Head to head

Opal vs Brick: An App, or a Physical Lock?

The same goal reached two different ways. One is software that enforces a schedule; the other is an object you have to physically walk back to before your phone works normally again.

The short answer

Choose Brick if you get past software blockers without really deciding to — the barrier being physical is the entire point, and it is the one difference that matters here. Choose Opal if scheduling and app-level control are what you actually need and a physical object would just become one more thing to lose.

How they differ

OpalBrick
What it actually isAn app that blocks apps on a schedule or on demandA physical NFC tag plus an app — tapping the tag locks and unlocks the phone
Devices coverediOSiOS and Android
What getting past it takesEnding or working around a session on the device in front of youPhysically returning to wherever you left the tag
Cost modelFree trial, then a paid subscription. No published figure we can check, so no number is quoted here.$59.00 once, with no subscription for the app
The reason to skip itCost is the deciding factor. ScreenZen covers similar ground on more platforms for nothing.You will carry it with you. A Brick in your pocket is a Brick that does nothing, and it costs more than most apps.

Prices as listed on each vendor’s own page in August 2026. Pricing changes without notice — check before buying.

Where to get them

  • Opal app icon

    Opal

    Screen time coach powered by AI

    AI-powered focus coach that learns your habits and blocks distractions at the system level.

    iOSFree / $9.99/mo
    Read our Opal review →
    Visit
  • Brick app icon

    Brick

    Physical NFC tag to lock your phone

    Tap a physical brick to lock distracting apps. You have to physically return to it to unlock.

    iOS, Android$59
    Read our Brick review →
    Visit

Common questions

Is a physical device really better than an app?
Only for one specific failure mode: reaching past a block without consciously deciding to. If that is your pattern, the walk back to the tag is the friction an app cannot provide. If you reliably obey a software block once it is set, the hardware buys you nothing that Opal or a free app would not.
What happens if I leave the Brick at home by accident?
That is the practical risk with any physical commitment device, and worth thinking about before buying: the same barrier that makes it effective makes it inconvenient when you actually need your phone unlocked. Check the vendor’s current unlock and emergency options on its own product page rather than relying on a summary.
Can I just use both?
You could, but they mostly overlap. A more useful pairing is a physical barrier for the reflex plus something gentler for the moments you legitimately need the phone — see the best screen time apps for what fits that second role.

See also

Opal vs Freedom: Which Blocker Should You Use?Both enforce a block firmly rather than gently, so strictness is not the deciding factor between them. Reach is: one covers an iPhone, the other covers every screen you own at once.Head to headOpal vs one sec: Blocking Apps or Adding Friction?These two solve the same problem in opposite ways. One blocks apps outright; the other makes you take a breath first and lets you continue.Head to headThe Best Screen Time Apps, Tested for a MonthFive popular screen-time apps, tested for a month against normal day-to-day phone use rather than compared on paper. ScreenZen is the one to start with for most people; the other four earn their place for a specific failure mode.Roundup
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