Compare one sec and Recall: Which Extension is the Best?

One Sec is a browser extension designed to help you manage your time online by introducing a brief pause before accessing distracting websites.
With Recall, you can capture, summarize, and organize articles, PDFs, and videos with AI, spaced repetition, browser extensions, and strong privacy controls.
Key Features
  • Pause Before Access: Introduces a short delay before opening distracting sites.
  • Customizable Settings: Adjust the delay time and select which sites to monitor.
  • Analytics Dashboard: Provides insights into your browsing habits.
  • Cross-Browser Support: Available on multiple browsers for seamless integration.
  • AI Summarization: Instantly summarizes articles, PDFs, YouTube videos, and more.
  • Personal Knowledge Base: Saves and organizes your summaries for easy retrieval.
  • Spaced Repetition & Active Recall: Helps you actually remember what you save, not just store it.
  • Augmented Browsing: Highlights related content as you browse, surfacing connections in your knowledge.
  • Browser Extensions: One-click saving and summarizing directly from Chrome or Firefox.
  • Editable Notebook: Add notes, highlights, and customize your saved content.
  • Tagging & Organization: Automatic and manual tagging, with support for nested tags.
  • Cross-Platform Sync: Works on desktop and mobile, keeping your knowledge base up to date.
Our Rating
8.9
8.9
Total users
25,121
73,229
Total ratings
1,024
95
Average rating
4.8 ⭐
4.1 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.9
4.86
859 ratings
20.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.2
4.14
78 ratings
70.0K+Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
4.9
4.86
47 ratings
3.6K+Users
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Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
4.8
4.74
118 ratings
1.5K+Users
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
3.9
3.94
17 ratings
3.2K+Users
Safari
-
-
Features
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.
This worked very well for us in the test and there were no problems.


It is also possible to adjust the delay individually. If you only need the reminder but don't want to be disturbed too much, you can set the timer to just one second, or several seconds if you prefer.


Finally, a useful function is the analysis dashboard. This provides analyses of your surfing behavior, showing you at a glance how often you try to open these websites during the day. However, we would like to see more analysis options here.


All in all, the functions are kept very simple; further options for time tracking would be an advantage here so that you don't need additional extensions. These functions are already available in the mobile app. One Sec is a good addition to existing time management extensions.

9.2

Recall's range of functions is impressive for a relatively new tool. The AI summary works on a wide range of content, from articles to YouTube videos with a running time of several hours. We particularly liked the personal knowledge base and the way Recall automatically links related content. Spaced Repetition and Active Recall are outstanding features for students. However, some features are still in beta or will be available soon. The functions in the free version are severely limited in the number of users per day, and there is an upper limit for free use.

Performance
9.5

In our test, we did not notice any delays or slowdowns due to the extension.
Regular updates are also released to improve performance and fix bugs.

9.0

Retrieval is fast and reliable in most cases. The summary is fast, even with very extreme examples such as a 9-hour news show that we had summarized in our test. Occasionally, we encountered errors or slowdowns, especially when asking further questions about the summarized content via the wizard. The team is actively working on performance improvements and there are regular updates. Overall, the tool feels stable and is suitable for everyday use.

Design
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.

9.0

The user interface has a clear and modern design. The focus is on user-friendliness. We found the browser extension intuitive and easy to navigate. The tagging and organization system can be used flexibly, and some users mentioned minor bugs in the user interface, but these were only minimally noticeable in the test.

Value for Money
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.

8.1

The free tariff is suitable for infrequent users who do not need all the functions, as you will quickly reach the map limit. However, if you want to use the extension on a day-to-day basis, you cannot avoid the
extension. The paid plan is competitively priced, especially with the student discount. We appreciate that some features will remain free forever, and the team is open to feedback on pricing. Compared to alternatives, Recall offers good value for money for those who need advanced knowledge management features, but casual users may find the limitations too restrictive and stop using the extension.

Ease of Use
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.

set up
8.0

An account is required to use Recall. However, due to the integration with a Google and Apple login, this should be easy for everyone.
Saving and summarizing content is a one-click process that is well explained at the beginning. However, mastering all functions (e.g., nested tags, links, and spatial repetitions) requires some time and some searching, which can lead to many users not being able to exploit the full potential.

Security & Privacy
9.5

Data usage is described transparently in the privacy policy, which places great value on user privacy.
This is also reflected in the fact that the features already work with minimal authorizations so that not much private data needs to be tracked.

9.9

Recall is characterized by its privacy-friendly approach. User data is not used by the extension for advertising, profiling, or AI training. All content is stored securely, and users retain full control over their data. Data can be exported for inspection or deleted at any time. The data protection guidelines are transparent, and support is always available to answer questions about data protection. We were unable to identify any uncertainties during our review.

Conclusion

One Sec is a tool that encourages mindful browsing by introducing a pause every time you want to access a distracting website.
Although it stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness, its limited functionality means that it should only be seen as a supplement in the area of time management. Overall, however, it is a valuable tool for anyone looking to improve their online productivity.

Recall impressed us with its useful intelligent use of AI and its focus on helping users in their everyday lives, especially when learning. The browser extension makes it easy to capture content, and the revision features with auto-generated questions are a real bonus for learners.

For occasional users, the free version may be enough, but if you want to use the extension, you can't avoid the paid version. The extension is not yet perfect and has small bugs, but the team reacts quickly to these and feedback, and many new functions are currently being introduced.

Overall, Recall is a good choice for anyone looking to do more than just bookmark cards and build a personal knowledge base. If you're tired of forgetting what you've read online and want to save time, it's a must!

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between one sec and Recall, all extensions performed equally well, each scoring 8.9.

Recall is the most widely used, with over 73k users and 95+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews reflect our findings.

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.


  • Looking for the richest feature set? Recall stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, one sec lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • Need top performance? one sec stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Recall lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.
  • Design lovers, take note: Recall stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, one sec lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • Want to get the most for your money? one sec stands out with a rating of 9.2. On the other hand, Recall lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.1.
  • If you hate complicated tools, one sec stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Recall lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, Recall stands out with a rating of 9.9. On the other hand, one sec lags behind in this area with a rating of 9.5.

There's no single winner, so check the categories above to find your best fit.