Opal vs Jomo: Two Subscriptions, One Niche
Both apps cost around $100/year. Both block apps on iPhone with a polished UI. Both market themselves to the “I’m serious about this” crowd. The differences exist — but they’re smaller than the Reddit threads suggest, and picking the wrong one mostly means losing $99 instead of $99.
Here’s what actually separates them.
What They Share (And Why That Matters)
Before the table: Opal and Jomo are solving the same problem with the same basic mechanism. They use Apple’s Screen Time API to block apps, which means both hit the same ceiling Apple built into iOS. Neither can block Safari tabs individually, neither can prevent a determined user from going to Settings > Screen Time and disabling the blocker, and neither works on Android.
If you’re expecting one of them to have cracked something the other hasn’t at the OS level — they haven’t. The differentiation is in the wrapper.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Opal | Jomo |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ~$99/year or ~$15/month | ~$99/year or ~$10/month |
| Free tier | Yes (limited sessions) | Yes (limited blocks) |
| Deep Focus mode (harder to break) | Yes — requires PIN or delay | Yes — “locked” sessions |
| Session scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Break mechanic | Configurable delay + reflection | Reflection prompt, shorter delays |
| App usage stats | Yes, detailed | Basic |
| Widget / shortcuts | Yes | Yes |
| Accountability partner | No native feature | No native feature |
| Platform | iOS only | iOS only |
| Blocks websites | Partial (via Screen Time) | Partial (via Screen Time) |
| Distraction score / streaks | Yes | Yes |
Prices are approximate — both apps have changed their pricing before. Check the App Store listing before buying.
Where Opal Wins
Usage analytics. Opal shows a proper breakdown of which apps ate your time, across days and weeks, with enough granularity to feel embarrassing. If data is part of your motivation loop — seeing the number, feeling the shame, fixing the behavior — Opal’s stats screen is meaningfully better than Jomo’s.
The Deep Focus mode is also more configurable. You can set a longer unlock delay, require a PIN someone else sets, and build sessions that genuinely resist a 2am impulse break. For people who’ve learned they will absolutely override a soft commitment, Opal’s harder defaults help.
It’s also been around longer, which means fewer rough edges and more Shortcuts integrations.
Where Jomo Wins
Monthly price. At roughly $10/month versus $15, Jomo is cheaper if you’re not ready to commit annually. That’s the right structure for someone testing whether a blocker actually changes their behavior before paying for a year.
The friction mechanic also feels less punitive. Where Opal defaults toward harder locks, Jomo leans into shorter reflection prompts — a breathing pause rather than a wall. Some people respond better to “do you actually want to do this?” than to a countdown timer. Neither is objectively better; it’s a personality question.
Jomo’s UI is cleaner, though this is subjective enough that trying both free tiers before spending anything is the right move.
The Honest Verdict
If you already know you need hard commitment and want the best analytics, buy Opal. The deeper locks and usage data justify the price for people who’ve tried softer tools and found them useless — the person who’s already bounced off One Sec and ScreenZen and needs something with more structural resistance.
If you’re earlier in the process — not sure if a paid blocker will stick, or if you respond better to gentle friction than hard walls — start with Jomo’s monthly plan. A month to find out whether reflection prompts change your behavior is a reasonable experiment.
The case for neither: if you haven’t seriously tried the free options first, you’re solving a motivation problem with a spending decision. The free app blockers roundup is worth reading before either subscription makes sense.
Both apps share one limitation neither can fix: they won’t override the pull if you’re not genuinely trying. The best blocker is the one you won’t disable at 11pm. Figure out which friction style keeps you honest, then pay for that one.