Opal vs STFU
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Opal
This app helps you regain control of your digital life by limiting screen time and blocking distracting applications. It offers features like app limits, focus modes, and progress tracking to boost productivity and well-being. Achieve your goals by reducing phone usage and staying focused.
- Screen time control
- App blocker
- Focus difficulty settings
- App usage limits
- Mindful block screens
- Focus reports and scores
- Calendar integration for routines
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Achieve screen time control with the world’s most-loved screen time app! Opal is the fun, free Screen Time app to improve your focus and make the most out of every day. 5 to 6 hours. That’s the average time you’ll spend looking at your phone today, often without realizing it. It's time to fight back. With a combination of screen time control, app limits, app blockers, real time data, leaderboards and rewards, you will focus better and accomplish your dreams, just like Opal’s members. **As of August 2026, Opal has saved humanity 500 Million hours of screen time. ** Many of the world's top teams and companies trust Opal to help protect their focus. You can too. **Opal cut my screen time by 2 hours per day – Marketing at Google ** **You need this app. When I first got opal my daily screen-time was about 8 1/2 hours a day. Now it's 1 hour. ** **Opal has become an indispensable tool in my quest for productivity and mindful technology usage ** **Get Opal! - Ali Abdaal, productivity expert** BENEFITS Save 1 hour and 23 minutes per DAY from less screen time, on average. 94% of Opal members are less distracted 93% are more productive thanks to the app 90% report improved well-being Added benefits: - Better screen time control - Better productivity at work - Reduce stress, be more mindful - Supports focus challenges, including ADHD - Set daily work hours, sleep, and routines - Block apps to unplug and detox - Stay in focus when you need it most - You're happy and in control of your screen time FEATURES - #1 Screen Time Control: the most loved app for screen time control with 4.8/5. - #1 App Blocker: Instantly Block apps and websites you choose at a specific time of day throughout the week to organize your time. - Focus Difficulty: Make it hard, or make it a bit easier. Deep Focus won't let you cancel or bypass at all. - App Limits: Set daily usage limits on apps and websites to automatically block them and prevent overuse. - Mindful Block Screens: Discover quotes, puns and more every time you try to open an app or website you really shoudn't. - Blocklist & Allowlist: Easily pick any app, game or website you want to block or allow during your Blocks. - Focus Report: Measure your progress with clear metrics, actionable screen time stats, and benchmark against your peers. - Focus Score: Check your screen time and focus level at any point easily spotting Focus and Distracted time. - Calendar: Set daily working hours, sleep and routines, block apps automatically, so you don’t have to remember. - Precious Rewards: Unlock unique MileStones you can share with friends. - Leaderboard: Challenge friends to top the leaderboard, enhancing productivity, focus and keeping each other motivated. - Breaks: Choose the app you want to use, write your intention, and set a timer. - Focus Mode Integration: Sync your Opal Focus Sessions with iPhone Focus Mode to block apps. - Shortcut Integration: Connect iPhone shortcut automations to start/stop Focus Sessions based on app opens, time, location and more! - Focus Reminders: Get timely reminder notifications when you get distracted or reach a time limit. - Deep Focus: Need ultimate focus? Deep Focus is the maximum level of protection — you can’t bypass or cancel. - More Fun: Opal is guilt-free and fun. - Widget: Have Opal on your home screen! CREATE A PERSONALIZED APP BLOCK LIST Easily pick any app, game or website you want to block or allow to Block Apps. PRIVATE & SAFE We use Apple's Screen Time API in order to monitor and block apps you use. Installation is easy and takes a few seconds on your iPhone. Unlike most apps, Opal works entirely on your phone and personal browsing data never leaves your device. TERMS, PRIVACY & CONDITIONS Read on https://opal.so/terms & https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
STFU
This app helps you regain control of your time by blocking distracting social media apps and websites. Set timed sessions or schedules for a hard mute, track your progress, and challenge friends to build better habits.
- Block social apps and websites
- Run timed blocking sessions
- Set scheduled locks
- Track protected time and streaks
- Challenge friends and climb leaderboards
- Earn rewards for staying focused
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Your phone needs to STFU. Block the social apps and websites stealing your attention. Reclaim your time. Build better habits. Challenge friends. Earn points for staying off the feed. STFU is a voluntary self-control tool for adults who are done pretending Screen Time is enough. You pick what needs to shut up. STFU locks it. WHAT STFU DOES • Block social apps on iPhone (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, and whatever else owns your thumb) • Block the websites too, so Safari is not the back door • Run timed STFU sessions when you need a hard mute • Set bedtime and scheduled locks that hold overnight • Track protected time, streaks, and points • Challenge friends and climb a weekly leaderboard • Share cards when you actually did the thing HOW IT WORKS 1. Pick the apps that need to STFU 2. Start a session or schedule a lock 3. STFU blocks those apps and domains 4. Reclaim time, beat your friends, earn rewards FREE VS STFU PRO Core blocking works on Free. STFU Pro unlocks extra schedules and limits, week trends, and more of the product around the lock - not a tollbooth on Apple's block button. STFU PRO • Weekly: $4.99 • Annual: $49.99 with a 3-day free trial Auto-renewing subscription billed through your Apple ID. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Any unused portion of a free trial is forfeited when you purchase a subscription. STFU is a wellness and productivity tool. It does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or mental health condition. Points and trophies are status, not cash. Real-money bounties are not live. Privacy: https://stfu.bot/privacy Terms: https://stfu.bot/terms Billing: https://stfu.bot/billing Support: support@stfu.bot
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Opal at 4.7 against STFU's 4.0. Opal also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (91K vs 4). STFU's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 61%) and update cadence (daily vs every 5 days). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Opal sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and STFU sells 2 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 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Opal has 91K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of Opal's written reviews are positive against 100% of STFU'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, STFU daily. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Opal | STFU |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (91K ratings) — better | 4.0 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 61.3% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 91K — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | Daily — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #44 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 332 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Opal OS | Christopher Riley |
Customer experience
Opal
STFU
Bugs and requests
Opal
Reported bugs
4 issues- 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
5 requests- 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
STFU
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Opal
- Weekly Plan3 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Weekly Plan3 Days trial$9.997 Days
- Opal Student Weekly3 Days trial$9.997 Days
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- Monthly Plan3 Days trial2 variants$19.991 Month
- Monthly Plan7 Days trial$19.991 Month
- Opal Pro Subscription7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Yearly Plan7 Days trial2 variants$99.991 Year
- Yearly Plan1 Month trial$99.991 Year
STFU
- STFU Pro Weekly$4.997 Days
- STFU Pro Annual3 Days trial$49.991 Year









