Comparison
Deadbolt vs Opal
The feature-rich, gamified focus suite — at a premium price. Here’s how it stacks up against Deadbolt — honestly, including where Opal is the better pick.
| Feature | Deadbolt | Opal |
|---|---|---|
| Hard blocking (not just a nudge) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scheduled auto-blocks | ✓ | ✓ |
| On-device via Apple Screen Time | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deliberate emergency exit | ✓ | ~ |
| Walk-to-unlock (physical steps) | ✓ | — |
| No account required | ✓ | — |
| Price | Free · $4.99/mo or $29.99/yr | $99.99/yr |
✓ full · ~ partial / different model · — none. Competitor details from public reviews & App Store listings (2026) and can change — always check the latest.
Where Opal shines
- Deep, polished analytics and weekly reports
- Deep Focus mode is genuinely hard to quit
- Gamification (gems, streaks, leaderboards) motivates some people
- Cross-platform (iPhone, Mac, lighter Android)
Where Deadbolt wins
- Deadbolt is a fraction of the price ($29.99/yr vs $99.99/yr)
- Deadbolt needs no account or sign-in; Opal requires one
- Deadbolt’s walk-to-unlock adds physical friction Opal has no equivalent for
- Deadbolt is simpler — no gems or leaderboards to manage
Which should you choose?
Pick Opal if: You want deep analytics, cross-platform sync, and gamification, and the $99.99/yr price and account requirement don’t bother you.
Pick Deadbolt if: you’ve bypassed every other blocker and want one that’s genuinely hard to cheat — strict sessions, a cooldown, and a 200-step walk-to-unlock — with no account and a free tier to start.
Opal details from public reviews and its App Store listing (2026); features change, so check the latest before deciding.
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