Opal Pricing 2026: Is Opal Free, How Much Does It Cost, and a Free Alternative
Short answer
Yes, Opal has a free plan. It’s free forever and includes one rule (with scheduling, time limits and open limits), basic timers, app blocking and today’s Opal Score. Opal Pro adds Hard Mode, unlimited rules and your score history. On Opal’s pricing page, Pro costs $99.99 a year (shown as $8.29/month, with a free week), $19.99 a month (with a 3-day trial) or $399 once for lifetime. The US App Store also lists weekly plans from $4.99. Students can apply for up to 50% off. If you want a free option that never hard-locks you out, ScreenWorth is free to download, its Free plan is free forever, and Plus is $4.99/month or $39.99/year.
Opal plans and prices (October 2026)
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0, forever | One rule (scheduling, time limits, open limits), basic timers and soundscapes, app blocking, Opal Score for today only |
| Pro, yearly | $99.99/year (shown as $8.29/month). Free week | Hard Mode, unlimited rules, advanced timers and soundscapes, Allow Only, Opal Score with history |
| Pro, monthly | $19.99/month. 3-day free trial | Same as Pro yearly |
| Pro, lifetime | $399, one-time payment | Same as Pro yearly |
| Weekly (App Store) | $4.99 or $9.99/week; Student weekly $9.99 | Listed as In-App Purchases on the US App Store |
| Student discount | Up to 50% off Pro | Apply through Opal’s student form |
Sources: opalapp.com/pricing and Opal’s US App Store listing, both checked October 23, 2026. Opal’s pricing page shows the $19.99/month card with “$239 billed annually,” so confirm the exact terms on the purchase screen before you subscribe.
Is Opal free?
Yes. Opal’s Free plan is labeled “Free, forever” and works on iPhone, Android and Mac. The catch is the one rule limit. A rule is a set of blocked apps on a schedule or limit, so on the free plan you can, for example, block social apps during work hours, but you can’t add a second rule for bedtime. Hard Mode, which Opal describes as “No way out. You can’t turn Opal off,” is Pro only.
Third-party reviewers flag the same trade-off. Habi’s 2026 review says “The free tier is extremely limited,” and Habit Doom notes that on the free plan “you can end a session whenever you want.”
How much does Opal Pro cost per month?
It depends on how you pay. The yearly plan works out to $8.29 a month ($99.99 billed once a year). Paying month to month is $19.99. The lifetime plan is a single $399 payment. On the App Store, you’ll also see weekly plans at $4.99 and $9.99, and a student weekly plan at $9.99.
Refunds and cancelling
- Bought on Opal’s website (Stripe): Opal offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Bought in the iPhone app: Apple processed the payment, so Opal says it can’t refund it directly. Request a refund from Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
- To cancel an App Store subscription: open Settings, tap your name, tap Subscriptions, choose Opal and tap Cancel Subscription.
A free alternative: ScreenWorth
ScreenWorth is free to download. Free to walk away. You only pay if you decide extra time is worth it. Instead of hard-blocking you, it gives you a daily allowance for the apps you choose. When it runs out, the app locks and you pick: walk away for free, or pay a small amount you set in advance for 15 more minutes ($0.49 for the first unlock on the default setting, rising with each unlock that day and resetting at midnight). It never charges automatically.
- Free plan, free forever: one full plan (Reset, Doomscroll, Focus, Sleep or Custom) with limits, schedules, receipts, a weekly receipt and 7-day challenges with friends. No account needed to start.
- Plus: $4.99/month or $39.99/year. Adds running plans together, per-app caps, full history and your own challenges. Unlocks cost the same on both plans.
- Platforms: iPhone today, Android coming soon.
Opal is the better fit if you want a strict wall you truly can’t turn off. ScreenWorth is for people whose hard blockers didn’t last. For the full side-by-side, read ScreenWorth vs Opal.
FAQ
Is Opal free?
Yes. Opal has a Free plan that’s free forever, with one rule, basic timers, app blocking and today’s Opal Score. Pro features like Hard Mode and unlimited rules need a paid plan.
How much does Opal cost?
Opal Pro is $99.99 a year (about $8.29 a month), $19.99 a month, or $399 for lifetime, according to Opal’s pricing page in October 2026. The US App Store also lists weekly plans at $4.99 and $9.99.
Does Opal have a student discount?
Yes. Opal says students can get up to 50% off Opal Pro by applying through its student form.
Does Opal have a free trial?
Yes. Opal’s pricing page shows a free week on the yearly plan and a 3-day free trial on the monthly plan. The lifetime plan has no trial.
What’s a free alternative to Opal?
ScreenZen is free and supported by tips. ScreenWorth is free to download with a free-forever plan: walk away from your limit for free, or pay a small price you set in advance for 15 more minutes. Its Plus plan is $39.99 a year.
Sources
- Opal pricing page (opalapp.com), checked Oct 23, 2026
- Opal on the US App Store
- Habi: 7 Best Screen Time Apps in 2026
- Habit Doom: Opal vs ScreenZen, Jomo and One Sec (2026)
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