# Opal vs Screen Time Control

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Opal at 62% against Screen Time Control's 0%. Opal also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 months). Screen Time Control's advantage is iOS requirement (16.1 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Opal sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Screen Time Control sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Opal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opal has 88K ratings behind it against 20, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Opal's written reviews are positive against 0% of Screen Time Control's.

Opal ships an update every 5 days, Screen Time Control every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | Screen Time Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews)** | [4.3 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-focusmate/id1668064760/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **88K** | 20 |
| Positive reviews | **62.1% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#43** | — |
| Size | 303 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [ADAPPS SOFTWARE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1240972162) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

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

**Currently charting:** #43 Top Grossing · Productivity, #88 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


### Screen Time Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-focusmate/id1668064760)

Take control of your digital life with this powerful screen time manager and app blocker. Set limits, block distractions, and build healthier habits to reclaim your time and improve focus.

**Highlights:** Limit screen time, Block distracting apps and websites, Create distraction-free focus sessions, Structure day with focused intervals, Track screen time usage and progress, Temporarily relax restrictions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Trial Weekly Premium | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| 3 Day Free | $12.99 | per month |
| Annual Premium | $34.99 | per year |
| 1 Week Free | $34.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is Screen Time Control free?

Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Opal or Screen Time Control?

Opal is rated higher. Opal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 88K ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 4.3 from 20 ratings.

### Do Opal or Screen Time Control have ads?

Screen Time Control shows ads; Opal does not.

### Which is updated more often, Opal or Screen Time Control?

Opal ships an update every 5 days, and Screen Time Control every 2 months. Most recently, Opal was updated on September 24, 2026 and Screen Time Control on September 21, 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.*