Compare
Screenwage compared with other ways to block apps
Most iPhone app blockers either block on a schedule (Opal), add a pause before an app opens (one sec) or set a daily limit you can extend (Apple Screen Time). Screenwage is different: locked apps stay locked until you earn time by focusing, and one grain of earned sand buys one minute.
Updated
At a glance
| Tool | How an app opens again | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Screenwage | You spend time you earned by focusing (or pass a quiz, or wait for your lock hours to end) | Turning scrolling into a reward for real work |
| Opal | The scheduled or manual session ends | Protecting fixed blocks of the day |
| one sec | After a short pause, you choose to continue | Noticing automatic app opens |
| Screen Time | The daily limit resets, or you extend it | Simple limits, especially for children |
What makes Screenwage different
Screenwage ties access to effort. Instead of asking you to resist an app all day, it asks you to earn it: focus sessions fill an hourglass with grains of sand, and each grain is one minute in a locked app. You choose the exchange rate, from 1 focused minute = 3 grains to 4 focused minutes = 1 grain.
It also has two other modes for days when earning is not the right fit: Lock hours for fixed schedules and Quiz mode for studying. See how Screenwage works.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Screenwage if you want your phone time to be something you earn, and you like seeing focus add up.
- Choose Opal if you mainly want hard blocks at set times of day and do not want to think about earning.
- Choose one sec if you want a gentle nudge before opening apps rather than a lock.
- Choose Screen Time if you want something free and built in, or you are setting limits for a child with Family Sharing.
Facts about other apps were checked against their own App Store listings, websites and help pages in October 2026. Apps change, so check theirs before you decide.