadlines. This is the one stacking combination we recommend.

Questions people actually ask

Which is cheaper?

one sec, comfortably. Opal sits in the premium band.

Can either be bypassed?

one sec by design; Opal only with real effort in hard mode. Bypass attempts are documented once hands-on testing lands.

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