Opal: Screen Time for Focus 4+

Addiction finally broken?!

I have never written an app review before. But this app finally made me want to. I have struggled so much with using my phone and tablet, for social media, news, travel planning, as dopamine inducing procrastination. It has been really problematic for me. This app has finally made great strides to breaking that habit. I’m not perfect by any means, but using the strict locks during the day and the variable ones the rest of the time, I am so much better. I don’t feel the same need or desire to pick my phone up, it doesn’t give me the same rush, and I come off social media much more quickly as it just isn’t as interesting to me. I’ve actually managed to start reading books again, which I didn’t think I could do anymore. Stick with the app, the making you wait to take a break is so useful as a starting point, but if you are struggling, set the harsher limits that you can’t remove - I still iMessage and call, and I’ve been able to reintroduce whatsapp now and control my usage. This really has been a life changing app for me. I hope it continues to work. I’ve been using it for a few weeks now and recommend it to so many people. I’ve gone from picking up my phone 100+ times by mid-morning to easily ‘only’ picking it up 40 times a day - still sounds like a lot, but the early numbers were horrifying! Anyway, give it a go, this one really is worth a try.

Developer Response ,

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this incredible review! We are thrilled to hear that Opal has made such a positive impact on your life. It's fantastic to see that our strict locks and variable limits have helped you break the habit of excessive phone usage and regain control over your time. We are delighted that you have been able to reintroduce other apps and even start reading books again. Your journey is truly inspiring, and we appreciate you recommending Opal to others. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance. Keep up the great work!

Best,
Team Opal

Significantly helped with ADHD

I used to delete apps so as to not get distracted or overwhelmed especially with group chats. I tried to get friends and family to text but people don’t enjoy the user face and I’d often miss bigger conversations and nuances happening in friends lives. It may have been easier if friends were all close but my closest friends are scattered hours apart. Using Opal meant that I could group replying to correspondences within a window of my choice, and still have access to the information which had been happening in the background, on my own terms. Every time you go to open it and it’s blocked, it’s like a notification to do the more helpful thing you were supposed to be doing, whether that’s productive or being more present in rest.

It’s a must for any Student

Being a student heading into a-levels this app is a complete game changer.

It’s amazing how it helps shift your mindset and removes the temptation to randomly just go on your phone and waste time.
Regarding revision it is great as well as it allows you to not have to put your phone in another room you can simply put it in your room & just create a schedule or start a study session. You would be surprised how much time you actually save.

You end up gaining an incentive to spend less time on your phone. As you feel a sense of achievement for not spending time on your phone, the daily reports as well help you reflect and feel proud of the time that you have saved.
If you do have a day where you spend a lot of time it’s breaks down with its focus score what times and what apps caused the most issues encouraging you to be wary of these apps in the future.

If I could give it more that 5* I would.

It’s a must for any student that wants to take control of your studies.

The only issue I have found with it is the pricing. Being a student it is quite expensive if a student offer would be available I think this would be a nice feature otherwise again an amazing app.

Developer Response ,

Awesome! We are very happy that Opal has been a game changer for you as a student heading into A-levels. It's great to know that the app helps shift your mindset and removes the temptation to waste time on your phone.
We're glad that the app is also helping you with your revision by allowing you to create a schedule and start study sessions without having to put your phone in another room. It's fantastic that you're saving time and gaining an incentive to spend less time on your phone. We appreciate your feedback regarding the pricing. We understand that it can be expensive for students, and we'll definitely take your suggestion into consideration for future updates. Thank you again for your support, and we hope Opal continues to help you take control of your studies!

Best,
Team Opal