One Sec is a browser extension designed to help you manage your time online by introducing a brief pause before accessing distracting websites. | ||
Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each extension. |
|
|
Our Rating Tooltivity's expert review score for each extension, based on hands-on testing and research. | 8.4 | 8.9 Winner in this category |
Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 1,000,000 Winner in this category | 25,121 |
Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 8,802 Winner in this category | 1,024 |
Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | 4.8 ⭐ | 4.8 ⭐ Winner in this category |
Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the extension. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free |
Chrome User rating and stats for the extension on Chrome browser. | ![]() 4.8 3.24 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 1.0M+Users | ![]() 4.9 4.86 Average Chrome Web Store rating from the last 100 reviews 20.0K+Users Winner in this category |
Edge User rating and stats for the extension on Edge browser. | - | ![]() 4.9 4.86 Average Microsoft Edge Store rating from the last 100 reviews 3.6K+Users Winner in this category |
Firefox User rating and stats for the extension on Firefox browser. | - | ![]() 4.8 4.74 Average Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store rating from the last 100 reviews 1.5K+Users Winner in this category |
Safari User rating and stats for the extension on Safari browser. | - | - |
Features Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each extension. | 8.0 Merlin AI offers a variety of features including summarizing, writing, coding, diagramming and more. It supports multiple AI models such as GPT-4, Claude and Gemini and allows users to create custom AI chatbots and knowledge bases. The platform also integrates with the web and files in real time. However, some features, such as PDF summarization, are not as robust as those of specialized tools. It also lacks what we consider to be the important function of direct communication between AI and the current website. In addition, the function of direct communication between AI and the current website, which we consider important, is missing. ![]() Winner in this category | 7.5 The core function that One Sec uses to make users more productive is a pause before opening the website. When I open websites I have defined, such as Twitter, a gray page with a countdown appears. During this period, I was reminded that I didn't want to spend so much time on Twitter and asked myself whether this was intentional or just a reflex out of boredom.
|
Performance Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each extension. | 7.5 Merlin is generally fast and responsive, but it can slow down browsers, especially on older hardware. There are occasional bugs and crashes, though the team releases frequent updates and improvements. | 9.5 In our test, we did not notice any delays or slowdowns due to the extension. Winner in this category |
Design Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each extension. | 9.1 The design has a modern look and feel, with handy keyboard shortcuts and sidebar integration that make navigation easier. That said, the user interface can feel cluttered and overwhelming, especially for new users, and there are inconsistencies between the extension, web, and mobile versions. ![]() Winner in this category | 8.0 The user interface is clean and minimalist, and this also applies to the setup and settings. The extension offers an effective use of visual elements for taking a break by displaying a preset screen with a countdown. There would be potential for improvement here if the screen could be customized. |
Value for Money Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each extension. | 8.2 The free plan is generous for light users, offering a substantial daily quota and access to a wide range of basic features. The Pro plan is competitively priced, especially when compared to the cost of subscribing to multiple separate AI tools, and unlocks unlimited access to all models and advanced features. However, the absence of a free trial for premium features means users must commit before experiencing the full capabilities of Merlin AI. Additionally, some users report that the query system—where different models and features consume varying amounts of daily queries—can be confusing or feel restrictive, particularly for those trying to understand how far their usage will go on each plan. | 9.2 The browser extension is completely free of charge. However, you only get a small number of functions. For anyone who only needs the basic function, this is unbeatable value for money. OneSec also offers an app with additional functions. At $4.99/month or $49.99/year, it also has a good price-performance ratio. Winner in this category |
Ease of Use Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each extension. | 8.5 Getting started with Merlin AI is straightforward—installation is quick, and the onboarding process is simple enough for most users to begin using core features right away. However, the platform’s extensive feature set can be overwhelming at first, leading to a noticeable learning curve as users explore everything it offers. Some users have expressed confusion about how the daily query limits work, how different models are selected or switched, and which features are available on each plan. Occasional bugs and log-in issues can also disrupt the workflow, requiring users to troubleshoot or reach out to support. Overall, while Merlin AI is accessible, mastering its full capabilities may take some time and patience, especially for those new to AI tools. | 9.5 The installation process was quick and straightforward. This also includes the setup, which is very intuitive with clear step-by-step instructions. Everything is also well explained in the settings menu afterward, so everyone should be able to find their way around. ![]() Winner in this category |
Security & Privacy Tooltivity's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each extension. | 9.3 Merlin does not sell user data to third parties and only uses data for core functionality. The privacy policy is transparent, but some users remain concerned about the amount of data collected and the permissions required. | 9.5 Data usage is described transparently in the privacy policy, which places great value on user privacy. Winner in this category |
Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each extension. | Merlin AI is a powerful and versatile tool that can really boost the productivity of a wide range of users. The integration of multiple AI models and functions into a single extension is ideal for this p However, Merlin is not completely perfect. We encountered occasional bugs, inconsistencies in the user interface and some performance issues. Pricing can also be confusing, and some features are locked behind a paywall.. Overall, Merlin AI is a good choice for anyone looking for an all-in-one AI assistant for the browser - especially if you value having multiple AI models and tools in one place. | One Sec is a tool that encourages mindful browsing by introducing a pause every time you want to access a distracting website. |
Our Recommendation | In our comparison between Merlin AI and one sec, one sec came out on top, scoring 8.9. Merlin AI is the most widely used, with over 1 million users and 9k+ reviews, but one sec outperformed it in our review. User reviews for one sec reflect our findings, while we rate Merlin AI lower than users do. Notably, one sec has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 4.85, which supports its strong performance in our review. In the end, the differences between these extensions are minimal, so your choice may come down to personal preference or specific features.
If you want a quick recommendation, one sec is our top pick. But as always, the best choice depends on what matters most to you. |