Lock In Squad vs Opal
Choose Lock In Squad for free blocking with no subscription, and Opal if you will pay for extras like Hard Mode. Opal's free plan allows 1 rule, and Pro costs $99.99 a year. Lock In Squad blocks your chosen apps on iPhone and Android and makes you hold a button to quit early.
Feature by feature
| Feature | Lock In Squad | Opal |
|---|---|---|
| Free core features | Yes | Partial (1 rule) |
| No subscription | Yes | Lifetime plan ($399) |
| Hold to unlock | Yes | No |
| Whitelist mode | Android now, iPhone in the next update | Yes (Pro) |
| Focus stats and streaks | Yes | Yes |
| iOS and Android | Yes | Yes |
Prices checked on September 22, 2026. Source: Opal.
The verdict
If you are happy to pay $99.99 a year, Opal is genuinely well made. But if you want real blocking on iOS and Android without a subscription, Lock In Squad does the core job for free and includes a whitelist mode on Android, coming to iPhone in the next update. Squad features, so you can lock in with friends, are rolling out next.
Want to see how Lock In Squad stacks up against every major blocker? See the full comparison.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Opal?
Lock In Squad, if what you want from Opal is app blocking on your phone without a subscription. Every feature is free on iPhone and Android, including unlimited sessions, and one optional $4.99 purchase removes ads. Forest is another free option, with a Deep Focus mode that blocks apps while a tree grows.
Is there a free Opal alternative for iOS?
Yes. On iPhone, Lock In Squad blocks the apps, categories and websites you pick in Apple's Screen Time picker, for free. Today it lacks two things Opal Pro has there: a whitelist mode that allows only chosen apps, which comes in the next update, and something like Hard Mode, since you can always end a session with a hold.
Is Opal free?
Partly. Opal's pricing page calls its free plan free forever, and it does block apps, but only through a single rule, such as one schedule or one time limit, and only from a block list. Opal Pro unlocks the rest, starting at $8.29 a month when billed as $99.99 a year.
What is the difference between Opal Free and Opal Pro?
Pro adds the features that make Opal strict. Its allow list blocks every app and website except the ones you pick, and Hard Mode takes away the option to turn Opal off. Pro also keeps your Opal Score history, where the free plan shows only today, and Opal sells a Teams plan with pricing on request.
Is Opal worth it?
It can be, if Pro's allow list, Hard Mode or Opal's Mac app is what you need. If all you want is to block phone apps, a year of Opal Pro at $99.99 costs about 20 times Lock In Squad's single optional $4.99 purchase, which does nothing but remove ads.
Try Lock In Squad free
Real blocking, stats, and streaks, free on iOS and Android with no subscription. The App Store and Google Play list it as Lock In until the next update.
