Opal alternatives for iPhone, compared
Updated November 5, 2026
The main Opal alternatives on iPhone are ScreenZen (free, adds a pause before apps open), one sec (a breathing pause before apps open), Jomo (rules and stats, with a free tier), Brick (a physical device you tap to lock apps, no subscription), Clearspace (a pause with exercises, with a paid friends feature) and Sisa (free plan, built around a small circle of friends). iPhone's own Screen Time is also free. Which fits depends on whether you want a pause, a hard block or other people involved.
Opal is one of the best-known screen-time apps on iPhone, and its free plan is usable. But its Pro plan, which most of the strict features sit behind, costs around $100 a year in the US (November 2026). That's why many people go looking for an alternative.
The table shows how each app charges, not exact prices: those change often and differ by country. Check the App Store for current prices where you live.
The short version
| App | Approach | Free plan | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opal | Blocking sessions, schedules, focus score | 1 rule | Subscription or lifetime | People who like stats and gamified focus |
| ScreenZen | A pause before the app opens | Everything | Free, tips optional | A free, gentle nudge |
| one sec | A breathing exercise before the app opens | 1 app | Subscription or lifetime | Breaking the automatic tap |
| Jomo | Rules, sessions and stats | Yes | Subscription or one-time | A cheaper all-round Opal replacement |
| Brick | A physical puck you tap to lock apps | App is free | One-time device | People who want something physical |
| Clearspace | A pause, with exercises to earn time | Yes | Subscription | Unlocking time with effort |
| Sisa | Schedules, with a friend's message on the block screen | 1 schedule, 3 apps | Optional Pro subscription or lifetime | Doing it with friends |
| iPhone Screen Time | App limits and Downtime | Everything | Free | A free baseline |
ScreenZen: the free option
ScreenZen puts a short wait in front of the apps you choose, and you can limit how many times a day you open them. It has no subscription and asks for optional tips instead. If price is the reason you're leaving Opal, start here.
Trade-off: it's built around friction, not hard blocks, so it relies more on you.
one sec: a pause that breaks the habit
one sec makes you take a breath before an app opens and then asks whether you still want to continue. The free version covers one app; more apps need the paid version.
Trade-off: it's designed to interrupt the reflex, not to lock anything.
Jomo: the closest like-for-like
Jomo offers rules, focus sessions and screen-time statistics, much like Opal, with a free tier. Jomo Plus is a subscription or a one-time purchase.
Trade-off: fewer social features than some alternatives.
Brick: a physical lock
Brick is a small device you buy once, with no subscription. You tap your phone on it to lock the apps you choose and tap again to unlock. Leaving it at home or in another room makes unlocking slow.
Trade-off: you're buying hardware, and if you lose the puck you need the emergency unbrick option.
Clearspace: earn your time
Clearspace adds a pause before distracting apps and can ask for an exercise, such as push-ups, before you get time back. Its paid Premium plan includes a feature for keeping each other accountable with friends.
Trade-off: the friends feature is behind the paid plan.
Sisa: do it with friends
Sisa takes a different angle: you block apps on a schedule, and when you open one anyway, a message a friend wrote for you appears on the block screen. You use it with a small circle of two or three friends.
- Free: one schedule with up to three apps, soft lock with one 15-minute bypass a day, and up to three circles.
- Pro: unlimited schedules, app categories and websites, and hard lock with no bypass at all.
- Turning a schedule off takes a five-second countdown, and an active schedule can't be edited.
Trade-off: it works best if at least one friend joins. On your own, it's a solid schedule blocker, but the friend's message is the point.
Or just use Screen Time
iPhone's built-in Screen Time is free and can block an app with a one-minute App Limit. Its weakness is the Ignore Limit button. It holds only if someone else sets the passcode. See how to block TikTok on iPhone for the exact steps.
How to choose
- You want it free: ScreenZen or Screen Time.
- You want to stop the automatic tap: one sec or ScreenZen.
- You want a lock you can't talk yourself out of: Brick, Opal's Hard Mode, or Sisa's hard lock.
- You do better when other people are involved: Sisa or Clearspace.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free version of Opal?
Yes. Opal's free plan includes basic app blocking with one rule. Hard Mode, unlimited rules and its other strict features need Opal Pro.
What is the best free alternative to Opal?
ScreenZen is the most complete free option, with no subscription at all. iPhone's own Screen Time is also free. Sisa's free plan covers one schedule with three apps, which is enough for the usual TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.
Which Opal alternative is hardest to bypass?
Brick, because unlocking needs the physical device. Among apps, look for a mode with no bypass at all: Sisa's hard lock (Pro) and Opal's Hard Mode (Pro) both work that way.
Can I use an Opal alternative with friends?
Yes. Sisa is built around a small circle of friends whose messages appear on your block screen. Clearspace has an accountability feature with friends on its paid plan, and Opal lets friends see each other's daily screen time.