Opal alternatives (2026): 8 iPhone app blockers, compared
Pick by what you need. Free: ScreenZen or Apple Screen Time. A gentle pause before apps: one sec. A physical off switch: Brick. Rules for less money: Jomo. The same blocks on your phone and computer: Freedom. Drifting from DMs into Reels in apps you need: Nudge.
The quick comparison
| App | Paid price (US) | Free version | Platforms | Reels vs DMs on iPhone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opal | $79.99/yr in the App Store, $99.99/yr on the web | Yes, limited rules | iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac | No, whole apps |
| Nudge | $99.99/yr, $19.99/mo, $12.99/wk (details) | Timer Mode: lock apps and websites | iPhone | Task Mode notices drift |
| ScreenZen | Free (tips optional) | Everything | iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows | Claims a new minimal mode (untested) |
| one sec | $19.99/yr, $6.99/mo, $99.99 lifetime | 1 app | iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, browsers | No on iPhone (yes on Android) |
| Jomo | $29.99/yr, $99.99 lifetime | 1 session, 1 limit | iPhone, iPad, Mac | No, whole apps |
| Brick | $59 once (device) | Needs the device | iPhone, Android | No, whole apps |
| Freedom | $39.99/yr, $8.99/mo | 2-hour sessions | Phones, tablets and computers | No, whole apps |
| Clearspace | $6.99/mo (yearly price unclear) | Not published | iPhone, iPad, Android, Chrome | No, whole apps |
| Apple Screen Time | Free, built in | Everything | All Apple devices | No, whole apps |
Nudge: for drifting inside apps you need
Your picked apps stay locked. Open one and you choose how long. With Pro, the first unlock of the day is instant, then each one adds 10 seconds (up to a minute), with a breathing animation while you wait. Task Mode is what sets it apart: you say what you came to do ("check my DMs"), and Nudge checks your screen against it and nudges you back when you drift into Reels.
Skip it if you want the cheapest option or blocks across many devices. Nudge is iPhone only. Nudge vs Opal in detail.
ScreenZen: the best free option
Free, very well rated, and deep: a wait that can grow with each open, open limits, unlock timers and scroll interruptions. Version 4.0 says it adds a "Minimal" mode for Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Reddit without Reels or feeds. We haven't tested it, and it isn't documented beyond the release notes.
Skip it if you don't want to tune a lot of settings. Documentation is thin.
one sec: a gentle pause, backed by research
Every time you open a chosen app, one sec shows a short pause (a deep breath by default) and lets you choose to continue or close. It reports that app use drops 57% on average, with research done alongside the Max Planck Institute. On Android it can also remove Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts.
Skip it if you want setup to be quick. On iPhone it runs through one Shortcuts automation per app, and the free plan covers one app.
Jomo: flexible rules for less
Block apps, websites or keywords at set times, after a limit, or until you do something (like walk 5,000 steps). The paid plan is $29.99 a year, or $99.99 once and shareable with five family members.
Skip it if you use Android, or want a useful free plan.
Brick: a physical off switch
Tap your phone on a small device to hide your chosen apps, tap again to get them back. $59 once, no subscription, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and only five emergency unbricks.
Skip it if you need your apps away from home. Nudge vs Brick.
Freedom: the same block on every device
One session blocks apps, websites or the whole internet on your phone, tablet and computer at once. Locked Mode stops you quitting mid-session.
Skip it if you only need your phone handled. The free plan is limited to two-hour sessions.
Clearspace: a breath, then a timed session
Before an app opens, you take a short breath and pick how long you'll stay, and Clearspace pulls you out when time is up. It adds streaks, challenges and accountability partners.
Skip it if you want clear pricing. Its site doesn't list prices or what's free.
Apple Screen Time: free and already there
Built in and free. In iOS 27, Screen Time uses Schedules and Time Allowances; earlier versions use Downtime and App Limits. It's easy to skip unless someone else holds your Screen Time passcode. How to make it stick.
How we compared
Every fact here comes from each company's own website, help center or App Store page, checked on Oct 14, 2026. Prices are US prices. Several apps show different prices on the web and in the App Store, and prices change, so check before you buy. We didn't use affiliate links, and nobody paid to be listed. We make Nudge, so weigh our take on it accordingly.
All app names are trademarks of their owners. Nudge isn't affiliated with any of these companies.
