# Opal vs Bonfire

The clearest difference is ads: Opal at none against Bonfire's shown. Opal also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (88K vs 65). On price, review sentiment, 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 Bonfire sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. 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 88K ratings behind it against 65, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 62% and 63% positive.

Opal ships an update every 5 days, Bonfire every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | Bonfire |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews)** | [4.4 (65 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonfire-screen-time-blocker/id6498787504/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **88K** | 65 |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews | **62.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#43** | — |
| Size | 303 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [Offbeat Apps LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1694629081) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

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

**Currently charting:** #43 Top Grossing · Productivity, #81 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


### Bonfire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bonfire-screen-time-blocker/id6498787504)

This app helps reduce excessive phone usage and improve focus. It offers features like app blocking, real-time focus feedback, and progress tracking to enhance productivity and well-being. Manage your digital habits and build structured routines for a better quality of time spent on your device.

**Highlights:** App blocking, Focus reporting, Real-time focus score, Scheduled focus sessions, Digital habit management, Productivity enhancement

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bonfire Premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Bonfire Premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Bonfire Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Bonfire Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Bonfire Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| Bonfire Premium | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is Bonfire free?

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

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

Opal is rated higher. Opal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 88K ratings, while Bonfire averages 4.4 from 65 ratings.

### Do Opal or Bonfire have ads?

Bonfire shows ads; Opal does not.

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

Opal ships an update every 5 days, and Bonfire every 6 weeks. Most recently, Opal was updated on September 24, 2026 and Bonfire on September 23, 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.*