Comparison

Block & Flow vs Opal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Block & Flow

This app helps you boost productivity by breaking down tasks into focused work intervals with scheduled breaks. It visualizes your progress and helps you understand where your time goes, encouraging consistent accomplishment.

Highlights
  • 25-minute visual countdown timer
  • Scheduled breaks for energy management
  • Track daily and weekly block completion
  • Color-code blocks for activities
  • Set intentional goals
  • View time history
  • Adjustable block duration
Features
Read full description

Do more in less time with 25-minute blocks. Take it one block at a time and surprise yourself with how much you can accomplish. Inspired by tried and trusted time management techniques. Block & Flow is simple, beautiful and will get your productivity flowing. FEATURES: - A 25-minute visual countdown keeps you focussed and avoiding distractions. - Manage your energy levels with regular breaks - Measure your day, week and longer by how many blocks you finish. - Colour code a block for the activities that you do often or care particularly about. - Goals enable you to be intentional with your time. - History gives you an understanding of where your time goes. - A block’s duration can be changed to your ideal time. WHY IT WORKS: - It makes it easy to get the day started. Just do your first block. - Creates an enjoyment and satisfaction as you see all that you get done. See your blocks build up one by one. - It is clear when to stop. Stop when your block has finished, or after you have done x many blocks for the day. - Every block that you finish is a small success. As these small successes build-up, your self- belief grows. - If you keep finishing your blocks. The time will add up to a lot and you will surprise yourself. (We under-estimate what we can do in the long term). WHO IS IT FOR? People tell me that they do x many blocks a day, or over a week which is fantastic. A few people have been completing their blocks for a year and more. I imagine someone completing their blocks over a month, a year and ultimately many years. I believe they will grow as a person, stretch themselves, and be surprised with what they are able to learn, create and accomplish. This is what excites me and motivates me to do my best for someone that chooses Block & Flow. What will you accomplish, one block at a time? Happy Block & Flowing Stefan ********************* PRO SUBSCRIPTION: - A Monthly or Yearly Pro Subscription is offered. If you purchase a Pro Subscription payment will be charged to your iTunes account. - Renewals will be charged 24 hours prior to the end of your current Pro Subscription. - You can turn off auto-renewal at any time in your iTunes Store settings. POLICIES: - Privacy Policy: https://www.blockandflowapp.com/privacy%20policy/ - Terms of Service: https://www.blockandflowapp.com/terms%20of%20service/

About

Opal

This app helps you regain control of your digital life by limiting app usage, blocking distractions, and improving focus. It provides tools and insights to reduce screen time, boost productivity, and enhance well-being.

Highlights
  • Screen time control
  • App blocker
  • Set app limits
  • Focus modes
  • Productivity reports
  • Block apps and websites
  • Mindful block screens
Features
Read full 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/

Screenshots

Block & Flow4 screens
Opal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Opal at 4.7 against Block & Flow's 4.0. Opal also leads on ratings volume (89K vs 76) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). Block & Flow's advantage is review sentiment (72% vs 62%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Block & Flow sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and Opal sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Opal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opal has 89K ratings behind it against 76, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Block & Flow's written reviews are positive against 62% of Opal's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Block & Flow ships an update every 3 weeks, Opal every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on July 25, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Block & Flow versus Opal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlock & FlowOpal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (76 ratings)4.7 (89K ratings) — better
Positive reviews71.6% of reviews — better62.1% of reviews
Number of ratings7689K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#49 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB303 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOne foot after the other LtdOpal OS

Customer experience

Block & Flow

All ratings76 ratings
Positive72.4%
Neutral5.3%
Negative22.4%
Written reviews95 reviews
Positive71.6%
Neutral7.4%
Negative21.1%

Opal

All ratings88,579 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral2.0%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews5,596 reviews
Positive62.1%
Neutral9.0%
Negative29.0%

User reviews

Block & Flow

From 76 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
  • 🎨 Visually appealing design with color-coded categories
  • 📊 Effective visual progress tracking with blocks
  • 🎯 Helps maintain focus and productivity
  • ⏱️ Flexible Pomodoro timer customization

Room to improve

  • 💰 Aggressive shift to mandatory subscription model
  • 😤 Lack of loyalty for early paying customers
  • 🚫 No free version or basic functionality available
  • ⚠️ Misleading app store description about Pro requirement
  • 🔄 Blocks disappear when switching between apps

Opal

From 89K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Helps reduce screen time
  • 🚀 Effective at blocking distracting apps
  • 💡 Customizable blocking schedules
  • 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing design
  • 🔒 Difficult to bypass blocks

Room to improve

  • 💰 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

Bugs and requests

Block & Flow

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • App crashes on launch (reported February 2024)
  • Blocks reset when switching to other apps
  • Blocks disappear from history after completion
  • Timer stops inexplicably during use
  • Subscription status not recognized after reinstall
Show 6 more
  • Incompatibility with older iPhone models
  • Blocks fail to time correctly and end immediately
  • History only displays one week of data
  • Cannot navigate forward in history view
  • Data loss on app restart
  • Notification system loses completed blocks if not immediately rated

Requested features

20 requests
  • Customizable work block duration (not just 25 minutes)
  • Ability to edit task descriptions from previous days
  • Change block categories retroactively
  • Do-not-disturb mode activation with blocks
  • Watch app or Apple Watch complication
Show 15 more
  • Vibration notification option for silent mode
  • Mac version of the app
  • Lock screen timer display
  • White noise or ticking sound for focus
  • Auto-advance to next block feature
  • More detailed history with hours instead of block count
  • Independent goal tracking within same category
  • Export functionality for data
  • Multiple independent goals under same category
  • Ability to view notes for each block in history
  • Forward navigation in history view
  • Ongoing notifications until manually dismissed
  • Automatic block registration without app interaction
  • More color choices for categories
  • Reduced subscription pricing

Opal

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Block & Flow

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly$2.491 Month
  • Yearly$19.991 Year
  • Yearly with Trial7 Days trial$19.991 Year
13 purchases

Opal

Subscriptions13
  • Weekly Plan3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Weekly Plan3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Opal Student Weekly3 Days trial$9.997 Days
Show 10 more
  • Monthly Plan3 Days trial2 variants$19.991 Month
  • Monthly Plan7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Opal Pro Subscription7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial$89.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial2 variants$99.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan1 Month trial2 variants$99.991 Year
  • Opal Pro Yearly$99.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial$129.991 Year
  • Yearly Plan7 Days trial$179.991 Year

Questions

Is Block & Flow free?
Block & Flow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Opal free?
Opal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Block & Flow or Opal?
Opal is rated higher. Block & Flow averages 4.0 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while Opal averages 4.7 from 89K ratings.
Do Block & Flow or Opal have ads?
Neither Block & Flow nor Opal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Block & Flow or Opal?
Block & Flow ships an update every 3 weeks, and Opal every 5 days. Most recently, Block & Flow was updated on July 25, 2026 and Opal on September 27, 2026.

Other comparisons