# Opal vs aLock

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 (#42 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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | aLock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews)** | [4.6 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alock-app-lock/id1663668785/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **88K** | 31 |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#42** | — |
| Size | 303 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [裕涛 兰](https://appshunter.io/developer/1624361053) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

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

**Currently charting:** #42 Top Grossing · Productivity, #87 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


### aLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alock-app-lock/id1663668785)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| App Lock for 1 week | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| App Lock for 1 year | $9.99 | per year |
| App Lock Premium | $19.99 | one-time |


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