Guides › Comparisons
Opal alternatives in 2026, matched to why you're leaving
2 min read
We make Pactroll, one of the options below. Prices are from each app's US App Store page or website, checked 28 October 2026 (sources).
Opal Pro costs $99.99 a year ($19.99 a month, $399 once); the free plan gives you one rule. Find your reason for leaving:
-
It costs too much
- ScreenZen: free, every feature
- Screen Time: free, built in
- one sec: $19.99/yr
- Jomo: $29.99/yr
-
I keep turning it off
- Brick: unlock only with a tap on the device
- Jomo: Strict Mode blocks uninstalling
- Freedom: Locked Mode
-
I want a nudge, not a wall
- one sec: a breath before the app opens
- ScreenZen: a wait that grows each time
-
I need iPad or Windows
- ScreenZen: Apple, Android, Windows
- Freedom: every device at once
- one sec: iPad, Mac, browsers
-
I don't want an account
- Screen Time
- ScreenZen
- Pactroll
-
I want it locked for good
- Pactroll: no end date, no schedule to skip
- Screen Time: a 0-minute allowance
-
Pactroll (ours) $49.99/yr
For the app you keep deleting and reinstalling
- Locked with no end date, even when Pactroll is closed
- A 5-minute ritual when the urge hits; 15 minutes if you still want in
- No account; nothing leaves your phone
- No schedules or free version, iPhone only, and deleting it removes the lock
Side by side
| App | Price | Free version | Strict mode | Works on | Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opal | $99.99/yr | 1 rule | Paid | iPhone, Mac, Android | Required |
| Screen Time | Free | Full | Passcode only | iPhone, iPad, Mac | None |
| ScreenZen | Free | Full | Yes | Apple, Android, Windows | None |
| one sec | $19.99/yr | 1 app | Paid | Apple, Android, browser | Optional |
| Jomo | $29.99/yr | 1 session + 1 limit | Paid | iPhone, iPad, Mac | Optional |
| Freedom | $39.99/yr | 2-hour sessions | Paid | Apple, Android, Windows | Required |
| Brick | $59 once | Needs device | Physical key | iPhone, Android | Required |
| PactrollOURS | $49.99/yr | No · 3-day trial | No | iPhone | None |
Swipe the table sideways. US prices: the yearly plan, or one-time. Who each one is best for →
Switching? Deleting Opal doesn't cancel it. On iPhone: Settings › your name › Subscriptions › Opal › Cancel Subscription.
FAQ
Is Opal free?
Partly. The free plan has one rule plus one-off sessions. Opal Pro is $99.99 a year, $19.99 a month or $399 once in the US.
What is the best free alternative to Opal?
ScreenZen, which is free with every feature, or Apple's built-in Screen Time.
How do I cancel Opal?
On iPhone: Settings › your name › Subscriptions › Opal › Cancel Subscription. Deleting the app doesn't cancel it. If you bought on Opal's website, cancel there.