Free with a Catch

Opal: Screen Time Control

Opal OS · Productivity · 4.7★ (87,850 ratings)

Is Opal: Screen Time Control free? Free with a Catch.

Pricing: Opal's free tier gives real app-blocking with one active rule, basic timers/soundscapes, and today's Opal Score, while paying for Opal Pro - priced from about $9.99/week up to $19.99/month, $99.99/year, or a $399 lifetime option - unlocks Hard Mode (no bypassing a block), unlimited rules, advanced timers/soundscapes, Allow Only mode, and historical Opal Score data. Optional paid features: Opal Pro Monthly ($19.99/month); Opal Pro Yearly ($99.99/year); Opal Pro Lifetime ($399 one-time); Opal Pro Weekly ($9.99/week); Opal Pro Weekly ($4.99/week); Opal Student Weekly ($9.99/week).

View on the App Store →

Opal blocks distracting apps and adds friction to habitual screen use, and its basic free tier is genuinely useful without a subscription. Paid features exist, but free users report meaningful long-term use; the bigger current problem is a buggy recent redesign.

Pros
  • Free users report that app blocking and focus sessions meaningfully reduce screen time.
  • Basic membership includes enough features for long-term use without paying.
  • No advertising dominates the free experience.
  • Timed friction before bypassing limits helps interrupt habitual scrolling.
Cons
  • Recent reviews repeatedly report freezing, crashes, and unresponsive controls after an update.
  • Blocking can fail to activate or remain active at the wrong times.
  • Some formerly useful controls became harder to find or were removed.
  • Paid subscribers report billing and premium-access problems.
What's free vs. paid

Opal's free tier gives real app-blocking with one active rule, basic timers/soundscapes, and today's Opal Score, while paying for Opal Pro - priced from about $9.99/week up to $19.99/month, $99.99/year, or a $399 lifetime option - unlocks Hard Mode (no bypassing a block), unlimited rules, advanced timers/soundscapes, Allow Only mode, and historical Opal Score data.

Free
  • App and website blocking
  • One active rule (schedule or limit)
  • Basic timers and soundscapes
  • Opal Score (today only)
Costs money
  • Opal Pro Monthly$19.99/month
  • Opal Pro Yearly$99.99/year
  • Opal Pro Lifetime$399 one-time
  • Opal Pro Weekly$9.99/week
  • Opal Pro Weekly$4.99/week
  • Opal Student Weekly$9.99/week
App Store description

Achieve screen time control with the world’s most-loved screen time app! Opal is the fun, free Screen Time app to improve your focus and make the most out of every day. 5 to 6 hours. That’s the average time you’ll spend looking at your phone today, often without realizing it. It's time to fight back. With a combination of screen time control, app limits, app blockers, real time data, leaderboards and rewards, you will focus better and accomplish your dreams, just like Opal’s members. **As of August 2026, Opal has saved humanity 500 Million hours of screen time. ** Many of the world's top teams and companies trust Opal to help protect their focus. You can too. **Opal cut my screen time by 2 hours per day – Marketing at Google ** **You need this app. When I first got opal my daily screen-time was about 8 1/2 hours a day. Now it's 1 hour. ** **Opal has become an indispensable tool in my quest for productivity and mindful technology usage ** **Get Opal! - Ali Abdaal, productivity expert** BENEFITS Save 1 hour and 23 minutes per DAY from less screen time, on average. 94% of Opal members are less distracted 93% are more productive thanks to the app 90% report improved well-being Added benefits: - Better screen time control - Better productivity at work - Reduce stress, be more mindful - Supports focus challenges, including ADHD - Set daily work hours, sleep, and routines - Block apps to unplug and detox - Stay in focus when you need it most - You're happy and in control of your screen time FEATURES - #1 Screen Time Control: the most loved app for screen time control with 4.8/5. - #1 App Blocker: Instantly Block apps and websites you choose at a specific time of day throughout the week to organize your time. - Focus Difficulty: Make it hard, or make it a bit easier. Deep Focus won't let you cancel or bypass at all. - App Limits: Set daily usage limits on apps and websites to automatically block them and prevent overuse. - Mindful Block Screens: Discover quotes, puns and more every time you try to open an app or website you really shoudn't. - Blocklist & Allowlist: Easily pick any app, game or website you want to block or allow during your Blocks. - Focus Report: Measure your progress with clear metrics, actionable screen time stats, and benchmark against your peers. - Focus Score: Check your screen time and focus level at any point easily spotting Focus and Distracted time. - Calendar: Set daily working hours, sleep and routines, block apps automatically, so you don’t have to remember. - Precious Rewards: Unlock unique MileStones you can share with friends. - Leaderboard: Challenge friends to top the leaderboard, enhancing productivity, focus and keeping each other motivated. - Breaks: Choose the app you want to use, write your intention, and set a timer. - Focus Mode Integration: Sync your Opal Focus Sessions with iPhone Focus Mode to block apps. - Shortcut Integration: Connect iPhone shortcut automations to start/stop Focus Sessions based on app opens, time, location and more! - Focus Reminders: Get timely reminder notifications when you get distracted or reach a time limit. - Deep Focus: Need ultimate focus? Deep Focus is the maximum level of protection — you can’t bypass or cancel. - More Fun: Opal is guilt-free and fun. - Widget: Have Opal on your home screen! CREATE A PERSONALIZED APP BLOCK LIST Easily pick any app, game or website you want to block or allow to Block Apps. PRIVATE & SAFE We use Apple's Screen Time API in order to monitor and block apps you use. Installation is easy and takes a few seconds on your iPhone. Unlike most apps, Opal works entirely on your phone and personal browsing data never leaves your device. TERMS, PRIVACY & CONDITIONS Read on https://opal.so/terms & https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

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