Opal vs ScreenZen
Two of the best-rated screen time apps on iPhone. One is a polished subscription, the other is completely free. Here's how they differ, and what to try if you've already beaten both.
ScreenZen is completely free (supported by optional tips) and works by adding friction: a delay before an app opens, scroll interruptions and strict blocks. Opal has a free plan with one rule, and Opal Pro ($19.99/month or $99.99/year on the App Store) adds unlimited rules, stats history and Hard Mode, which won't let you cancel a session. Pick ScreenZen if you want strong blocking for free; pick Opal if you want the most polished app and a no-way-out mode, and don't mind paying. With both, the person who can end a block is you.
Side by side
| Feature | Opal | ScreenZen | Para |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (1 rule); Pro $19.99/mo or $99.99/yr | Free (tips optional) | Free, every feature |
| Main mechanism | Scheduled blocks, limits, focus sessions | Delay before opening, scroll interruptions, strict blocks | Blocks now, on a schedule, at a limit, or by place |
| Strictest mode | Hard Mode (Pro): can't cancel | Strict blocking; can lock its own settings | Strict mode, plus a deletion lock your friend controls |
| Who ends a block early | You (except Hard Mode) | You, after the delay | A friend approves your request |
| Platforms | iPhone, Android, Mac | iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android | iPhone |
| US App Store rating | 4.7 (88,765) | 4.9 (50,597) | 4.3 (6, new) |
Prices and ratings from each app's US App Store listing or website, checked September 29, 2026.
Price: ScreenZen wins
ScreenZen's own site says it's completely free, and its only in-app purchases are tips. Opal's free plan covers one rule and basic blocking; Hard Mode, unlimited rules and score history are Pro. On the US App Store, Opal Pro is $19.99 a month or $99.99 a year, with weekly plans as well.
Blocking: different philosophies
Both are built on Apple's Screen Time API, so a blocked app is blocked the same way in each. Opal leans on schedules and focus sessions, with difficulty levels that decide how hard it is to stop a session early. ScreenZen leans on friction: a pause before the app opens that can get longer every time, a nudge when you've been scrolling a while, and strict blocks when you want a wall instead of a speed bump.
Strictness: Opal's Hard Mode vs ScreenZen's strict blocks
Opal's Hard Mode (Pro) is the strictest thing either app offers: once a session starts, you can't cancel it. ScreenZen's strict blocks and settings lock get close, for free. Both share the same weak spot as every Screen Time app: you can turn off the app's Screen Time access in iOS Settings, which lifts its blocks.
Pros and cons
Opal
Price: Free plan (1 rule). Pro: $19.99/month or $99.99/year; the website also lists $399 lifetime.
Pros
- The most polished design and stats in the category (Focus Score, history)
- Hard Mode (Pro) won't let you cancel a session
- iPhone, Android and Mac
Cons
- The free plan is one rule; most of what makes it strict is Pro
- Among the most expensive options in the category
ScreenZen
Price: Free. Optional tips from $5 to $40.
Pros
- Completely free, no paywall
- Delays that grow each time you open an app, which are good at breaking autopilot
- Strict blocks by time, number of opens or screen time, and it can lock its own settings
- iPhone, Mac, Windows and Android
Cons
- Less polished stats than Opal
- Friction slows you down, but outside a strict block you can still wait it out
If you've already beaten both
Opal and ScreenZen both assume you'll stick to what you set. If your pattern is setting a block and then ending it at 11pm, the fix isn't a stricter version of the same thing. It's taking the off-switch away from yourself.
That's what Para does. It's free, and a friend holds the key: to get back in early, you send them a request saying how long and why, and they approve or deny it. Strict mode removes your own end button, and Lock app deletion means deleting Para to escape needs their OK too. It's iPhone only, and it's new.
FAQ
Is ScreenZen better than Opal?
Is ScreenZen really free?
How much is Opal Pro?
Can I use Opal and ScreenZen together?
Is there an app like Opal or ScreenZen where a friend controls the unlock?
Keep reading
Tried both? Hand the key to a friend.
Para is free, every feature. iPhone only. About a minute to set up.