What is the main difference between Shale and Opal?

Opal blocks distracting apps based on passive time schedules and focus timers. Shale locks distracting apps until you actively answer flashcards inside the app, rewarding you with 1 minute of unlocked screen time per completed card (1 card = 1 minute).

Is Shale or Opal better for students and exam prep?

Shale is purpose-built for students, medical students, and language learners because it turns every phone-checking impulse into spaced repetition flashcard practice (with 14 premade decks, custom cards, and AI deck generation). Opal is geared toward general calendar-based blocking without study content.

How does Shale's price compare to Opal Pro?

Shale starts with a 14-day free trial and costs €2.99/week or €40/year (~$40/year), whereas Opal Pro costs up to $99.99/year.

Shale vs Opal: Two Different Approaches to Screen Time

Name: Shale App
Author: Shale

Opal and Shale both help you spend less time on distracting apps, but they work differently. Opal is built around focus sessions and schedules. Shale asks you to answer flashcards, and every card you complete earns 1 minute of screen time.

Quick Verdict (2026)

Choose Shale if: You want to lock TikTok, Instagram, and games until you finish flashcards (1 card = 1 minute of screen time) using 14 premade decks, custom cards, or AI-generated study decks (€40/year after 14-day free trial).
Choose Opal if: You want passive calendar-scheduled focus blackouts during 9-to-5 work hours without study tasks (up to ~$99.99/year for Opal Pro).

We make Shale, so we are not an unbiased source. We have tried to describe Opal fairly based on public information, but features and pricing change. Please check Opal's own website or App Store page for current details.

Try Shale

Free to download on iOS, with a 14-day free trial.

At a glance

	Shale	Opal
Main approach	Answer flashcards to earn screen time (1 card = 1 minute)	Focus sessions and schedules for blocking selected apps
Learning content	14 premade decks, custom cards, and instant AI deck generator	None (passive timer & schedule blocker)
Best known for	Turning phone-checking impulses into spaced repetition study	Structured work-hour focus sessions and screen time insights
Platform	iOS (Apple Screen Time API; Android waitlist)	iOS, Android, Mac / Chrome (check Opal for current support)
Pricing	14-day free trial, then 2.99€/week or 40€/year (~$40/yr)	Free tier; Opal Pro up to ~$99.99/year (check Opal for latest)

Different philosophies

Opal focuses on structure: you decide when you want to focus, and it helps keep selected apps out of reach during those sessions. If you want scheduled, dedicated focus blocks, that is a strength.

Shale focuses on what you do when you reach for your phone. Instead of a session you start, you answer flashcards to earn time in the apps you blocked.

Can you use both?

They solve different problems, so some people may find them complementary: a scheduled focus tool for work hours and an earn-your-time approach for the rest of the day. Check each app to make sure their settings do not conflict.

Which one fits you?

Opal may suit you if:

You want scheduled focus sessions for work or study blocks.
You are interested in screen time insights and focus tracking.
You do not need flashcards in your blocking routine.

Shale may suit you if:

You want to study something every time you reach for your phone.
You like the idea of earning screen time: 1 card = 1 minute.
You want to use premade decks, your own cards, or AI-generated decks.

Shale pricing

Shale is free to download and starts with a 14-day free trial. After the trial it costs 2.99€ per week or 40€ per year. You can cancel any time in your Apple ID subscription settings.

Turn scroll time into study time

Download Shale on the iOS App Store.