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AccountyCat vs Opal

AccountyCat vs Opal: an honest comparison

Opal is a screen-time and app blocker built mainly around your phone. AccountyCat is built for deep work on your Mac — context-aware, private, and open source.

What is Opal?

Opal is a screen-time and app blocker focused primarily on iPhone (with a Mac app too). It blocks distracting apps during sessions and gives you focus scores and streaks.

How they differ

Opal is aimed at phone distraction, and it's well designed for it. If your problem is reaching for your iPhone and falling into a feed, its blocking, sessions, and scores target exactly that.

AccountyCat is aimed at the other screen — the Mac you do deep work on. Instead of blocking apps on a schedule, it goes by your live work context (with AI that runs on-device or via your own cloud key) and nudges you when you've drifted from the task at hand.

For many people they're complementary: Opal to tame the phone, AccountyCat to keep desktop work on track. If your main issue is Mac focus, a context-aware nudge fits better than a phone-first blocker.

DimensionOpalAccountyCat
Primary deviceiPhone-first (Mac app too)Mac-only, built for desktop work
ApproachApp blocking, sessions, focus scoresContext-aware nudges, then a gentle check-in
DecisioningSchedules + blocklists, gamificationAI reads live context (local or your own cloud key)
Where AI/data runsAccount-based, cloudOn-device, or your own cloud key
Pricing modelSubscriptionFree local mode; ~$1–5/mo optional cloud key
Open sourceNoYes, MIT licensed

Opal's pricing and features change over time — check their site for the latest. Last reviewed May 2026.

Where Opal wins

  • Strong for phone distraction — the thing many people struggle with most.
  • Polished, gamified design with scores and streaks that keep you engaged.
  • Deep iOS Screen Time integration.
  • Good at blocking specific apps during sessions.

Where AccountyCat wins

  • Built for Mac deep work, where blocking apps isn't enough.
  • Pays attention to the task you're on with AI (local or your own cloud key), not just which app you opened.
  • Can run on-device and is open source; free local mode.
  • Nudges and gently keeps you honest instead of blocking on a schedule.

Choose Opal if…

  • Your main distraction is your phone.
  • You want polished, gamified screen-time control on iOS.
  • App blocking with scores and streaks motivates you.

Choose AccountyCat if…

  • Your distraction happens on your Mac during work.
  • You want context-aware nudges, not app blocking on a schedule.
  • You value local-or-your-own-cloud AI, open source, and a free tier.

The verdict

Opal is the better choice for phone distraction and polished screen-time control. AccountyCat is the better choice for staying focused during deep work on your Mac — and the two pair well if you struggle on both screens.

Try AccountyCat free

Run it fully on-device with no account, or paste ACFIRST for a private cloud trial. Open source, MIT licensed.

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