Opal

★ 4.4

iOS app blocker with real lockouts, focus modes, and screen-time insights — the Freedom for iPhone users

Last verified: May 2026

Install Opal →
Type
app
Pricing
freemium · Free tier: 1 active block. Pro ~$99.99/yr. Frequent 30–40% discount codes circulate.
Platforms
ios, mac
Targets
all

Strengths

  • ✓ Blocks iOS apps at the system level — uninstalling Opal does not end an active Deep Focus session
  • ✓ Deep Focus mode makes target apps genuinely inaccessible for the set duration, no workarounds
  • ✓ Best-designed distraction blocker UI on iPhone — polished, fast, iOS-native feel
  • ✓ Real-time screen-time insights show which apps eat your day before you've guessed
  • ✓ Streak system turns blocking into a daily habit rather than a one-off intervention
  • ✓ Mac companion app available for cross-device coverage on Apple ecosystem

Weaknesses

  • ✕ iOS and Mac only — no Android version; irrelevant for non-Apple users
  • ✕ $99.99/yr is steep for single-device blocking when free alternatives exist
  • ✕ Free tier allows only one active block — effectively a demo
  • ✕ Deep Focus cannot be ended early by design; confirm the duration before starting
  • ✕ No cross-device sync with Windows, Android, or non-Apple browsers

Best for

iPhone users who need Freedom-style hard lockouts with a polished UI and are willing to pay for the iOS-native experience

#distraction-blocker#ios#mac#locked-mode#app-blocker#premium

Opal is an iOS (and Mac) app blocker that prevents target apps from opening for a set duration at the system level — uninstalling Opal does not end an active Deep Focus session. As of May 2026, it is the most polished hard-blocker available for iPhone, comparable to Freedom in strictness but limited to the Apple ecosystem.

At a glance

FieldValue
PricingFreemium — Pro ~$99.99/yr (frequent 30–40% discounts)
PlatformsiOS, Mac
AndroidNo
Hard lockoutYes — Deep Focus cannot be ended early
Last verifiedMay 25, 2026

What Opal does well

  • System-level blocking. Unlike browser extensions or app-overlay solutions, Opal blocks at the iOS system layer. The app is genuinely unavailable — not just hidden — during a Deep Focus session. Uninstalling Opal mid-session does not restore access.
  • Interface. The best-designed distraction blocker on iPhone. Onboarding is fast, controls are clear, and it doesn’t feel like a parental-controls app repurposed for adults.
  • Insights. Before you block anything, the usage dashboard shows exactly which apps are actually eating your time — useful context for building a blocklist that matters.
  • Streaks. Daily blocking streaks create habit momentum and are surprisingly sticky for users who care about maintaining records.

What Opal doesn’t do

  • No Android. If your problem is a cross-platform one (iPhone + work laptop + Android tablet), Opal only covers the Apple side. Freedom covers all of them.
  • No keyword filtering. Opal blocks whole apps, not content within them. If you want to keep using Reddit but filter politics out, you want Ultimate Reddit Filter, not Opal.
  • No Windows or cross-browser blocking. The Mac companion app covers macOS but doesn’t block in non-Apple browsers.

Best for

iPhone users who need the strictest available lockouts on iOS and are willing to pay for a polished experience. The right choice if your problem is specifically phone-based and you’re in the Apple ecosystem.

Setup in 5 minutes

  1. Install Opal from the App Store.
  2. Open Opal and grant Screen Time permissions when prompted.
  3. Create your first block: tap + New Block, select the apps you want to restrict.
  4. Choose Deep Focus for a hard, unbypassable session.
  5. Set a duration (start with 2 hours) and tap Start.

Alternatives

  • Freedom — covers Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and all browsers simultaneously. Choose if your blocking needs are cross-device.
  • Cold Turkey — desktop-only (Mac + Windows) at $39 one-time. No iOS. Choose if your problem is exclusively on a Mac or Windows machine.
  • SelfControl — free, Mac-only, unbypassable timer. No iOS, no scheduling.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions — click any to expand.

It allows one active block at a time. That's enough to test the experience, but it's not a usable long-term setup if you need to block more than one app simultaneously. Treat the free tier as a trial.

Block distracting sites across every device

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