# Opal vs Lifeback

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Opal at 88K against Lifeback's 79. Opal also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and chart position (#43 vs unranked). Lifeback's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence, ads 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 Lifeback sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $3.00 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 79, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Opal's written reviews are positive against 53% of Lifeback's.

Opal ships an update every 5 days, Lifeback every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | Lifeback |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (88K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews)** | [4.5 (79 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeback-screen-time-control/id6636464956/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **88K** | 79 |
| Positive reviews | **62.1% of reviews** | 52.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 6 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#43** | — |
| Size | 303 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [Control. Alt. Delete. LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1762687184) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

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

**Currently charting:** #43 Top Grossing · Productivity, #88 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


### Lifeback

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifeback-screen-time-control/id6636464956)

This app enhances your phone's screen time settings to help you focus better and achieve your goals. It offers app restrictions and time limits to reduce distractions and boost productivity. Many users report significant reductions in screen time and improved mental well-being.

**Highlights:** App restrictions and time limits, Focus reports and progress metrics, Instant app blocking, Scheduled blocking via calendar, Temporary unblocking for breaks, Hard mode for maximum protection, Shortcut integration for automation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $3.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $4.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $5.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $6.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $7.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $8.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $9.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $10.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $11.00 | per month |
| Monthly Plan | $12.00 | per month |
| Promo Yearly Plan | $40.00 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $40.00 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $99.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Productivity boost
- 👍 Helpful for focus
- 🙌 Life-changing
- 💪 Effective for reducing distractions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- ⚠️ Unreliable app behavior
- 💰 Subscription issues

**Reported bugs**

- App closing unexpectedly
- Focus mode not working as expected
- Inconsistent app behavior

**Requested features**

- Better unblock functionality
- Improved notification system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is Lifeback free?

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

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

Opal is rated higher. Opal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 88K ratings, while Lifeback averages 4.5 from 79 ratings.

### Do Opal or Lifeback have ads?

Neither Opal nor Lifeback shows ads.

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

Opal ships an update every 5 days, and Lifeback every 6 days. Most recently, Opal was updated on September 24, 2026 and Lifeback on August 26, 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.*