This screen time limiter app actually helps me use my phone less

I’ve spent over five years trying to create a healthier relationship with my phone, and frankly, most screen time apps don’t meet my needs. I often find their limitations very easy to work around. But that changed when I started using Opal, which has excellent free and paid options.

What is opal and what can you do with it?

Opal is an app designed to help you limit your screen time and limit access to distracting apps. With Opal, you can block websites and apps. Of course, you can take breaks, but if you use this feature more often, your posts will be less frequent. I primarily use it to stop the temptation of Instagram, but you can use it to block several other apps.

In addition to blocking features, Opal has comprehensive analytics. I feel like a lot of screen time apps unintentionally shame you by just showing you a number, but Opal provides more context.

Download: Opal for iOS | macOS (free, in-app purchases available)

So why do I love Opal so much?

1. It provides real resistance to the websites and apps you have blocked

With Apple Time Screen Time, I put restrictions on many apps, but these were very easy to bypass. All too often I would simply tell the app to ignore my parameters for a day. I have found this to be as helpful 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 the apps I have blocked. Every time I open 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 need to set how long you want the break to last. Opal is very good at restricting web versions of apps you’ve blocked. I rarely want to work around these limitations, and when I do, I know it’s more of a conscious decision.

2. See how much time I’ve spent away from my phone

It’s easy to focus on the negative metrics, but I think building any kind of long-term success requires looking at the positives. Being able to see how long I’ve spent away from my phone is, in my opinion, Opal’s most underrated feature.

When you look at your stats, you’ll see the percentage of the day you’ve spent offline. You will 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 judge how I feel when the figure is too low.

3. Opal shows how many times I picked up the phone

I’ve been trying to cut down on the habit of picking up my phone more than necessary because it almost always distracts me. Setting specific times when I can pick up the phone is one way I’ve done this, but I’ve also benefited from having clear Opal data.

Opal shows how many times you’ve picked up the phone at the top of the stats. I am much more disciplined than others when it comes to using my phone and I was surprised to pick up my device 50+ times a day.

4. I can categorize apps as productive or distracting

After years of trying to set boundaries with technology, I realized that the goal is not to reduce screen time to zero. I pick up my phone in places to find directions on Google Maps, use a calculator, or send a message to someone I’m about to meet.

Opal lets you categorize apps Very productive on Very distracting. This is subjective; While I don’t find WhatsApp intrusive, you might. Similarly, I find Instagram distracting, but maybe you don’t. So you will need to assess your device usage to get a better idea.

After categorizing apps, you’ll see them in your usage statistics. This will allow you to better understand how you spent your time on your smartphone.

5. The interface is user friendly

No one wants to use a complicated app, especially if you’re trying to stop consuming so much hyper-stimulating content. Fortunately, navigating Opál is very easy. Here you will find three tabs, each of which is completely self-explanatory.

The app also has strong contrasting colors so you can find everything easily. In addition, your statistics are organized in an easy-to-read format. I’ve had no performance issues with the Opal, which I hope will continue to be the case.

6. Restriction levels are customizable

If you’re trying to build a habit, let alone something as difficult as spending less time on your phone, you need to start slowly. I’m pretty far along in my self-improvement journey, so I can set stricter limits if I need to – and Opal allows me to do that.

The Normal difficulty allows you to take breaks and cancel the session as you wish. Timeout, on the other hand, increases the time between breaks. You can also use Deep Focus if you don’t want to take breaks, but that requires a paid subscription. It’s similar to Cold Turkey, which is one of the 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. In addition to Deep Focus mode, you also get whitelist blocking tools and as many recurring sessions as you want.

I think Opal’s paid plan can be useful if you are heavily dependent on your phone. I didn’t need its Pro features, but a complete novice would probably benefit from stricter measures. Opal offers a free trial and I recommend trying it out if you need more comprehensive tools.

I’ve generally been disappointed with on-screen apps, but Opal was a breath of fresh air. Its interface is intuitive and I also like how it makes accessing apps difficult. My relationship with my phone has improved a lot since I started using this app, and I think it will do the same for you.