# Opal: Screen Time Control — user reviews > 5,388 indexed App Store user reviews of Opal by Opal OS, rated 4.70/5 from 86,639 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 75,387 · 4★ 5,514 · 3★ 1,730 · 2★ 1,010 · 1★ 2,998 ## What do users think of Opal? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Helps reduce screen time - 🚀 Effective at blocking distracting apps - 💡 Customizable blocking schedules - 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing design - 🔒 Difficult to bypass blocks - 📈 Tracks and reports screen time - 🤔 Provides motivational messages **Cons** - 💰 Expensive subscription - 🐛 Buggy and unreliable at times - 🔓 Easy to bypass blocks in some cases - 🤯 Can be frustrating when blocks don't work as expected - 🕰️ Longer wait times to take breaks **Commonly reported bugs** - Blocks apps that are not selected - Inconsistent behavior when ending focus sessions - Crashes when trying to manage blocked apps - VPN issues causing other connectivity problems **Most requested features** - Allow more customization of blocked apps - Integrate with more productivity tools - Provide more granular time tracking and reporting - Offer a one-time purchase option - Improve stability and reduce bugs ## Newest reviews (14 of 5,388) ### 2/5 — Enrolação *2026-08-23* Muita informação. 10 minutos de blablabla pra conseguir acessar o aplicativo e depois uma confusão pra conseguir bloquear o aplicativo. Falam sobre “não perder tanto tempo no celular” mas o próprio aplicativo é uma enrolação ### 3/5 — Sugestão *2026-08-21* O aplicativo ajuda muito, mas seria interessante ter uma funcionalidade para desconsiderar alguns aplicativos na contagem de tempo de uso, como aplicativos de estudo ou leitura. Dessa forma seria mais fácil avaliar. O tipo de regra “Limite de Tempo” também não está funcionando, não usei nenhum dos aplicativos da lista e eles foram bloqueados quando testei. **Developer response:** Olá! Estamos à disposição para ajudar. Agradecemos seu pedido para reintroduzir a capacidade de designar aplicativos como Neutro, Distrativo e Produtivo. Mudamos esse recurso para que você possa designar aplicativos como Distrativo, Sempre Permitido e Nunca Permitido. Mais informações sobre como isso funciona estão aqui: https://help.opalapp.com/article/how-to-designate-apps-as-distracting https://help.opalapp.com/article/how-to-designate-apps-as-always-allowed https://help.opalapp.com/article/how-to-designate-apps-as-never-allowed Dito isso, pretendemos reintroduzir a opção "Neutro" em breve, então fique atento! Agradecemos sua paciência, Equipe Opal ### 4/5 — Lag *2026-08-20, version 4.11* I enjoy this app for free but after the redesign it’s extremely laggy when trying to unblock ### 2/5 — Opal *2026-08-20, version 4.11* My one good thing to say about this app, is that it does work. However, It’s so unbelievably hard to work my way around the app. For example, I want to take one of my apps out of the unblocking portion — and it’s not working. I tried even deleting the app, and makes me put in a screen time passcode I didn’t think existed. Long story short, can’t delete the app, and it’s making me mad. Please fix this problem. ### 2/5 — Doesn’t work right *2026-08-20, version 4.11* I thought i understood how this app works, you get to basically make your own rules and it will close the apps after a certain amount of time but it literally doesnt work right. It will either close my apps and if i want to reset it (give myself 15 more minutes) it wont let me. Like the app i want will open again but then close after 2 seconds. It also doesnt work at all half the time, i have it set to where it closes tiktok and instagram after 2 hours of use and it will go way past 2 hours and not close them. I dont know ive only been using this app for a few weeks but it doesnt seem to do what its supposed to do ### 3/5 — In spite of all the lag, it’s still a good app *2026-08-20, version 4.11* When the app works, it’s amazing. Simple concept and executes well, which makes it easier to keep my screen time down The old UI was great and I never had problems with it. The new UI has lots of functional issues (as other reviews have mentioned) and in my opinion doesn’t look better than the old version. Please go back to the previous UI, it was a near perfect app!!!!! ### 3/5 — Confusing and constantly changing interface *2026-08-20, version 4.11* It’s hard to use this app and it changes significantly each updates. Please get rid of the stupid eggs and make it simple. App is ok enough and does the job but could easily be much better ### 3/5 — Got a free trial, can't use it *2026-08-20, version 4.11* I have used Opal in the past and it is a great tool, but now I re-subscribed with a free trial and even though Apple says my subscription is active and I also re-installed the app, the subscription does not apply to my account. I tried re-subscribing and the app rejects it saying "an error occurred because I am already subscribed" 🤷🏻‍♂️ ### 2/5 — Not as good as it used to be *2026-08-19, version 4.11* Loved it for the first year so that I had it. But the last three months it’s been buggy and not tracking my screen time properly. ### 3/5 — Not Free *2026-08-19, version 4.11* Will update after some use of app, but note that it is not FREE. Some reviews say it is but it’s not. Wish it was in the app description that it’s a subscription service. There is a yearly subscription. Hopefully will be worth it as I give it a go. ### 3/5 — It’s extremely laggy, barely usable *2026-08-19* I only downloaded it recently and I think it’s great with screen time and helping me out in that regard but it’s so laggy. I’ve never in my life experienced an app that laggy. Before I wrote this review I opened it and I could barely scroll on the homepage. I get it’s trying to be aesthetically pleasing and to include all those features but it shouldn’t be affecting the actual usability of the app. How can I set rules, timers or limits if it takes me ages just to go to another page on the app. I was really excited to use this app and I encouraged my friends to join too but the more I use it the more frustrated I get **Developer response:** Hey there, Sorry to hear about this issue! We’ve escalated this issue of Opal lagging badly to the engineering team, who is currently working on a fix. We've noticed that the lag has continued on the newest version, and we suspect it's primarily affecting customers on old devices and older iOS versions. To help us confirm and escalate, please navigate to Settings > Chat with Support, and provide the following details: - what version of iOS are you on? - what device are you using? - are you currently using Opal on low-power mode? Please let us know, so we may include this information in our escalation report. Thanks for your patience, Team Opal ### 3/5 — Works but really buggy *2026-08-18, version 4.11* Opal has helped reduce my screen time. However, it has also become a clear and increasing hindrance with all the bugs it presents. Timers for apps are wildly inconsistent from my experience, it rarely actually allotted the specified time I had set. To go along with that, when I go in to pause blocking on a certain app there’s a good 40% chance the buttons won’t even work causing me to force close and reopen the app. Overall it’ll help you reduce your screen time, but expect bugs and some frustration with it from time to time. ### 3/5 — Glitches *2026-08-18, version 4.11* I’ve used this for over a year but this recent update ruined it. It glitches so much as soon as I open the app and I can’t scroll or anything . I miss the way it was. ### 4/5 — A nice crystal (iykyk) *2026-08-18, version 4.11* Opal helps me get off my screens for about 30% of the time I am on my phone. I think This app is very useful :) ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — engineers dilemma *2026-08-21, version 4.11* This app is borderline unusable now it get worse every update, the UI becomes worse to use, core features harder to access, whole app is slower. ### 1/5 — Opal getting stuck *2026-08-21, version 4.11* I have used this for a while with good results but it has now got stuck on a page which says that I cannot access a particular site because it is restricted. I have no problem with that as such but it is stuck there and will not let me say “ok” and reopen the app. There appears to be no support that is not available via the app and the app is stuck on the above page. Hence the 1 star review Rez ### 1/5 — It’s gotten worse *2026-08-20, version 4.11* I used to really love opal but the last few months it’s went really down hill and very buggy, I often find it not locking apps at the end of breaks, certain rules not staying paused or reset despite asking them to be reset or paused for xyz time, the app frequently freezing. I can no longer rely on it to reliably enforce screen time and habits. ### 1/5 — used to be fine *2026-08-20, version 4.11* had to delete app because it doesn’t work anymore…just straight up doesn’t impose a time limit, or doesn’t let me reset my limit. how hard can it be to make a simple time limit app work? lol, waste of time ### 1/5 — Glitchy buggy intro cannot use app *2026-08-20, version 4.11* Literally not functional from the jump. What a waste of time ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2026-08-19, version 4.11* Can’t even get passed the setup, tried multiple times. Took about an hour of my time I could have been FOCUSING on something else so I likely won’t try again because I don’t trust it. ### 1/5 — Hit the bottom *2026-08-19, version 4.11* It used to be an awesome app, but now the whole experience is ruined. Major interface update killed UX completely, the bugs are everywhere. Such a disappointment. ### 1/5 — Atualmente é inútil *2026-08-19* Depois de uma atualização deixou de registrar a quantidade de uso e excluiu o histórico das últimas semanas. Ficou inútil para mim. Perdi dados de uso de muito tempo. Suporte não responde. Infelizmente peguei o plano anual, agora estou perdendo dinheiro com algo que não serve pra mim. ### 1/5 — Mischarged Me *2026-08-18, version 4.11* Had subscribed to their paid service for months. Suddenly I was kicked back to free performance tier. I assumed that my subscription had lapsed. Nope - they kept charging me the whole time. I leave the time saving app with less money and less time. ### 1/5 — Worked well but not anymore *2026-08-18, version 4.11* It used to work flawlessly. But lately, the updates keep blocking even if the time has been reset. Something isn’t working. I was forced to uninstall however it still has blocked my usage. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — 宝石が綺麗 *2026-08-21* 私はあんまり続かなかったけどルールとかがちゃんとしてていい！ 《メリット》 ・アプリ解除の時も一旦置いたり、「始めた理由があったんじゃないの？」的な一言を行って止めてくれるので始めたらやる気にはなる。 ・アプリをアラームみたいに禁止できる。無理やりやれる ・とにかくアプリ内がきれい！ ・睡眠用音楽とかも聞ける ・モチベ上げの言葉使いとかが上手い！スマホ中毒には刺さる！ ・アプリ解除の時間も多すぎなくていい 【デメリット】 ・ちょっと分かりにくい ・石とかがもっと変化してもいい！ ・やるまでのモチベをつくってほしい！ でもめちゃくちゃ高画質だし色々綺麗だしいいよ！ ### 5/5 — I can’t get in. It’s crashing *2026-08-21, version 4.11* Please tell me why it’s crashing all the time when I get to the step where I set the rules with the app on how to manage my screen time. I’m so confused. ### 5/5 — Good *2026-08-19, version 4.11* Makes you fell better. Makes you feel understood ### 5/5 — No paywall. Works *2026-08-19, version 4.11* I got this app because I wanted to try something better than screen time limits. What I don’t like about those is that you can avoid them so quickly, and because it’s a system notification, it’s almost second nature. This thing actually works. You can set limits, but also you can create a bunch of other ways to discourage doomscrolling. I like the focus sessions. Another thing that sets this apart from screen time limits, is the small, but effective amount of effort you need in order to reset your limit. If you want to reset it, you have to go to the app, and wait 5 seconds, while it plays a nice ambience on the screen. It’s a nice touch. The second time you reset, it’s 40 seconds. I’ve only ever gotten to that one twice. It’s a very effective system. And you need to show a friend a video, or message someone, there are ways to bypass it. I also love the little achievement gems you get. You have a little collection shelf in the app, and they are actually really neat to look at. Great app, and a lot of features aren’t locked behind a paywall. ### 5/5 — LIFE CHANGER FOR ADHD *2026-08-18, version 4.11* I struggle with getting lost in my phone constantly and have things to do and next thing I know that day ended because I’ve spent the whole entire day on my phone. Opal has changed that it really shocked me when I saw that I was using 40 years of my life by scrolling on my phone and now I’ve only gotten it down to 12 is incredible and I know it would be low if my job wasn’t content creation but it’s completely giving me a mind shift to how much I use my phone grey app can’t recommend enough ### 5/5 — Helpful *2026-08-18, version 4.11* AMAZING helped me ALOT ### 5/5 — Great for screen time *2026-08-17, version 4.10* For a while I’ve been trying to get my screen time down because I had an average of NINE hours on TikTok and my entire screen time in the day averaging 11 hours but after downloading this app for two days, my time on TikTok is now just 37 minutes and my time on YouTube only an hour and my full screen time being 3 hours which isn’t the best but it’s a lot better that 11 hours so I really recommend their monthly no unblock subscription, I’m currently on their free trial and I can tell I’ll definitely be paying at the end !! All round great app! ### 5/5 — Perfect *2026-08-14, version 4.10* I was so addicted to social media and I knew I needed some help. This app has truly help me get off social media and do what I need to be doing . I still like social media and want to be on there but now I have something stopping me from wasting my time in my life. I love this app. ### 5/5 — getting life back *2026-08-13, version 4.10* i have adhd and poor impulse control, opal is helping build the habit of not losing my life looking at screens <3 ### 5/5 — Helped me cut way down on screen time *2026-08-13, version 4.10* This app is great! It’s helped me get out of the habit of going on my phone right when I wake up in the morning, which I’ve noticed has really improved my mental health. The only addition I’d love to see is for you to be able to log why you’re unblocking the app (for example, anxiety, boredom, toilet, etc.). That way I’d be able to keep track of what makes me use distracting apps the most. Overall, though, I love the app as is! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-28.*