Brick vs Opal: Which Is Better?

Short answer

Choose Brick if you want a physical NFC device to start or end blocking sessions and you are willing to manage hardware. Choose Opal if you want an app-first blocker with scheduled sessions, Deep Focus, usage reports, and no separate device. Neither is universally best: the right choice depends on whether physical separation or flexible software scheduling matters more.

Quick verdict

• Choose Brick if you want a hardware-based ritual, a one-time hardware purchase model, and the option to keep the device away from the phone during a block.
• Choose Opal if you want recurring sessions, focus reports, Focus Score, and a broader app-and-device software workflow.
• Choose neither by default if you need a feature that the official sources do not confirm. Compare the current store listing and help documentation before buying.

Brick vs Opal at a glance

Use case	Better fit	Why
You want a physical unlock action	Brick	A Brick device is tapped to start or end a blocking session.
You want scheduled recurring sessions	Opal	Opal documents scheduled and recurring Focus Sessions.
You want usage reporting and a Focus Score	Opal	Opal documents Focus Reports and Focus Score.
You do not want another device to carry or manage	Opal	The workflow is app-based rather than dependent on a physical NFC device.
You want a hardware purchase rather than a recurring subscription	Brick	Brick documents a one-time hardware purchase model; confirm current terms before purchase.
You need Android coverage	Brick	Brick documents an Android companion app; confirm current feature parity.

What the official sources support

Feature	Brick	Opal
Core mechanism	Physical NFC device paired with a companion app	Apple Screen Time controls on supported devices, plus browser extension coverage
Session model	Modes and sessions started or ended with the device	Focus Sessions, Deep Focus, and recurring sessions
Anti-bypass options	Optional Strict Mode	Deep Focus, with optional Screen Time Passcode and App Uninstall Protection
Analytics	Usage tracking	Focus Score and Focus Reports
Platforms	iOS and Android companion apps	iOS, Mac, Chrome extension, and Android with a different feature set
Pricing model	One-time hardware purchase; exact price is not stated here	Free tier plus paid subscription; current price varies by plan and region
Separate hardware	Yes	No

The table describes documented mechanisms and options. It does not prove that either product is impossible to bypass, improves health outcomes, or will work identically on every operating system.

Brick in 30 seconds

Brick pairs a physical NFC device with a companion app. The device is used to start or end a blocking session, and Brick offers configurable Modes such as Deep Work, Family Time, Sleep, Study, and Social Time. An optional Strict Mode is intended to resist tampering. Brick also documents pairing one device with multiple phones and a battery-free magnetic hardware design.

The trade-off is logistics. You must buy, keep track of, and physically access the device when you want to change the session. Brick is a good fit for someone who wants distance from the phone to be part of the blocking routine. It is a poor fit if losing or carrying hardware would make the routine harder to follow.

Brick's official materials describe a one-time hardware purchase and a companion app. The exact current price, feature availability, and platform parity should be checked before purchase.

Opal in 30 seconds

Opal is an app-first screen-time tool. Its documented features include Focus Sessions, scheduled and recurring sessions, Deep Focus, Focus Score, Focus Reports, Screen Time Passcode, App Uninstall Protection, and a community leaderboard with friend invitations. Opal also offers a free tier with limited features and paid plans for the fuller feature set.

The trade-off is that Opal remains software running within platform limits. Opal's own help documentation explains that stronger settings such as a Screen Time Passcode and App Uninstall Protection affect how difficult it is to disable or remove the app. Confirm the current plan and supported features for your device before subscribing.

Key differences

Hardware separation vs software scheduling

Brick makes physical access part of the routine: the NFC device is used to start or end a session. Opal keeps the workflow in software and emphasizes scheduled, recurring, and timed focus sessions. Pick Brick when putting distance between yourself and the unlock device is useful. Pick Opal when scheduling and changing sessions in one app is more important.

Blocking and bypass resistance

Both products document stronger modes intended to make distraction harder to access. Brick offers Strict Mode and a physical NFC device. Opal offers Deep Focus, plus optional settings intended to prevent changes or removal. These features do not justify an absolute claim that either product is unbypassable. Platform settings, permissions, device configuration, and current product behavior matter.

Analytics

Opal documents Focus Score and Focus Reports. Brick documents usage tracking, but the available source set does not establish comparable habit analytics. If measurement and trend reporting are central to your decision, Opal is the clearer fit from the documented feature set.

Cost model

Brick uses a one-time hardware purchase model, with the current exact price not stated in this page. Opal has a free tier and paid subscription plans. Compare the current official pricing and included features at the time of purchase; do not treat an old price as a current offer.

Device coverage

Brick documents iOS and Android companion apps. Opal documents iOS, Mac, Chrome extension, and Android, while noting a different feature set on Android. Check the exact device support you need before choosing a product.

Which should you choose?

Choose Brick if physical separation is the point of the intervention, you want a device-based start/end action, and you accept the responsibility of keeping the hardware available.

Choose Opal if you want recurring schedules, Focus Reports, Focus Score, or an app-first workflow without a separate device.

Compare current terms first if price, Android feature parity, strict-mode behavior, or support for a specific device is decisive. Those details can change and are not all equivalent across platforms.

Consider FaithLock if you want a faith-based alternative that keeps the comparison grounded in the official App Store listing and adds Scripture engagement to the unlock experience. Download the official FaithLock app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/faith-lock-bible-prayer-focus/id6754208209

Frequently asked questions

Is Brick harder to bypass than Opal?

They use different mechanisms. Brick adds a physical NFC device and an optional Strict Mode. Opal offers Deep Focus and optional Screen Time Passcode and App Uninstall Protection. The official sources support comparing those mechanisms, not declaring either product impossible to bypass in every configuration.

Does Brick require a subscription?

Brick documents a one-time hardware purchase model and a companion app. Check Brick's current official terms for the device and any optional features before buying.

Does Opal have a free version?

Opal documents a free tier with limited features and paid plans for the fuller feature set. Current pricing and plan limits should be checked in the official listing or pricing page.

Which app has better analytics?

Opal is the clearer choice based on its documented Focus Score and Focus Reports. Brick documents usage tracking, but this comparison does not establish equivalent reporting depth.

Which is better for Android?

Brick documents an Android companion app. Opal also documents Android, but with a different feature set from its iOS experience. Check the current Android listings for the exact features you need.

Is there a faith-based alternative to Brick and Opal?

FaithLock is a faith-based iOS app listed on the App Store. Its official listing is the source for the product details and the download link above; this page does not claim that it offers Brick's hardware or Opal's analytics.

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Sources checked for this comparison:

• Brick: https://getbrick.com/
• Brick App Store listing and reviews: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brick-ditch-distractions/id6448794069
• Opal: https://opalapp.com/screentime
• Opal help center: https://opalapp.com/help/how-can-i-make-opal-foolproof
• Opal App Store listing: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/opal-screen-time-control/id1497465230
• FaithLock App Store listing: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/faith-lock-bible-prayer-focus/id6754208209