# Opal vs BeTimeful

The clearest difference is rating: Opal at 4.7 against BeTimeful's 4.0. Opal also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (88K vs 87). BeTimeful's advantage is review sentiment (71% vs 62%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Opal sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and BeTimeful sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Opal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opal has 88K ratings behind it against 87, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of Opal's written reviews are positive against 71% of BeTimeful's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Opal ships an update every 5 days, BeTimeful fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and August 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | BeTimeful |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews)** | [4.0 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/betimeful-screen-time-20/id1599021847/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **88K** | 87 |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews | **71.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#48** | — |
| Size | 303 MB | 246 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [Be Timeful Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1576212134) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230)

**Currently charting:** #48 Top Grossing · Productivity, #94 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

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:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Plan | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Opal Student Weekly | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Plan | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $19.99 | per month |
| Opal Pro Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $69.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $89.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $99.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $99.99 | per year |
| Opal Pro Yearly | $99.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $129.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $179.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 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

**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

**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


### BeTimeful

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/betimeful-screen-time-20/id1599021847)

This app helps you stay focused by removing distracting elements from social media and YouTube, allowing you to use them intentionally. It offers smart time limits and integration with your calendar to manage your usage effectively.

**Highlights:** Removes distracting elements from social media, Smart time limits, Google Calendar integration, Auto Discipline Mode, Unlimited blocking

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly BeTimeful Pro Access | $5.99 | per month |
| Monthly BeTimeful Pro | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual BeTimeful Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| 12 Months BeTimeful Pro Access | $59.99 | per year |
| BeTimeful Pro (Annual) | $69.99 | per year |
| Annual BeTimeful Pro | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Helpful for reducing screen time
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Blocks apps effectively
- 💡 Useful break timer feature
- 👍 Responsive customer support

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent app blocking
- 🔒 Unclear subscription management
- 💰 Expensive for some features
- 🐛 Feedless Instagram not available
- 🔒 Difficult to cancel subscription

**Reported bugs**

- App not working properly after breaks
- White screen on app opening
- Safari extension no longer working
- Subscription issues and unauthorized charges

**Requested features**

- Feedless option for more apps
- Scheduling to automatically hide apps
- Free version with more functionality
- Ability to modify feeds for free


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

Opal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is BeTimeful free?

BeTimeful is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Opal or BeTimeful?

Opal is rated higher. Opal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 88K ratings, while BeTimeful averages 4.0 from 87 ratings.

### Do Opal or BeTimeful have ads?

Neither Opal nor BeTimeful shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Opal or BeTimeful?

Opal ships an update every 5 days, and BeTimeful fortnightly. Most recently, Opal was updated on September 26, 2026 and BeTimeful on August 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*