Clearspace vs Opal

Clearspace

• People who want friction before social apps rather than a hard block
• Phone users who want a time budget for each scrolling session
• Anyone motivated by accountability partners, streaks and exercise challenges

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

Clearspace

• Clearspace publishes no pricing page; the only prices found are in-app purchases on the app stores.
• The US App Store lists three purchases named Clearspace Premium at $44.99, $49.99 and $59.99 without saying how they differ.
• The iOS app is for iPhone only and there is no Mac or Windows app; on a computer Clearspace runs as a Chrome extension.
• The Google Play listing leaves out the schedules and accountability partners that the iPhone listing describes.

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.

Clearspace

Pause before opening

A selected app opens only after a short centering exercise such as a deep breath, which gives you a moment to decide whether to go in at all.

Session limits

You tell Clearspace how long you want to spend in an app, and it pulls you out when that time is up.

Blocking and schedules

Distracting apps can be blocked outright, and schedules set the windows when chosen apps may be used.

Screen time challenges

Screen time challenges are meant to train your attention, and exercise modes make you do pushups, squats or steps to earn scrolling time.

Accountability and reporting

On iPhone, trusted accountability partners help you keep to your goals, and streaks and budgets summarize your screen time.

Chrome extension

Blocks or limits websites with the same pause-before-opening step, hides social media feeds and offers a Reader Mode that strips a page down to its text.

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.

Clearspace

• Free$0

  The app is a free download. The store listings do not spell out what the free version includes.

• Clearspace Premium (Monthly)$6.99

  per month, US App Store in-app purchase

  Premium paid month to month. The listing does not itemize what Premium adds.

• Clearspace Premium (Annual)$44.99

  per year, US App Store in-app purchase

  Premium billed yearly. The listing also shows purchases named Clearspace Premium at $49.99 and $59.99 with no billing period.

• Clearspace Premium Family$79.99

  US App Store in-app purchase; billing period not shown

  A family version of Premium. The listing gives neither the billing period nor the number of people covered.

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.

Clearspace

• Annual discount

  Annual Premium costs about 46% less than monthly

  The US App Store lists Clearspace Premium at $44.99 a year against $6.99 a month, which comes to $83.88 over twelve months.

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.