---
title: "Opal Alternative for iPhone: Unlockr vs Opal (2026)"
source: https://unlockr.space/compare/opal-alternative
---

Unlockr vs Opal · An honest comparison
vs
# Looking for a Opal alternative?
Unlockr is an Opal alternative that makes you earn your app time instead of sitting behind a wall: 20 squats or a quick Math round unlocks minutes that only count down while you use the app. Premium is $34.99 a year, where Opal Pro is $99.99. Opal works across iPhone, Android and Mac; Unlockr is iPhone only.
Try Unlockr freeSee the comparison ↓ TT
Full disclosure: I make Unlockr, so I'm not neutral. I think Opal is a genuinely good app, and this comparison plays it straight. Where Opal is the better pick, I say so.
Tin, maker of Unlockr
## Unlockr vs Opal at a glance
| Feature | Unlockr | Opal |
| Paid plan, yearly | $34.99/yr (about $2.92/mo) | $99.99/yr (about $8.29/mo) |
| Lifetime option | $69.99 | $399 |
| Free plan | 1 rule protecting 1 app | 1 rule |
| How you get back in | Finish a challenge | Depends on the difficulty you pick |
| Mode you can't cancel | No, you can always earn your way in | Yes (Deep Focus) |
| Exercise to unlock | Yes, counted on device | No |
| Schedules | Yes, up to 8 rules | Yes |
| Websites | Yes (Premium) | Yes |
| Focus score and leaderboards | No (streak and weekly stats) | Yes |
| Platforms | iPhone only (iOS 18+) | iPhone, Android, Mac |
Pricing and features checked November 2026. Sources: Opal on the App Store · Opal pricing.
## What Opal does well
- A block you can't argue with. Deep Focus is built so you can't cancel or bypass a session, which is exactly what some people need.
- It follows you across devices: iPhone, Android and Mac.
- Scores, reports and leaderboards make focus a bit of a game, alone or with friends and teams.
- A big, proven user base: 4.7 stars from more than 90,000 ratings on the US App Store.
### When Opal is the better choice
If you want a hard wall you cannot get past for a set period, or you need blocking on Android or your Mac as well as your iPhone, Opal is the better pick. Its scores and leaderboards also suit people who are motivated by numbers and friends. Unlockr makes more sense when you'd rather keep a way in but make it cost something, and you want to pay less for it.
## Why try Unlockr
- Effort, not willpower — a set of squats, push-ups or a plank, or a Math or Memory round, stands between you and the app. Much harder to tap past on autopilot.
- Time that only counts while you use it — earned minutes tick down only while the app is open, so locking your phone never wastes them. They reset at midnight.
- Rules that follow your day — up to 8 rules for work hours, evenings or your own schedule, each with its own apps, challenge and reward.
- The camera stays on your iPhone — reps are counted on device. No frame is saved or uploaded, and Math, Memory and Breathe don't need the camera at all.
- Built and answered by one developer — Unlockr is made by Tin in Da Nang, Vietnam. When you email support, he answers.
## Frequently asked questions
**Q:** Is Unlockr cheaper than Opal?
Yes. Unlockr Premium is $34.99 a year or $69.99 once. Opal Pro is $99.99 a year, $19.99 a month or $399 lifetime. Both have a free plan with one rule.
**Q:** Is Unlockr as strict as Opal?
Not in the same way. Opal's Deep Focus can't be cancelled at all. Unlockr always lets you back in, but only after a challenge, and only for the minutes your rule allows.
**Q:** Does Unlockr work on Android or Mac?
No. Unlockr is iPhone only and needs iOS 18 or later. If you need Android or Mac, Opal covers both.
## What people say about Unlockr.
★★★★★
> Really help me reduce screen time 🥹
★★★★★
> Very helpful app. Should use this to improve your health and reduce using your phone every day.
★★★★★
> This app is very useful. It offers different ways to improve your health, and it also helps curb overusing your phone for entertainment.
★★★★★
> Really suited to helping cut down daily phone use.
## Pricing
Free
$0
Free forever
Download free
- 1 rule protecting 1 app
- Every challenge, with your own target and reward
- Schedules, streak and stats
- Daily Breathe bonus
Premium Best value: yearly
$34.99/year
3-day free trial for eligible users · or $5.99/month, $2.99/week, $69.99 once
Start free trial
- Multiple apps, whole categories and websites
- Up to 8 rules for different times of day
- Everything in Free
- If Premium ends, your rules stay saved
Prices in US dollars. The App Store shows your local price before you buy.
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- Best app blockersSeven options side by side
## Ready to earn your screen time?
Start free with one protected app. It takes a minute to set up.
Download on theApp Store