# Opal vs Elqi

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Elqi at 89% against Opal's 61%. Elqi also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Opal's advantage is ratings volume (91K vs 10) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Opal sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Elqi sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Opal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opal has 91K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of Opal's written reviews are positive against 89% of Elqi's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Opal ships an update every 6 days, Elqi every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | Elqi |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (91K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews)** | [4.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elqi-the-dopamine-app/id6476441509/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **91K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 61.3% of reviews | **88.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#50** | — |
| Size | 326 MB | 65 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [Elqi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1734548800) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

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

**Currently charting:** #50 Top Grossing · Productivity, #92 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, iPhone Duo support

**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


### Elqi

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elqi-the-dopamine-app/id6476441509)

This app helps you break free from phone addiction and manage your screen time. It uses mindfulness and cognitive exercises to encourage intentional digital interactions and balance your dopamine levels. Track your progress and celebrate achievements on your digital detox journey.

**Highlights:** Dopamine detox companion, Screen time control, Mindfulness and cognitive exercises, App blocking, Progress tracking, Dopamine level insights

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Access | $2.99 | per month |
| All Access | $22.99 | per year |
| Gift Lifetime Premium Access | $44.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is Elqi free?

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

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

Opal is rated higher. Opal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 91K ratings, while Elqi averages 4.4 from 10 ratings.

### Do Opal or Elqi have ads?

Neither Opal nor Elqi shows ads.

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

Opal ships an update every 6 days, and Elqi every 3 weeks. Most recently, Opal was updated on November 1, 2026 and Elqi on October 24, 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.*