Comparison

Opal vs aLock

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

Head to head
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/

About

aLock

Manage your screen time effectively by setting usage limits for apps and automatically restricting them when limits are reached. This app helps users, including children, focus better by blocking distractions and inappropriate content. A free trial is available for premium features.

Highlights
  • Set app usage limits
  • Automatic app restriction
  • Manual app restriction/restoration
  • Focus enhancement for children
  • Distraction blocking
  • Free trial for premium features
Features
Read full description

It is a very useful screen time management app that allows you to set usage limits for apps and automatically restrict apps when the limit is reached. Additionally, you can manually restrict or restore applications as needed. - Use of social media and games can be limited to help children focus better and block inappropriate content. - A time limit for the app can be set to help you not get distracted by the app. Start a free trial to access all premium features - You can subscribe for unlimited access to all premium features - Within 24 hours before the end of the free trial period, the change fee calculated according to the subscription plan will be automatically debited from your account - You can cancel the auto-renewal at any time, if the cancellation occurs at least 24 hours before the end of the current period Support: tinfineapp@outlook.com Privacy Policy: https://decisive-store-bd5.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-3930ce2f70bf41df93666e029f0a1d19 Terms of Use: https://decisive-store-bd5.notion.site/Terms-Conditions-7dcac12bf71f41edbee0e260df02c563

Screenshots

Opal4 screens
aLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Opal at 88K against aLock's 31. Opal also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks) and chart position (#41 vs unranked). aLock's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 62%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Opal sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and aLock sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Opal against 4.6 for aLock. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opal has 88K ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 62% of Opal's written reviews are positive against 75% of aLock's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Opal ships an update every 5 days, aLock every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Opal versus aLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOpalaLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (88K ratings) — better4.6 (31 ratings)
Positive reviews62.1% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings88K — better31
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank#41 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size303 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOpal OS裕涛 兰

Customer experience

Opal

All ratings88,321 ratings
Positive93.3%
Neutral2.0%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews5,586 reviews
Positive62.1%
Neutral9.0%
Negative28.9%

aLock

All ratings31 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral3.2%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Bugs and requests

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

aLock

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

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
3 purchases

aLock

Subscriptions2
  • App Lock for 1 week3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • App Lock for 1 year3 Days trial$9.991 Year
One-time1
  • App Lock Premium$19.99

Questions

Is Opal free?
Opal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is aLock free?
aLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Opal or aLock?
Opal is rated higher. Opal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 88K ratings, while aLock averages 4.6 from 31 ratings.
Do Opal or aLock have ads?
Neither Opal nor aLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Opal or aLock?
Opal ships an update every 5 days, and aLock every 3 weeks. Most recently, Opal was updated on September 25, 2026 and aLock on August 30, 2026.

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