# Opal Alternatives: 7 Screen Time Apps Compared on Price, Strictness and Friction

> Opal Pro costs $99.99 a year. 7 alternatives compared on price, strictness and friction, including Up, which locks your apps when you turn off your alarm.

- Source : https://startwithup.com/blog/opal-alternatives/
- Author : the team at Up (https://startwithup.com/legal/)
- Published : 2026-09-29
- Keywords : Screen Time, App Blockers, iPhone, opal alternative, apps like opal, opal vs brick, opal app cost, opal app review, opal screen time app, brick app, one sec app
- App : https://apps.apple.com/app/id6783933016

## In short

- Opal is free with one rule; Opal Pro costs $99.99 a year, $19.99 a month or $399 lifetime (opalapp.com, checked September 29, 2026). Its Hard Mode, the one you can't turn off, is Pro-only.
- Cheaper: ScreenZen is free (tips optional), one sec Pro is $19.99 a year, Jomo Plus is $29.99 a year. Stricter: Brick is a $59 physical device, no subscription, and you need to tap it to unblock.
- one sec is the only one studied in a peer-reviewed journal: 57% fewer app openings over 6 weeks (n = 280).
- Up is the only one that blocks your apps when you wake up: it is also your alarm, and your chosen apps lock the moment you turn it off, whatever time that is. None of the others has an alarm; they block on fixed schedules or sessions you start.


You installed Opal, set a block for Instagram in the evening, and it worked. Then the paywall came: one rule on the free plan, and Hard Mode, the version you can't switch off, only in Pro. Now you're wondering whether $99.99 a year is the right price for leaving your phone alone.

This page is for people who already know Opal and want something else: cheaper, stricter, simpler, or built around a different idea. Every price and feature below was checked on the US App Store and on each official site on **September 29, 2026**. Apps change fast, so treat this as a dated snapshot. If you've never used a blocker, start with our broader guide to the [best app blockers for iPhone](/blog/best-app-blockers-iphone/).

## What is the Opal app, and how much does it cost?

Opal is a screen time app for iPhone, Android and Mac. It blocks apps and websites on a schedule, sets daily limits, shows a focus score and adds leaderboards and rewards. On the US App Store, Opal (version 4.17) has a **4.7 rating from about 89,000 reviews**, the most of any app in this comparison ([App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230)).

Opal's pricing page, checked on September 29, 2026, lists ([Opal](https://opalapp.com/pricing)):

- **Free**: 1 rule (schedule, time limit or open limit), basic timers, app blocking, today's score only.
- **Opal Pro yearly**: $99.99 a year, with a free week.
- **Opal Pro monthly**: $19.99 a month, with a 3-day trial.
- **Lifetime**: $399, one-time.
- Students: "up to 50% off Opal Pro."

The App Store listing also shows weekly plans at $4.99 and $9.99 and a $9.99 student weekly plan, so the price you're offered can depend on the screen you land on.

Pro unlocks **Hard Mode**, which Opal describes as "No way out. You can't turn Opal off," along with unlimited rules, the Allow Only list and score history. On the App Store, the equivalent is called **Deep Focus**: "you can't bypass or cancel."

## Why Up is different from Opal and its alternatives

Up is an anti-snooze alarm and an app blocker in one iPhone app (iOS 26 or later, released in September 2026). It does three things the other apps here don't, or not the same way.

**1. Your apps lock when you turn off your alarm.** Up is also your alarm clock. When you turn off the Up alarm (after its wake-up mission, if you use one), the apps you chose lock for the time you pick, 30 minutes by default. Nothing to start in the morning, no time window to adjust: if you get up at 6:40 one day and 8:15 the next, the block follows your alarm. Opal blocks on schedules you set in advance or sessions you start by hand; the other alternatives use schedules, usage limits, sessions or, for Brick, a tap on a device. None of them has an alarm.

**2. The 60-second pause runs at system level.** Up's 60-second mode uses an iOS Screen Time shield: while it's on, the paused app can't be opened any other way. You wait 60 seconds, then the app stays free for 15 minutes. one sec's delay, by contrast, runs through a Shortcuts "When app is opened" automation that you create yourself ([one sec tutorial](https://tutorials.one-sec.app/en/articles/3034626)), and, by default, any personal automation can be switched off in the Shortcuts app ([Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/shortcuts/apd602971e63/ios)). one sec closes that gap with an optional "Shortcuts App Lock" (in its Cheat Lock settings) and, since iOS 26.4, a Screen Time code set by someone you trust ([one sec blog, March 2026](https://one-sec.app/blog/lock-screen-time-permission/)). Up's pause needs none of that setup: it can't be bypassed by disabling an automation, and strict mode stops it from being turned off. Outside strict mode, you can still switch 60-second mode off in Up; and one sec's locked setup, with a code held by someone else, is harder to undo than Up's math mission.

**3. Strict mode you leave only by solving math.** While strict mode is on, no block can be edited, turned off or deleted, and that includes the wake-up block and 60-second mode. Leaving strict mode requires solving a math mission: one more barrier on the evening you'd otherwise give in. For an all-day lockdown, Brick's physical key and Opal's Hard Mode are harder to undo.

One more honest caveat: one sec has been tested in a peer-reviewed study (more below). Up is new and hasn't been.

## Why do people look for an Opal alternative?

Three reasons come up in how the product itself is built, no guesswork needed:

1. **Price.** $99.99 a year is the top of the range: the alternatives below run from free to $29.99 a year, and Brick is a one-time $59.
2. **The free plan is thin.** One rule means one block. A second schedule (work hours plus bedtime, say) needs Pro.
3. **Software strictness has a ceiling.** On iPhone, any app built on Apple's Screen Time API can lose its authorization if you revoke it in Settings. Some people want a block that lives outside the phone, which is Brick's pitch.

A fourth reason is taste: some people don't want a hard block at all, only a pause. That's one sec and ScreenZen territory.

## The best Opal alternatives in 2026

Versions available in September 2026, US prices. "Strictness" means how hard it is to undo a block while it's running.

| App | Price model (US) | Strictness | Friction before opening | Schedules | Wake-up block (tied to your alarm) | What's unique | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Opal** | Free (1 rule); Pro $99.99/yr, $19.99/mo, $399 lifetime | High with Pro Hard Mode | Mindful block screens, breaks with intention | Yes, many (Pro) | No | Focus score, leaderboards, Mac app | iPhone, Android, Mac |
| **Brick** | $59 device, no subscription | Very high: tap the device to unblock | None, it's a switch | Custom modes | No | Physical object, 5 emergency unbricks | iPhone, Android |
| **one sec** | Free for 1 app; Pro $19.99/yr, $6.99/mo, $99.99 lifetime | Low by design | Breathing animation + delay, via a Shortcuts automation (lockable with its optional Cheat Lock) | Re-intervention after X minutes | No | Peer-reviewed study | iPhone, Android, browser extension |
| **ScreenZen** | Free, optional tips | Medium to high (strict blocks, settings lock) | Wait that can grow each time | Yes, by day and time, per app | No | Free with no paywall | iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows |
| **Jomo** | Plus $29.99/yr, $5.99/mo, $99.99 one-time | Medium to high (strict mode) | Optional | Set times, after a limit | No | Unlock by walking (e.g. 5,000 steps) | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| **AppBlock** | Premium from $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr (several tiers listed) | Medium to high (strict mode, cooldown) | Cooldown | Time, location, Wi-Fi | No | Location and Wi-Fi triggers | iPhone, Android, browser |
| **Screen Time** (Apple) | Free, built in | Low if you know the passcode | "One more minute" | Downtime (all apps) | No | Already on your phone | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| **Up** | Subscription, free trial | High (strict mode, exit via a math mission) | 60-second mode, at system level (Screen Time shield), lockable in strict mode | Scheduled, automatic, triggered | **Yes**: apps lock when you turn off the alarm, 30 min by default | Anti-snooze alarm + blocker in one app | iPhone, iOS 26+ |

Sources: each app's US App Store listing and official site, September 29, 2026 (links in the sections below and in Sources).

### Brick: the strictest, and no subscription

Brick is a small physical tag paired with an app. You tap your iPhone on the Brick to block your chosen apps, and you tap it again to get them back. You can start a block remotely, but "you'll still need the physical Brick to unblock" ([App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brick-ditch-distractions/id6448794069)). If you lose it, the app includes **five emergency unbricks**. The listing says "No subscriptions and no monthly fees."

Brick's site lists the device at **$59**, with free shipping on orders of two or more and a 30-day money-back guarantee; it works with Android 12 or later as well as iPhone ([Brick](https://getbrick.com/)). On the App Store it has a **4.9 rating from about 55,000 reviews**.

Pick Brick if every software blocker you've tried ended with you turning it off.

### one sec: friction instead of a wall

one sec is built around friction rather than walls, though it also has a stricter blocking mode. When you open a chosen app, it plays a breathing animation and makes you wait, then asks if you still want in. After a set scrolling time, it can kick you out and ask again ("re-intervention"). It uses iOS Shortcuts automations to do this ([App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/one-sec-screen-time-focus/id1532875441)).

It's also the only app in this list tested in a peer-reviewed journal. Across **280 participants over 6 weeks**, users closed the target app in 36% of attempts and tried to open it less often over time, adding up to **57% fewer openings** ([Grüning et al., 2023](https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2213114120)). One of the three authors, Frederik Riedel, created one sec. We explain why a short pause breaks the reflex in [opening Instagram without thinking](/blog/opening-instagram-without-thinking/).

Price: free for one app; one sec Pro is **$19.99 a year**, $6.99 a month or $99.99 lifetime, with family plans. Pick one sec if you want to use apps less, not lose them.

### ScreenZen: the best free alternative

ScreenZen's developer states "ScreenZen is completely free," with optional tips from $5 to $40 ([ScreenZen](https://www.screenzen.co/)). Its App Store listing describes a wait before opening that can grow each time, strict blocks by time range or after a number of opens, schedules by app and day of the week, and a lock on its own settings. It has a **4.9 rating from about 50,000 reviews** on the US App Store.

Pick ScreenZen if price is your main reason for leaving Opal.

### Jomo: blocks you can earn your way out of

Jomo blocks apps and websites "at set times, after a limit, or until you take action," such as walking 5,000 steps, and has a strict mode that locks the block ([App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jomo-screen-time-blocker/id1609960918)). Jomo Plus costs **$29.99 a year**, $5.99 a month or $99.99 once; the annual plan includes a 3-day free trial. Pick Jomo if you like Opal's scheduling but want it for less than a third of the price.

### AppBlock: location and Wi-Fi triggers

AppBlock schedules blocks by time, **location or Wi-Fi network**, and its strict mode adds a cooldown and third-party approval ([AppBlock](https://appblock.app/)). Its App Store listing shows several Premium prices, from $4.99 a month to $59.99 a year, so check the offer you see ([App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/appblock-block-apps-websites/id1515753232)). Pick AppBlock if you want blocks that start when you arrive at the office or the library.

### Screen Time: free, and good enough for some

Apple's built-in Screen Time sets App Limits and a Downtime window at no cost. Its weak spot is that you usually hold the passcode yourself, and a limit without a passcode offers "Ignore Limit" ([Apple Support](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/create-manage-track-a-screen-time-passcode-iph272b4c4bd/26/ios/26)). Have someone else set the passcode and it becomes surprisingly firm. Our step-by-step guide covers [how to block apps on iPhone](/blog/how-to-block-apps-on-iphone/) with it.

### Up: if your day goes wrong at the alarm

Up's alarm uses Apple's AlarmKit, rings even in Silent mode and Focus, and stops only after a **mission** (mental math, color sequences or listening). Its blocks are **scheduled**, **automatic** (after X minutes of daily use) or **triggered** (during a focus session, or **On waking**, when you turn off the alarm). Its three differences are covered [above](#why-up-is-different-from-opal-and-its-alternatives). Free to download, subscription with a free trial; details on [Up's home page](/). Pick Up if things go wrong in bed, between the alarm and getting up.

## Opal vs Brick: which one should you pick?

Opal and Brick answer the same problem in opposite ways.

- **Cost.** Brick is $59 once. Opal Pro is $99.99 a year, or $399 lifetime. Over one year, Brick costs less.
- **Strictness.** Brick's block ends only when you tap the device, with five emergency unbricks as a fallback. Opal Pro's Hard Mode can't be cancelled from inside the app. Both run on the Screen Time API, which iOS lets you revoke in Settings, but with Brick the unlock itself sits outside your phone.
- **Flexibility.** Opal has many rules, time limits, open limits, a focus score, reports and a Mac app. Brick has custom modes and a focus timer; it's a switch, not a dashboard.
- **Daily life.** Brick asks you to keep an object somewhere. That's the point, and also the friction: if it's at home and you're at work, your apps stay blocked.

**Choose Opal** if you want detailed schedules, statistics and blocking on your Mac. **Choose Brick** if you've disabled every app blocker you've ever installed and want to stop paying a subscription.

## Which Opal alternative is right for you?

- **If mornings are the problem** (you scroll in bed or hit snooze): **Up**. It's the only app here that wakes you, makes you get past a mission to stop the alarm, then locks your chosen apps when you turn it off, whatever time you get up. No other alternative has an alarm.
- **Strictest, for an all-day lockdown:** Brick, then Opal Pro's Hard Mode.
- **Cheapest:** ScreenZen (free) or Apple Screen Time (free).
- **Gentlest, with the best evidence:** one sec.
- **Opal-like scheduling for less:** Jomo or AppBlock.
- **Stay with Opal** if you use several schedules, want a Mac app and the reports matter to you. It's a polished product with the most App Store reviews of any app compared here; you're paying for that depth.

Whichever you pick, give it two weeks with one or two target apps before judging it. For the full field, including apps not built as Opal replacements, see our comparison of the [best app blockers for iPhone](/blog/best-app-blockers-iphone/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the best free alternative to Opal?

ScreenZen. Its developer says the app is completely free and funded by optional tips ($5 to $40 on the App Store). You get a wait before opening an app that can grow each time, strict blocks by time range or number of opens, and a lock on its own settings. Apple's built-in Screen Time is also free, but a passcode you set yourself is easy to type.

### Is Opal worth the money?

Opal Pro is worth it if you use its depth: unlimited rules, Hard Mode that can't be turned off, focus reports, and apps for iPhone, Android and Mac. At $99.99 a year it costs about five times one sec Pro. If you only need one scheduled block and a wait screen, a free or cheaper app does the same job.

### Opal vs Brick: which is better?

Brick is better if software strictness has failed you: blocks end only when you tap the $59 physical Brick, with five emergency unbricks, and there is no subscription. Opal is better if you want many schedules, time limits, statistics and Mac blocking without carrying or hiding an object. Brick costs less than one year of Opal Pro.

### How much does the Opal app cost?

On September 29, 2026, Opal's pricing page listed a free plan with one rule, Opal Pro at $99.99 a year with a free week, $19.99 a month with a 3-day trial, and $399 for lifetime access. The US App Store also listed weekly plans at $4.99 and $9.99 and a student weekly plan at $9.99.

### Which app blocks my apps when my alarm goes off?

Up, on iPhone with iOS 26 or later. It is an anti-snooze alarm and an app blocker in one: when you turn off the Up alarm, after its mission if you use one, your chosen apps lock for the time you pick, 30 minutes by default. The block follows your alarm, not a fixed schedule. Opal and the other apps compared here have no alarm.


## Sources

1. Making one sec truly bullet-proof with iOS 26.4. one sec blog, 2026. https://one-sec.app/blog/lock-screen-time-permission/
2. Opal: Screen Time Control (US App Store listing). Apple App Store, 2026. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230
3. Opal pricing. Opal, 2026. https://opalapp.com/pricing
4. Brick. Brick, 2026. https://getbrick.com/
5. Brick - Ditch Distractions (US App Store listing). Apple App Store, 2026. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brick-ditch-distractions/id6448794069
6. one sec | screen time + focus (US App Store listing). Apple App Store, 2026. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/one-sec-screen-time-focus/id1532875441
7. Directing smartphone use through the self-nudge app one sec. PNAS, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2213114120
8. one sec setup tutorial (Shortcuts automation). one sec, 2026. https://tutorials.one-sec.app/en/articles/3034626
9. Enable or disable a personal automation in Shortcuts on iPhone or iPad. Apple Support, 2026. https://support.apple.com/en-in/guide/shortcuts/apd602971e63/ios
10. ScreenZen. ScreenZen, 2026. https://www.screenzen.co/
11. Jomo - Screen Time Blocker (US App Store listing). Apple App Store, 2026. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jomo-screen-time-blocker/id1609960918
12. AppBlock: Block Apps, Websites (US App Store listing). Apple App Store, 2026. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/appblock-block-apps-websites/id1515753232
13. AppBlock. AppBlock, 2026. https://appblock.app/
14. Create, manage, and keep track of a Screen Time passcode on iPhone (iOS 26). Apple Support, 2026. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/create-manage-track-a-screen-time-passcode-iph272b4c4bd/26/ios/26


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