Quick Links
I’ve tried to develop a healthier relationship with my phone for over five years, and frankly, most screen time apps haven’t met my needs. Often, I find their restrictions very easy to bypass. But this changed when I started using Opal, which has excellent free and paid options.
What Is Opal, and What Can You Do With It?
Opalis an app designed to help youlimit your screen timeand restrict access to apps you find distracting. With Opal, you’re able to block websites and apps. Of course, you can take breaks, but your allowances are less frequent if you use this feature more often. I primarily use it to stop the temptation of Instagram, but you can use it to block several other apps.
you may create numerous focus modes, but I normally set up one that runs throughout the day apart from 30 minutes.
Besides its blocking features, Opal has comprehensive analytics. I feel like many screen time apps unintentionally make you feel ashamed by just showing you a number, but Opal provides more context.
Download:Opal foriOS|macOS(Free, in-app purchases available)
So, why do I love Opal so much?
1. It Provides Actual Resistance to Websites and Apps You’ve Blocked
I placed restrictions on numerous apps with Apple’s Screen Time app, but these were very easy to bypass. All too often, I’d simply tell the app to ignore my parameters for a day. I found that about as useful as closing the front door of your house but not locking it; anyone determined enough can get in.
On the other hand, Opal also restricts the websites of apps I’ve blocked. Each time I open my focus mode, I have to wait five seconds. The app also reminds me to take a moment to breathe.
If you choose to take a break, you also have to set how long you want this break to last. Opal is very good at restricting web versions of apps that you’ve blocked. I seldom want to bypass these restrictions, and if I do, I know it’s more of a conscious decision.
2. I Can See How Much Time I’ve Spent Off My Phone
It’s easy to focus on negative metrics, but I think that building any long-term success requires looking at the positives. Being able to see how long I’ve spent off my phone is, in my opinion, Opal’s most underrated feature.
When you look at your statistics, you’ll see the percentage of your day that you’ve spent offline. You’ll also see the actual number of minutes. This makes me feel great because I spend a lot of time away from my phone, and I can also assess how I feel when the figure is too low.
You can see yourTime Offlinestatistics beneath the bar graph.
3. Opal Shows How Many Times I Picked Up My Phone
I’ve been trying to reduce the habit of picking up my phone more than I need to because it almost always distracts me.Setting specific times at which I can pick up my phoneis one way that I’ve done this, but having Opal’s clear data has also benefited me.
Opal shows you how many times you’ve picked up your phone at the top of your statistics. I’m much more disciplined with my phone use than others, and I was surprised that I still picked up my device 50+ times throughout the day.
4. I Can Categorize Apps as Productive or Distracting
After years of trying toset boundaries with technology, I’ve realized that the goal is not to reduce my screen time to zero. I will pick up my phone at points to find directions in Google Maps, use the calculator, or send a message to someone I’m about to meet.
Opal lets you categorize apps fromVery ProductivetoVery Distracting. This is subjective; while I don’t find WhatsApp distracting, you might. Similarly, I find Instagram distracting but you might not. So, you’ll have to assess your device usage for a better idea.
After you categorize the apps, you will see them in your usage statistics. This will provide a clearer understanding of how you spent your time on your smartphone.
5. The Interface Is User-Friendly
Nobody wants to use a complicated app, especially if you’re trying to stop consuming as much hyper-stimulating content. Thankfully, navigating Opal is very easy. You’ll find three tabs, each of which is quite self-explanatory.
The app also has strong contrasting colors, making everything easy to find. Moreover, your statistics are laid out in an easy-to-read format. I’ve had no performance issues with Opal, which I hope continues to be the case.
6. The Restriction Levels Are Customizable
You need to start slowly if you’re trying to build any habit, let alone something as difficult asspending less time on your phone. I’m quite advanced in my self-improvement journey, so I can set stricter limits if needed—and Opal lets me do that.
The Normal difficulty lets you take breaks and cancel your session as you like. Timeout, on the other hand, increases the time between breaks. you’re able to also use Deep Focus if you don’t want to take breaks, but this requires a paid subscription. This is similar to Cold Turkey, which is one ofthe best tools for practicing digital minimalism.
Do I Recommend Upgrading to Opal’s Paid Plan?
Opal Pro costs $399 as a one-time purchase, $99.99 per year, and $19.99 per month. Besides the Deep Focus mode, you also get whitelist-blocking tools and as many recurring sessions as you wish.
I think that Opal’s paid plan can be useful if you’re badly addicted to your phone. I didn’t need its Pro features, however, a complete newcomer would probably benefit from stricter measures. Opal does offer a free trial, and I recommend trying this to see if you need more comprehensive tools.
I was generally disappointed with screentime apps, but Opal has been like a breath of fresh air. Its interface is intuitive, and I also like how it makes apps harder to access. My relationship with my phone has significantly improved since I started using this app, and I think it’ll do the same for you.
