Foqos vs Opal
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Opal
Screen time app that blocks distracting apps on phone and Mac
Where they differ
- Foqos is free. Opal starts at $8.29 / month, billed annually ($99.99).
- Only Opal lists an Android app.
- Foqos is open source, according to its own site.
- Opal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Opal also covers focus music.
At a glance
| Foqos | Opal | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $8.29 / month, billed annually ($99.99) |
| Free plan | Free on the App Store with no subscription, ads or account. The listing shows three optional tips for the developer, at $1.99, $4.99 and $9.99. | 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 | None listed | Free week on the yearly Pro plan; 3 free days on the monthly Pro plan |
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Ambition Software Inc. | Opal OS Corporation |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | opalapp.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 4, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Foqos
- iPhone users who want a free alternative to hardware app blockers
- Tying a block to a tag or printed code kept in another room
- People who want a blocker with no account, ads or tracking
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
Foqos
- The App Store lists it as iPhone only, needing iOS 17.6 or later. The site says it is made for iPhone and points Android users to other apps.
- Foqos for Mac is a companion, not a standalone blocker: it blocks websites synced from iPhone profiles and needs macOS 14 or later and the same iCloud account.
- NFC strategies need an iPhone with NFC and tags you buy yourself; QR codes and the manual and timer strategies need no hardware.
- The App Store listing shows optional tip purchases of $1.99, $4.99 and $9.99, although the site's FAQ says there are no in-app purchases.
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
Foqos
- App and website blocking
- Profiles for work, study or bedtime each block a chosen set of apps, app categories and website domains through Apple's Screen Time APIs. Adult content and app installs can be blocked too.
- NFC tags and QR codes
- Tap a standard NFC tag such as an NTAG213, or scan a QR code or barcode, to start or stop a session. A profile can be set so that only an approved tag or code will stop it.
- Twelve blocking strategies
- The README lists twelve strategies that combine manual, NFC, QR, timer, pause-timer and temporary-access rules, for example starting in the app but stopping only with a tag.
- Breaks and temporary access
- A profile can carry a break allowance that is split across several breaks, a short pause before blocking resumes, or a set number of brief opens that do not end the session.
- Siri, Shortcuts and widgets
- Sessions respond to Siri phrases and iOS Shortcuts actions, widgets (Control Center ones included) give quicker profile control, and a Live Activity shows status on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island.
- Foqos for Mac
- A companion app for macOS 14 or later takes a profile's blocked websites from the iPhone through iCloud and blocks them on the Mac during focus sessions.
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
Foqos
Foqos$0
The full iPhone app and the Mac companion: app and website blocking, NFC and QR strategies, timers, breaks, widgets and insights.
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
Foqos
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.
