# Opal vs SMS Solar

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SMS Solar at none against Opal's 18. SMS Solar also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). Opal's advantage is chart position (#50 vs unranked). On price, 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. SMS Solar asks for nothing beyond the download.

Opal ships an update every 5 days, SMS Solar every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | SMS Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (90K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **90K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 61.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 9 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#50** | — |
| Size | 304 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [Bhavik Vala](https://appshunter.io/developer/1722903213) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

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

**Currently charting:** #50 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


### SMS Solar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sms-solar/id6788998220)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is SMS Solar free?

SMS Solar is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Opal or SMS Solar have ads?

Neither Opal nor SMS Solar shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Opal or SMS Solar?

Opal ships an update every 5 days, and SMS Solar every 9 days. Most recently, Opal was updated on October 17, 2026 and SMS Solar on September 29, 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.*