Compare
The best Opal alternatives in 2026
Published July 9, 2026
Opal is a genuinely good app, and for a lot of people it does the job. Most people who go looking for an alternative are not unhappy with how it works. They want one of three things: a lower price, something that feels calmer to use, or a blocker that does more in one place.
If that sounds like you, here are the alternatives worth knowing this year, with real prices side by side.
What to look for in an Opal alternative
Before the list, the things that actually matter once the novelty wears off:
Price, and whether it is subscription only. Screen time apps have grown expensive. A one time option can pay for itself in a few months.
How it blocks. Most iOS apps use Apple Screen Time underneath. What differs is how easy it is to bypass in a weak moment.
Friction that holds. A blocker you can switch off in one tap rarely sticks. The good ones put a small, deliberate pause between you and the app.
Whether it is pleasant to open. You will see this app every day. It should not nag you.
Privacy. Your list of blocked apps is personal. Prefer apps that keep it on your device.
The alternatives at a glance
Every price below is a subscription except where noted. Use the toggle to compare by month, by year, or one time for life.
Subscription
Parkbench is committed to being among the most affordable, by design. With no marketing budget, no growth targets, and no revenue goals, it can afford to stay that way.
Prices are US pricing and may change. Check each app's store listing for the latest.
A closer look
The chart shows every option's price. Here is a closer look at the ones people ask about most.
Parkbench
Best for: someone who wants Opal's discipline without the price or the pressure.
Parkbench treats blocking gently. You bench an app, and it goes quiet. Reach for it and a calm park meets you instead, with a different animal each time and a playful line to send you back to your day.
The longer you stay away, the more the park fills with wildlife. Every stretch of focus brings a visitor to your bench, from everyday robins to rarer friends that appear with the seasons, the weather, and the time of day. There are 151 to spot, log, and call regulars, so your quiet hours turn into a field guide worth returning to. Focus becomes something you can see, and collect, rather than a number that scolds you.
Underneath the calm it is a complete blocker: schedules for the hours you want protected, limits that bench an app once you have spent enough time in it today, app groups, and tap to bench with any NFC tag. The friction is yours to set, from a short reflection before you give in, to one emergency unlock a week, to a strict mode with no way out.
It uses Apple Screen Time to do the blocking, so your list never leaves your iPhone. And it is built by one person with no investors, which is why it can stay among the most affordable here: free to start, then $3.99 a month, $27.99 a year, or $84.99 once for life.
The honest catch. It is iOS for now, and the park is calm by design. If you want aggressive streaks and heavy gamification, Opal leans harder into that.
Jomo
Best for: people who like Opal's focus session and statistics style.
Jomo is the closest here to Opal in spirit, with focus sessions, schedules, a strict mode, and detailed breakdowns. It runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
It is $29.99 a year, or $99.99 once for life, which undercuts Opal comfortably. If what you liked about Opal was the sessions and the stats, but you want a change or a lower price, start here.
Freedom
Best for: blocking across your laptop and desktop, not just your phone.
Freedom's strength is reach. One blocklist spans iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Chrome, and a session started on your laptop follows you to your phone.
It is $39.99 a year, with a one time Forever plan if you would rather pay once. If your distraction lives on a browser as much as a phone, it is worth a look. On an iPhone alone, a Screen Time based app like Parkbench blocks more tightly.
Rather block by tapping a tag?
Some blockers sell a proprietary device or tag that runs up to $79. Parkbench works with any generic NFC tag you can find online for under a dollar, then you tap it to bench. If a physical tap is what you are after, here is how the tap to block devices compare.
Read: the best Brick alternativesSo which should you pick?
The cheapest complete blocker, and something calm to open every day: Parkbench.
Opal style focus sessions and stats, for less: Jomo.
Blocking on your computer too: Freedom.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Opal?
Yes. Parkbench has a free tier you can use without paying, so you can try benching your most distracting apps before you decide on Premium.
How much does Opal cost?
Opal Pro is $99.99 a year, or $19.99 a month, with a $399 lifetime option. That is at the higher end for this category, which is why many people look for an alternative.
What is the cheapest Opal alternative?
For a complete blocker, Parkbench is among the cheapest: free to start, $27.99 a year, or $84.99 once for life. Jomo also undercuts Opal at $29.99 a year.
What is the best Opal alternative?
It depends on what you want. For a lower price and a gentler daily feel, Parkbench. For Opal style sessions and stats, Jomo. To block your computer too, Freedom.
Keep comparing
See how Parkbench compares to BrickParkbench is a gentler app blocker, and among the most affordable.