Jomo vs Opal

Jomo

• iPhone and Mac users who want the same blocking rules on both
• People who want apps unlocked only after a wait, a reason or a walk
• Students: the annual plan is half price with a student ID
• Buyers who would rather pay once than subscribe

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

Jomo

• Apple devices only: iPhone, iPad and Mac. Jomo's pages list no Android or Windows version.
• The free plan allows 1 Session, 1 Action or Limit and 1 Screen Time Budget.
• Strict Mode, the Apple Health integration and multiple Screen Time Budgets need Jomo Plus.
• The help center says only the lifetime plan can be shared with family, yet the US App Store also lists Jomo Plus Family at $11.99 a month and $59.99 a year.

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.

Jomo

Sessions

Block chosen apps for a set duration or inside a time range, such as an hour of deep work or 9 PM to 6 AM, at a blocking strength you pick.

Limits and Actions

A Limit blocks apps after a set amount of use, such as 10 minutes. An Action keeps them blocked until you do something first, such as walking 5,000 steps.

Unlocks

Opening a blocked app can require waiting a few seconds, giving a reason, copying out a text, entering a password, scanning a QR code or showing proof.

Strict Mode

Makes rules impossible to delete or bypass, for a set time, while blocking, within a time range or always. It is part of Jomo Plus.

Journaling and reports

After a session you record whether the app was worth the time, and reports show usage patterns so you can decide what to block.

Mac app

Blocks apps, websites and keywords on the Mac in all browsers, with no extension needed except for Firefox. Focus Filters switch on the same rules on iPhone and Mac together.

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.

Jomo

• Free Plan$0

  1 Session, 1 Action or Limit and 1 Screen Time Budget, with Squads and Reports.

• Jomo Plus (Monthly)$5.99

  per month, US App Store in-app purchase

  Jomo Plus paid month to month. It is listed on the App Store but not on Jomo's pricing page, and has no free trial.

• Jomo Plus (Annual)$29.99

  per year, after a 3-day free trial

  Up to 10 Sessions and 10 Actions or Limits, Strict Mode, Apple Health integration, deleting apps from Screen Time and multiple Screen Time Budgets.

• Student (Annual)$14.99

  per year, with a valid student ID

  The annual plan at half price for iPhone and Mac, renewable every school year by reapplying with proof.

• Single Purchase$99.99

  one-time purchase

  All Jomo Plus features for one payment, shareable with up to 5 family members. The US App Store also lists a lifetime purchase at $84.99.

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.

Jomo

• Annual discount

  Annual billing costs about 58% less than monthly

  The US App Store lists Jomo Plus at $29.99 a year against $5.99 a month, which comes to $71.88 over twelve months.

• Education

  50% off the annual plan for students

  Students who submit a valid student ID through Jomo's form pay $14.99 a year instead of $29.99. Monthly and lifetime plans are excluded, and the discount must be reapplied for each year.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Jomo Plus for a one-time $99.99

  The Single Purchase plan unlocks all Jomo Plus features for one payment and can be shared with up to 5 family members through iCloud Family Sharing.

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.