Alternative
A free Opal alternative.
Opal is a polished screen-time and app blocker built mainly for iPhone, and it carries a premium price, often around 99 dollars a year. If your distraction problem lives on your computer and you would rather not pay a subscription, GoFlow gives you a focus timer and a real site blocker for free.
GoFlow is a free Opal alternative for desktop work. It pairs a focus timer with automatic website blocking and tracks your tasks across days, with no subscription and no account. Opal is premium and iOS-first, with deep app blocking and screen-time tools, so for phone-heavy users Opal is the better fit.
What do people want from an Opal alternative?
Opal is well-made, but the price and the iOS focus push some people to look elsewhere. If you do your focused work on a laptop, paying around 99 dollars a year for an iPhone app may feel like the wrong tool. Many users just want to block distracting sites while they work and see their effort tracked, without a recurring bill.
GoFlow is built for exactly that. Start a round, your chosen sites lock, and your work gets logged. No card, no app store, no subscription.
How does GoFlow compare to Opal?
- Free, no subscription. Opal charges a yearly fee for its full experience. GoFlow costs nothing and locks nothing away.
- Desktop site blocking. The free Focus Guard extension blocks your sites automatically during work rounds, on Chrome, Edge, and Brave.
- No account. Open it in your browser and start. Nothing to register.
- Cross-day task tracking. Your tasks and focus time carry across days, with a dashboard and streaks.
- Private. Your block list and stats stay on your device.
GoFlow vs Opal at a glance
| Feature | GoFlow | Opal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Paid (~$99/yr) |
| Platform | Web / desktop | iOS-first |
| Focus timer | Yes (3 modes) | Yes |
| Desktop website blocking | Yes | Limited |
| Deep iOS app blocking | No | Yes |
| Screen-time insights | Basic | Deep |
| Cross-device control | No | Yes |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Data stays on device | Yes | Cloud-based |
Opal's pricing changes over time. Check Opal's site for the current cost.
Where does Opal win?
Opal is genuinely strong at what it does. Its deep iOS app blocking can shut down social apps, games, and anything else on your iPhone in a way a web app cannot touch. Its screen-time insights are detailed, it controls limits across your Apple devices, and the whole experience is polished and well-designed. If your distractions live on your phone and you want serious app limits with rich data, Opal is worth the price. GoFlow does not block phone apps and does not sync across devices, since everything stays local. It is the free, desktop-focused option. Choose Opal for phone-first control, GoFlow for free desktop focus.
Who should switch from Opal to GoFlow?
You should try GoFlow if Opal's yearly price is hard to justify for the way you actually work, or if your focus happens at a computer rather than on your phone. You are the right fit if you want a free tool that blocks distracting sites during work rounds, tracks your effort across days, and keeps everything on your device with no account. You can start in seconds without a card or an app store.
Keep Opal if your distractions live on your iPhone and you want serious app limits, detailed screen-time data, and control that follows you across your Apple devices. That is exactly what Opal is built for, and a desktop web app cannot replace it. The honest split is platform and price. Opal is a premium, phone-first product; GoFlow is a free, desktop-first one. Match the tool to where you actually lose your focus. If that is your laptop, GoFlow will likely cover it without the subscription. Try a week of rounds and judge the difference.
Try the free alternative
A focus timer plus desktop site blocking, free and private. Open it and start a round.
Open GoFlow freeQuestions people ask
Is GoFlow a free Opal alternative?
Yes. The timer, site blocking, and tracking are free, with no subscription and no account. Opal is paid, often around 99 dollars a year, though pricing can change.
Does GoFlow work on iPhone like Opal?
GoFlow focuses on desktop and blocks websites in desktop browsers, not iOS apps. Opal is built for iOS app blocking, so it fits phone-first users better.
How much does Opal cost?
Opal is a premium subscription, with plans that have been around 99 dollars a year. Check Opal's site for the current price.
Where does Opal win over GoFlow?
Opal offers deep iOS app blocking, screen-time insights, and cross-device control. If you live on your phone and want serious app limits, Opal fits better.