# Opal vs StepBloc

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 (#41 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.

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. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | StepBloc |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews)** | [4.5 (485 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stepbloc-screen-time-blocker/id6480580480/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **88K** | 485 |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews | **63.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#41** | — |
| Size | 303 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [Hamsters Technology](https://appshunter.io/developer/1684075068) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

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

**Currently charting:** #41 Top Grossing · Productivity, #91 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


### StepBloc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stepbloc-screen-time-blocker/id6480580480)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pass | $3.99 | per month |
| Premium Pass | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Blocks apps very well
- 👍 Free to use
- 👍 Innovative concept
- 👍 Effective screen time reduction
- 👍 Motivates exercise

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Push-up/squat tracking issues
- 🐛 Daily limits in free version
- 🐛 Limited free features
- 🐛 Unintuitive timer
- 🐛 Lacking features

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Accumulate screen time
- Start day with screen time
- Reset banked steps daily
- Widget for progress tracking
- Macbook app


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is StepBloc free?

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

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

Opal is rated higher. Opal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 88K ratings, while StepBloc averages 4.5 from 485 ratings.

### Do Opal or StepBloc have ads?

Neither Opal nor StepBloc shows ads.

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

Opal ships an update every 5 days, and StepBloc weekly. Most recently, Opal was updated on September 25, 2026 and StepBloc on September 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.*