AppBlock vs Opal

AppBlock

• Phone users who want blocks that start by time, place or Wi-Fi network
• People who need a block they cannot easily switch off
• Blocking the same sites on a phone and in a desktop browser

Opal

• Phone users who want distracting apps blocked automatically by rule
• People who want a block that cannot be switched off once it starts
• Students, who can apply for half-price yearly Pro

AppBlock

• Free limits differ by platform: iOS allows 2 schedules and 12 hours of Strict Mode, Android 3 schedules and 24 hours.
• Allowlist mode, adult content blocking, backup and the Quick Block timer need Premium on both iOS and Android.
• On a computer AppBlock runs only as an extension for Chrome, Edge and Brave; no Mac or Windows app is listed.
• The student discount and business licences are arranged through forms, and neither page states a price.

Opal

• The free plan allows 1 rule and shows the Opal Score for the current day only.
• Hard Mode, Allow Only, unlimited rules and score history all require Pro.
• No Windows, Linux or web version is listed, and the App Store lists the iOS app for iPhone only.
• Opal's Mac page lists app limits and sync with the iPhone app as still to come on Mac.

AppBlock

App and website blocking

Block apps, websites, specific URLs and keywords. On Android, Premium can also block newly installed apps and browsers the app does not support.

Schedules

Profiles for work, study or sleep switch on by time, day, location or connected Wi-Fi network and then run automatically.

Quick Block

Starts a block right away without a schedule. Free use is capped at 4 hours on iOS or 3 apps and 3 sites on Android; Premium adds a timer.

Strict Mode

Makes blocks harder to bypass, with a cooldown and approval by another person. The free plan caps it at 12 hours on iOS and 24 hours on Android.

Allowlist mode

A Premium mode that blocks everything except a set of chosen apps, which the vendor describes as a dumbphone-like setup.

Browser extensions

Extensions for Chrome, Edge and Brave block websites and keywords on a computer, with Quick Block and Schedules.

Opal

Focus Rules

Rules block chosen apps automatically on a schedule, after a time limit or after a set number of opens. The free plan allows 1 rule and Pro removes the cap.

Focus Timer

Pick what to work on, set a duration and stay locked in until the timer runs out. Advanced timers and soundscapes are part of Pro.

Hard Mode

A Pro setting under which Opal cannot be turned off while a block is active.

Opal Score

A single daily score built from sleep, focus and rest signals. Free accounts see today's score; the history needs Pro.

Mac app

Sessions block distracting websites and apps on macOS 13 or later, with the same Normal, Timeout and Deep Focus levels as the iOS app.

Opal for Schools

A separate school program in which administrators block set apps during school hours and follow usage on a dashboard.

AppBlock

• Free$0

  Blocking within limits: 2 schedules on iOS or 3 on Android, schedule usage limits of up to 30 minutes a day and time-capped Strict Mode.

• Premium (yearly)$29.99

  per year ($2.50 / month), after a free week

  Unlimited Quick Block, schedules and Strict Mode, plus Allowlist mode, adult content blocking and backup.

• Premium (monthly)$4.99

  per month

  The same Premium features paid month to month, with cancellation at any time.

• Premium (lifetime)$89.99

  one-time payment

  Premium features for a single payment with no subscription.

Opal

• Free$0

  App blocking with 1 rule, basic timers and soundscapes, and the Opal Score for the current day.

• Opal Pro (yearly)$8.29

  per month, billed annually ($99.99)

  Unlimited rules, Hard Mode, Allow Only, advanced timers and soundscapes, and Opal Score history.

• Opal Pro (monthly)$19.99

  per month, billed monthly

  The same Pro features paid month to month; the pricing page puts the cost at $239 over a year.

• Opal Pro (lifetime)$399

  one-time purchase

  Pro features for a single payment with no subscription.

• Opal Teams ProCustom

  Everything in Opal Pro with a single invoice, advanced support and training, and an account manager.

AppBlock

• Annual discount

  Yearly Premium costs about half of monthly

  The pricing page lists Premium at $29.99 a year against $4.99 a month, which comes to $59.88 over twelve months.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Premium for a one-time payment

  The pricing page lists a Lifetime Premium option at $89.99, paid once.

• Education

  Student discount on Premium

  Students who submit their university, field of study and academic year get a link that shows a student discount in the app. The page does not state the amount.

Opal

• Annual discount

  Yearly billing costs about 58% less than monthly

  Opal Pro is $99.99 billed annually ($8.29 a month) against $19.99 billed monthly, which the pricing page totals at $239 a year.

• Education

  Student discount: 50% off Opal Pro

  Students can apply for 50% off the yearly Opal Pro plan, shown as $49.99 billed annually ($4.19 a month).

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Opal Pro for a one-time payment

  The pricing page lists a lifetime Opal Pro option at $399, paid once.