TaskBlue or Opal: which suits your child?
Opal suits a child who wants to cut down and backs the rules themselves. TaskBlue suits you if you want to set fixed places and times and keep ending early in your hands. Both use Apple's Screen Time interface on iPhone.
As of: October 2026
What is Opal?
Opal is a focus app from Opal OS Corporation for iPhone, Android and Mac. It blocks apps and websites in sessions, with time and open limits, and shows its own block screen when a blocked app is opened. For children, Opal describes a setup on the child's iPhone: an Opal PIN, protection against deleting the app and an Apple Screen Time passcode, which parents can also set through Family Sharing. There is a school mode for schools, while a dedicated offer for kids (Opal for Kids) is so far only available on request.
Where Opal is strong
- Mature and versatile: sessions, time and open limits, website blocking and allow lists on iPhone, Android and Mac.
- Several difficulty levels up to a mode with no breaks at all, plus a PIN and protection against deleting the app.
- A free version with one rule and a dedicated programme for schools.
Side by side
| Topic | TaskBlue | Opal |
|---|---|---|
| Child's device | iPhone with iOS 16 or later | iPhone with iOS 18 or later; for personal use also Android and Mac |
| What parents need | Neither an app nor an iPhone of their own. Setup happens on the child's iPhone. | No parent app; set up on the child's iPhone with an Opal PIN and Screen Time passcode, Pro only |
| How apps are blocked | Chosen apps disappear from the home screen. Categories and websites show Apple's block screen. | Apple's Screen Time interface; blocked apps show an Opal block screen |
| Automatic by place | Yes, at up to 20 places with a 100 to 500 m radius | Not stated |
| Schedules | Weekly schedule, chosen calendar events or by hand | Scheduled sessions, time and open limits; recurring sessions with Pro |
| Ending early | With the BlueTag or the 6-digit parent PIN. Without a PIN, the child has three emergency exits. | Three difficulty levels; the strictest (Pro) allows no breaks, only one emergency pass a week |
| What parents see | No location, no messages, no browsing history | No parent view stated |
| Price | €49.99 for 12 months or €9.99 a month, BlueTag included | Free version; Pro US$99.99 a year on the website, App Store prices partly differ |
| Also | Every focus hour funds the recovery of about 100 g of ocean plastic. | A dedicated school programme (Opal for Schools) and a student offer |
When Opal is the better fit
Your child wants to scroll less on their own and also uses a Mac next to the iPhone.
When TaskBlue is the better fit
The apps should disappear at school on their own, and you keep hold of the key.
Frequently asked
Can I use Opal as parental control?
Yes, within limits. Opal describes a setup on your child's iPhone with an Opal PIN, uninstall protection and Apple's Screen Time passcode, and all child features need Opal Pro. There is no separate Opal app for parents. You change the Opal rules on your child's device, and according to Opal you can also set the Screen Time passcode from your own iPhone through Apple's Family Sharing.
Does TaskBlue start focus automatically at school?
Yes. You mark the school once in the app, and as soon as your child arrives, focus starts on its own. The details are in How TaskBlue works.
How do the prices compare?
TaskBlue costs €49.99 once for twelve months or €9.99 a month, with the BlueTag included either way. Opal has a free version, and Pro costs US$99.99 a year according to Opal's website. All TaskBlue plans are on the pricing page.
Sources
As of October 2026. All information without guarantee.
- Opal: Pricing, Opal, 2026
- How to Set Up Parental Controls with Opal, Opal, 2026
- Pin Code for kids, Opal, 2026
- What are Sessions?, Opal, 2026
- Opal for Schools, Opal, 2026
- Opal School Mode FAQ, Opal, 2026
- Opal for Kids, Opal, 2026
- Opal im App Store (Deutschland), Apple App Store, 2026
Read on
Fewer distractions for your child. Less plastic in the sea.
A year costs €49.99 once, a month €9.99. The BlueTag comes with both plans.