# Opal vs Show Time

The clearest difference is price: Opal at Free against Show Time's $2.99. Opal also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly) and chart position (#49 vs unranked). Show Time's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 18) and device support (3 vs 1). On ads there is nothing between them.

Opal is free to download; Show Time costs $2.99 up front. Opal sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Show Time asks for nothing beyond the download.

Opal ships an update every 5 days, Show Time monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Opal | Show Time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $2.99 |
| 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** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | **#49** | — |
| Size | 304 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Opal OS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1497465229) | [Kantaro Kobayashi](https://appshunter.io/developer/6797092531) |

## What reviewers say

### Opal

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

**Currently charting:** #49 Top Grossing · Productivity, #78 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


### Show Time

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/show-time-stage-timer/id6797092529)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Opal free?

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

### Is Show Time free?

Show Time costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Opal or Show Time have ads?

Neither Opal nor Show Time shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Opal or Show Time?

Opal ships an update every 5 days, and Show Time monthly. Most recently, Opal was updated on October 16, 2026 and Show Time on October 3, 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.*