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Screenwage vs Opal
Opal and Screenwage both use Apple’s Screen Time system to block apps on iPhone. Opal blocks apps during scheduled or manual focus sessions; Screenwage keeps apps locked until you earn time on them by focusing, at an exchange rate you choose. Opal suits fixed blocks of the day; Screenwage suits people who want scrolling to be a reward.
Updated
The main difference
With Opal, the clock decides: apps are blocked while a session runs, such as a morning deep-work block, and open again when it ends. Its strictest level, Deep Focus, cannot be cancelled once started.
With Screenwage, your effort decides: apps stay locked until you spend grains, and grains come only from focus sessions. An hour of focus at the default rate buys an hour of apps; at the strictest rate it buys fifteen minutes.
Side by side
| Screenwage | Opal | |
|---|---|---|
| Blocking system | Apple Screen Time | Apple Screen Time |
| When apps open | When you spend grains earned by focusing | When a scheduled or manual session ends |
| Fixed schedules | Yes, with Lock hours | Yes |
| Proof of focus | Background, Stay Put (motion), Focus Dock (camera zone) or Phone Work | Session timer |
| Study mode | Quiz mode: answer questions from your notes to unlock | Not a core feature |
| Emergency access | Profile → Safety turns blocking off at once | Depends on the session’s strictness |
| Platforms | iPhone (iOS 17 or later) | See Opal’s website |
Who should choose Opal
Opal is a good fit if your problem is specific hours: you want social apps gone from 9 to 12 every weekday, and you do not want any system of rewards. It is well established and integrates with iPhone Focus modes and Shortcuts.
Who should choose Screenwage
Screenwage fits if all-or-nothing blocking keeps failing you. Because you can always earn your way in, there is less reason to delete the blocker, and the hourglass makes progress visible. Students can switch to Quiz mode before exams, and anyone can switch to Lock hours for school or work days.
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.
Questions
- Is Screenwage an Opal alternative?
- Yes. Both block apps on iPhone with Apple’s Screen Time system. Screenwage replaces Opal’s session schedules with earned time, and also offers schedules through Lock hours.
- Can I use Screenwage and Opal together?
- You can, but two blockers locking the same apps make it hard to tell which one is in charge. Most people pick one.