7 Opal Alternatives, Free and Paid (2026)
Opal is great, but at $99.99 a year in the US it's not for everyone. Seven alternatives: free tools, pauses, laptop blockers and friend apps.
Opal is a great app, but at $19.99 a month or $99.99 a year in the US (Opal pricing), it’s not for everyone. And some people want a different approach altogether. Here are seven alternatives.
| App | Approach | Platforms | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone Screen Time / Digital Wellbeing | Built-in limits | iPhone / Android | Free |
| ScreenZen | A wait before apps open | iPhone, Android, Mac | Free, donation-supported |
| one sec | A pause before apps open | iPhone, Android, Mac, browsers | Free for 1 app; Pro subscription |
| Freedom | Blocking across devices | Phone and computer | Limited free tier; Premium subscription |
| Forest | Focus sessions | iPhone, Android, browsers | Free; optional subscription |
| Friend Controls | A friend approves extra time | iPhone | Free download; $29.99 lifetime (US) |
| Snitch (ours) | Friends share a daily time pot | iPhone, Android | Free plan; Premium from $2.99/mo (US) |
If you want it free
The built-in tools, or ScreenZen. Both cover the basics without a subscription.
If you want Opal, but gentler
one sec or ScreenZen add a pause instead of a hard block.
If you need your laptop covered
Freedom blocks across your phone and computer.
If you want focus sessions
Forest. Grow a tree while you work.
If willpower alone hasn’t worked
Try a friend-based app. Friend Controls lets one friend approve your extra time. Snitch (ours) puts up to 5 friends in a shared daily pot, so going over costs them too. Snitch also works on Android. (We compare them head to head in Snitch vs Opal.)
Still like Opal?
Stick with it! If the price is the issue, check whether you’re eligible for its student discount of up to 50%.