Opal vs StepBloc
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Screen time control
- App blocker
- Set app limits
- Focus modes
- Productivity reports
- Block apps and websites
- Mindful block screens
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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/
StepBloc
This app helps you reduce screen time by requiring physical activity to unlock distracting apps. Earn your app access by completing workouts like push-ups, squats, or reaching step goals. Take control of your digital habits and improve your health simultaneously.
- Earn app access through push-ups, squats, or steps
- Block distracting apps until goals are met
- App blocking scheduler
- Set daily usage limits
- Track focus minutes
- Digital habit insights and reports
- HealthKit integration for step tracking
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StepBloc lets you earn your screen time by doing Push-ups, Squats and other workouts. For example, you need to do 10 push-ups to use instagram for 10 mins. Just follow 3 simple steps: +Choose the distracting apps. +Set your goal (Push-ups, Squats, or Steps). +Move! Apps stay blocked until your goal is hit. Why should you download StepBloc? + Control how much time you spend on distracting apps. + Reduce your screen time. + Stay healthy by staying active. + Reclaim your focus. Key Features: + Steps to unblock: Distracted apps are blocked unless you completed required number of steps. + Push-Ups to unblock: Distracted apps are blocked unless you completed required number of Push-Ups. + Squats to unblock: Distracted apps are blocked unless you completed required number of Squats. + App Blocking Scheduler: Set specific times to block distracting apps, ensuring uninterrupted focus during work, study, or leisure time. + Usage Limits: Define daily usage limits for your distracted apps. + Focus Tracker: Measure your daily focus minutes and block distracting apps until you complete your focus minute target. + Insights: Gain valuable insights into your digital habits with detailed analytics and reports. + Secure and Private: Rest assured that your data is safe with StepBloc. All of your data stays in the device. Take control of your digital distractions, reclaim your focus, and unlock your full potential with StepBloc. Download now and experience the transformative power of mindful device management! The Monthly Pass Subscribe to monthly pass to get unlimited access to blocks. - Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase. - Your subscription will renew automatically unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - When you cancel a subscription, your subscription will stay active until the end of the period. - While cancelling, Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the current subscription will not be refunded By using the app, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: Terms: https://hamsters.tech/stepbloc-t-c Privacy: https://hamsters.tech/stepbloc-privacy-policy HealthKit Integration: StepBloc accesses your step count data from HealthKit to incentivize healthy habits. By linking your daily step count with app usage, StepBloc rewards you with app access based on your physical activity level. This integration encourages movement and ensures that you strike a balance between screen time and physical wellness. Note: HealthKit data is used only if user decides to use Step Block as the blocking method in app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ratings volume: Opal at 88K against StepBloc's 485. Opal also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and chart position (#43 vs unranked). StepBloc's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. Opal sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and StepBloc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Opal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opal has 88K ratings behind it against 485, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of Opal's written reviews are positive against 64% of StepBloc'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, StepBloc weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Opal | StepBloc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (88K ratings) — better | 4.5 (485 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews | 63.9% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 88K — better | 485 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | #43 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 303 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Opal OS | Hamsters Technology |
Customer experience
Opal
StepBloc
User reviews
Opal
From 88K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Helps reduce screen time
- 🚀 Effective at blocking distracting apps
- 💡 Customizable blocking schedules
- 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing design
- 🔒 Difficult to bypass blocks
Room to improve
- 💰 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
StepBloc
From 485 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Blocks apps very well
- 👍 Free to use
- 👍 Innovative concept
- 👍 Effective screen time reduction
- 👍 Motivates exercise
Room to improve
- 🐛 Push-up/squat tracking issues
- 🐛 Daily limits in free version
- 🐛 Limited free features
- 🐛 Unintuitive timer
- 🐛 Lacking features
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
StepBloc
Reported bugs
12 issues- Push-up counter can be cheated
- Squat counter can be cheated
- App keeps blocks after deletion
- Push-up system is faulty
- Squats not registered correctly
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Screen time rate incorrect
- Analytics tab blank
- Freezes phone
- Push-up tracking measures face distance
- App still blocks after exercise
- Screen time shown is incorrect
- Lifetime unlock price high
Requested features
14 requests- Accumulate screen time
- Start day with screen time
- Reset banked steps daily
- Widget for progress tracking
- Macbook app
Show 9 moreShow fewer
- Nose detection mode
- More exercise options (sit-ups, pull-ups)
- Edit workouts for specific days
- Bank minutes/time
- Face-on push-up tracking
- Camera tracking for exercises
- Set multiple rules for exercise/time
- See time left until next exercise
- More free features
In-app purchases
Opal
- Weekly Plan3 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Weekly Plan3 Days trial$9.997 Days
- Opal Student Weekly3 Days trial$9.997 Days
Show 10 moreShow fewer
- 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
StepBloc
- Monthly Pass$3.991 Month
- Premium Pass7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Lifetime$29.99







