# Opal vs Screen Time Control

The clearest difference is rating: Opal at 4.7 against Screen Time Control's 3.9. Opal also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (88K vs 7). Screen Time Control's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 62%). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Opal sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Screen Time Control sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 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 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opal has 88K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of Opal's written reviews are positive against 80% of Screen Time Control'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, Screen Time Control every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and June 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | Screen Time Control |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews)** | [3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-limitup/id6599848430/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **88K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 62.1% of reviews | **80.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#48** | — |
| Size | 303 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [Perpetio OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1465591634) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

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

**Currently charting:** #48 Top Grossing · Productivity, #90 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


### Screen Time Control

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/screen-time-control-limitup/id6599848430)

This app helps you master your screen time and boost productivity by tracking usage, blocking distracting apps, and setting custom goals. It offers personalized insights and challenges to encourage healthier digital habits and a better online-offline balance.

**Highlights:** Smart screen time tracking, App blocking for focus sessions, Customizable time limits, App impact scoring, Friendly competition and challenges, Detailed usage analytics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is Screen Time Control free?

Screen Time Control is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Opal or Screen Time Control?

Opal is rated higher. Opal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 88K ratings, while Screen Time Control averages 3.9 from 7 ratings.

### Do Opal or Screen Time Control have ads?

Screen Time Control shows ads; Opal does not.

### Which is updated more often, Opal or Screen Time Control?

Opal ships an update every 5 days, and Screen Time Control every 3 weeks. Most recently, Opal was updated on September 26, 2026 and Screen Time Control on June 20, 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.*