BePresent vs Opal
We give BePresent a 3.0 GPA and Opal a 3.2, out of 4.0. BePresent grades higher on value for money. Opal grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
BePresent
Gamified screen time app with app blocking, streaks and rewards
Opal
Screen time app that blocks distracting apps on phone and Mac
How we grade them
| 3.0GPABePresentVery good | 3.2GPAOpalVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BThe US App Store lists Pro from $3.99 a month or $24.99 a year, which is ordinary money for this kind of app. But it also lists yearly plans at $29.99 and $59.99, without saying which one you'll be offered. | CPro is $8.29 a month billed annually, which is $99.99 a year and up with the dearest focus apps. Paying monthly is $19.99, and lifetime is $399. Hard Mode and unlimited rules are both Pro, so the strict stuff costs. Students can apply for half off. |
| Free plan and trial | BThere's a free version, and the download costs nothing. What we can't tell you is where free stops, because BePresent doesn't publish which features need Pro. So no A. | BFree for good, with app blocking on iPhone, Android and Mac plus basic timers and soundscapes. But you get 1 rule, and the Opal Score shows today only. Pro has a free week on the yearly plan and 3 free days on the monthly. |
| Features | BTimed blocking sessions, a stricter Beast Mode, daily limits, streaks, leaderboards, group sessions and rewards from brands like Headspace. It's built on motivation more than hard limits, so if you need a block you can't break, there's less here. | ARules that block apps on a schedule, after a time limit or after a set number of opens. Then a focus timer, soundscapes, a Hard Mode you can't turn off mid-block, and a daily score from your sleep, focus and rest. The Mac app still lacks app limits and sync with the iPhone. |
| Ease of use | A4.8 from about 66,000 App Store ratings, and more than 60,000 of those are five stars. | A4.7 from about 89,000 App Store ratings. Pick the apps, pick a rule, and the blocking happens automatically from then on. |
| Platforms and integrations | CiPhone and Android phones, and that's it. No iPad, Mac, Windows or web version is listed, and it doesn't connect to other apps. | BiPhone, Android and Mac. There's no Windows, Linux or web version, the iOS app is listed for iPhone only, and no integrations or API are listed. |
| Best for | cutting screen time as a game with friends | blocking phone apps by rule, with no way out |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: BePresent and Opal. How we grade
Where they differ
- BePresent starts at $3.99 / month or $24.99 / year (US App Store; several amounts listed). Opal starts at $8.29 / month, billed annually ($99.99).
- Only Opal lists a macOS app.
- Opal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- BePresent also covers time tracking.
- Opal also covers focus music.
At a glance
| BePresent | Opal | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $3.99 / month or $24.99 / year (US App Store; several amounts listed) | $8.29 / month, billed annually ($99.99) |
| Free plan | Free to download, with a free version alongside BePresent Pro. The vendor does not publish which features need Pro. | App blocking on iOS, Android and Mac with 1 rule (schedule, time limit or open limit), basic timers and soundscapes, and the Opal Score for today only. |
| Free trial | US App Store purchases include annual plans with 1-week, 2-week and 30-day free trials and a monthly plan with a 1-week trial | Free week on the yearly Pro plan; 3 free days on the monthly Pro plan |
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Screen Detox Inc. | Opal OS Corporation |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | opalapp.com |
| Checked | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 9, 2026 |
Who each one suits
BePresent
- People who respond to streaks, points and leaderboards more than to hard limits
- Friends or families who want to cut screen time together
- Phone users who want timed app-blocking sessions for study or evenings out
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
Worth knowing
BePresent
- BePresent publishes no prices on its website; the US App Store lists subscriptions at several different amounts.
- The vendor does not say which features are limited to BePresent Pro.
- It runs on iPhone and Android phones only; no iPad, Mac, Windows or web version is listed.
- A streak backed with a monetary stake costs you that stake if you exceed your screen time limit.
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.
Key features
BePresent
- Present Sessions
- Timed app-blocking sessions for study or time away from the phone, run alone or as a Group Session with friends. Beast Mode is the stricter version.
- Daily goals and streaks
- Set a daily screen time limit and keep a streak by staying under it. A streak can be backed with a monetary stake that is lost if you go over.
- Leaderboards and challenges
- Weekly leaderboards with tiers, and challenges against friends, turn lower screen time into a competition.
- Real-life rewards
- Points earned by limiting screen time can be redeemed for partner rewards; the App Store listing names Headspace, ClassPass and BetterHelp.
- Scrolling awareness reminders
- Hourly reminders can be set to flag how long you have been scrolling, so the time does not pass unnoticed.
- Time tracking and daily reports
- Daily and weekly breakdowns of the time you stayed off your phone, with a report covering the previous day.
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.
Plans
BePresent
Free$0
The app is a free download and the vendor refers to a free version; what it includes is not published.
Monthly$3.99 or $14.99
per month, US App Store; the $14.99 purchase has a 1-week trial
The listing shows a purchase named Monthly at $3.99 and one named Monthly (1-Week Free Trial) at $14.99, without saying how they differ.
Annual$24.99 to $59.99
per year, US App Store; several purchases listed
Purchases named Annual or BePresent Pro (Annual) appear at $24.99, $29.99 and $59.99. The listing does not say which one a new subscriber is offered.
Family$59.99 or $99.99
US App Store in-app purchase; billing period not shown
BePresent Family is listed at $59.99 and BePresent Pro Family (iCloud) at $99.99, with no billing period or member count given.
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.
Ways to pay less
BePresent
No public discounts listed.
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.
