# Opal vs App Blocker

The clearest difference is ads: Opal at none against App Blocker's shown. Opal also leads on ratings volume (88K vs 77) and chart position (#41 vs unranked). App Blocker's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Opal sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and App Blocker sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opal has 88K ratings behind it against 77, 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, App Blocker every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | App Blocker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews)** | [4.5 (77 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-blocker-limit-screen-time/id6502186144/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **88K** | 77 |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews | **62.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#41** | — |
| Size | 303 MB | 214 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [Screen Time Control LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1425190168) |

## 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


### App Blocker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/app-blocker-limit-screen-time/id6502186144)

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by blocking distracting applications and websites. Utilize custom block lists and focus sessions to improve productivity and mental well-being.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps and websites, Create custom block lists, Schedule focus sessions, Manage screen time effectively, Improve productivity and mental health, Personalized app and website blocking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium | $8.99 | per month |
| Premium | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium | $24.99 | per year |
| Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Free for Life | Free | one-time |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is App Blocker free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Opal or App Blocker?

Opal is rated higher. Opal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 88K ratings, while App Blocker averages 4.5 from 77 ratings.

### Do Opal or App Blocker have ads?

App Blocker shows ads; Opal does not.

### Which is updated more often, Opal or App Blocker?

Opal ships an update every 5 days, and App Blocker every 11 days. Most recently, Opal was updated on September 25, 2026 and App Blocker on August 12, 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.*