The best alternative to Opal is Hyud

Introduction

Hyud and Opal are two apps designed to boost productivity by reducing digital distractions. Hyud is a macOS app that not only blocks distracting websites and apps but also helps with physical wellness (like posture and breaks). Opal is a screen-time management app available on iPhone, Mac, and Android, focused on blocking distractions and tracking your device usage. Below, we compare their key features in simple terms to see how they differ. This comparison will only compare the Mac application as Hyud doesn't have yet any mobile application.

App and Website Blocking

On Mac computers, Hyud lets you block distracting websites and applications so you can avoid interruptions. You can choose categories of sites to block or specify custom websites, and you can even block Mac apps (for example, social media apps or games) that might steal your attention. These blocks are tied (or not, as they can be used as a standalone feature) to focus sessions you start. Once a session begins, any chosen sites or apps stay inaccessible until the session ends (even if you close the application). This ensures you remain focused during your work period. Opal also enables app and website blocking. You can pick which apps, games, or websites to block and schedule when to block them. For example, you might block social media every night at 10 PM or start a 30 minute focus session at any time to temporarily lock certain apps. Opal offers different focus modes to control how strict the blocking is. In its Deep Focus mode, you cannot cancel or bypass the block at all until the timer ends though some workaround have been found by the community. In normal modes, you have a bit more flexibility (you can pause or end sessions), but Deep Focus is there for when you need maximum discipline.

Screen Time and Focus Reports

Hyud does not provide detailed screen-time reports or weekly analytics. Its emphasis is on helping you stay productive in real time (during sessions) rather than tracking your past usage habits. You can see a timer for how much time is left in your current focus session, but the app doesn’t generate daily or weekly screen-time charts or comparisons. Essentially, Hyud is a tool you turn on when you want to focus, and it doesn’t track or score your screen time beyond the immediate session. Opal, on the other hand, includes screen-time tracking and focus reports. It monitors how you use your devices and presents the data in an easy-to-understand way. You can check your Focus Score, which shows your current screen time and how much of it is focused vs. distracted time. Opal provides a Focus Report with clear metrics and actionable stats, and it even lets you compare your screen-time progress against other users or your own past performance. Hyud is more of a straightforward tool without analytics.

Smart Scheduling and Planning

Hyud allows you to configure custom "deep work" sessions on the fly. You can choose a session length, give it a name, and decide which features to include (such as enabling break reminders, posture monitoring, or website blocking for that session). This flexibility lets you tailor a focus session to your needs. For example, a 1 hour work session that blocks social media and includes a 5 minutes break at the end. However, Hyud currently does not have an automatic scheduler to plan these sessions in advance. You start and stop sessions manually when you need them. There isn’t a built-in calendar to, say, always activate a session at 9 AM daily. It’s up to you to initiate your focus periods. Opal offers scheduling and planning tools for your focus time. You can set up recurring focus blocks as part of your daily routine. For example, you might schedule social media and email to be blocked every evening from 6 PM to midnight, or designate 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays as work hours with distractions off. The app provides a library of pre-made focus routines (or “Focus Modes”) that you can use. Overall, Opal is designed to help you plan your distraction-free time in advance, whereas with Hyud you handle it more manually session by session.

User Interface and Ease of Use

Hyud runs as a dedicated Mac application that combines several productivity tools in one place. The interface is straightforward and focused since it’s only on desktop. You’ll likely interact with it through a menu bar icon or a main window where you configure your focus session settings. Hyud is as an elegant Mac app that brings together website blocking, app blocking, posture monitoring, break reminders and curfews in one package. Because all these features are built into one app, you don’t need to juggle multiple programs. Hyud’s settings panels let you turn on or off what you need for your session (distractions, posture alerts, breaks) in a clear way. Overall, the design philosophy seems to be simplicity: start a session and the app will handle the rest (blocking sites, watching your posture, etc.). Given its single-purpose focus on Mac, most people should find Hyud reasonably easy to set up and use for their work routine. Opal’s interface is clean and user-friendly too. Setting up focus sessions or adjusting your block list can be done with just a few clicks. The dashboard shows your focus metrics and progress in a way that’s easy to understand at a glance. Both Hyud and Opal prioritize ease of use.

Unique Features

What sets Hyud apart from most productivity apps is its integration of health and wellness features alongside distraction blocking. The most notable unique feature is posture monitoring. Hyud uses your Mac’s webcam (with your permission) to keep an eye on your sitting posture while you work. If you start to slouch or hunch over, Hyud can alert you with a gentle notification, or even take action by blocking your screen until you sit up straight in the strict mode. This is meant to help prevent back and neck pain and encourage you to maintain good posture during long work sessions. Another unique aspect of Hyud is its break reminders with exercises. You can configure Hyud to enforce regular breaks (for instance, a 5 minute break every hour). During a break, Hyud can blank out your screen or display a prompt so that you step away from work. In one mode, it will only resume the session timer when the camera sees that you truly left your seat (to prevent fake breaks). There’s also an "Exercise break" mode, where Hyud will actually show you a tiny workout or stretch routine on the screen and require you to do it (using your webcam to confirm) before unlocking, ensuring you move your body. These features, posture correction and forced physical breaks, are quite unique and not found in most pure software blockers. Hyud essentially combines a productivity app with elements of a wellness coach. This makes it especially suited for people who have sedentary work and want to improve their habits (e.g., avoid sitting too long without moving, and avoid developing a bad posture). By contrast, Opal does not have any posture or exercise components. It focuses purely on digital distractions. So if physical health during computer use is a priority, Hyud offers a one-of-a-kind solution on Mac.
Opal’s distinguishing features lie in its motivational and social aspects, as well as its tight integration with smartphone capabilities. One unique feature is the way Opal gamifies productivity. As you use the app, you can earn "Focus Gems" or milestones as rewards for meeting your goals, and you can build streaks of successful focus days. Opal also includes a leaderboard where you can optionally compete with friends or the broader Opal community on who stays focused the most. Opal also offers the possobility to setup App Limits, to prevent overuse of an application.

Pricing

Hyud offers the choice to people to either purchase Hyud with a lifetime license or to subscribe to it. It also offers a 48 hours free trial. After the trial period, continuing to use Hyud requires buying a license. The Litetime license costs $99 USD as a one-time payment and the subscription costs 9$ monthly. Both tiers include all features of Hyud, there are no separate "pro features" locked behind another paywall. After buying it or subscribing to it, you can use all its capabilities unlimited. Importantly, there is no permanent free tier for Hyud beyond the initial trial. It’s a paid app if you plan to keep using it regularly. Opal uses similar tiers but also offers limited free tier. The app itself is free to download on all platforms, and it offers a basic free tier of service. With the free version of Opal, you can use some core features, but it comes with limitations. For example, free users are limited to one scheduled focus session (one recurring block) and possibly have fewer customization options. Many of Opal’s strongest features, such as the Deep Focus mode, unlimited schedules, advanced analytics, and integrations, are reserved for paying users. To unlock everything, you need to subscribe to Opal Pro, which is the paid premium plan. Opal Pro costs about $99.99 per year (if billed annually). They also offer monthly subscription options, but those end up being more expensive on a per-month basis at $19.99 per month. Opal also offers a one time purchase at $399. The free tier is useful to try out the app and for light use, but serious users looking for features like Deep Focus or more than one scheduled block will likely need the paid plan. Hyud's one time payment is 4 times more affordable than Opal's one and its monthly subscription per month is 2 times more affordable.