Opal
Opal is a screen time app, strongest on iPhone, that blocks distracting apps during scheduled or on-demand focus sessions and reports how much focused time you recover. Its Deep Focus mode makes sessions genuinely hard to cancel, positioning it between Apple's easily-dismissed Screen Time and nothing at all.
| Category | Phone app blocker / screen time |
|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Mac; limited Android app |
| Price | Free tier; Opal Pro subscription around $99.99/year (check current pricing) |
| Best for | iPhone-first procrastinators; people who tap through Apple Screen Time limits without thinking |
| Limitations | Expensive for what it does; Android version is far weaker; desktop browsing largely untouched |
What it does well
- Deep Focus sessions are meaningfully harder to bypass than Apple's built-in Screen Time prompts.
- Scheduled sessions (work hours, wind-down) turn blocking into a routine rather than a willpower act.
- Focus reports give a concrete before-and-after number, which helps the habit stick.
Where it falls short
- The Pro subscription costs more per year than most full blockers, and the free tier is thin.
- Android support is limited and reviews are notably weaker there; treat it as an iPhone product.
- It does nothing for laptop distraction, so many people need a desktop blocker alongside it.
Related
Deep workStop procrastinating on studying
Frequently asked questions
Is Opal better than Apple Screen Time?
For blocking, yes. Screen Time limits are dismissed with one tap, which trains you to ignore them. Opal's Deep Focus removes that easy exit. Whether that is worth the subscription depends on how much the tap-through habit costs you.