Compare screen time apps
Compare screen time apps for the life you want back.
Opal, one sec, Jomo, Freedom and Hello Mumma can all place a boundary between you and a distracting app. The meaningful difference is what each product helps you do before, during and after that boundary.
The direct answer
Choose around your real goal, not the longest feature list.
Hello Mumma is the family-specific choice: it is designed to turn a blocked social-media moment into one small thing to do with your children. Opal suits a broader personal focus system. one sec suits configurable app-opening interventions. Jomo suits detailed rules and strict controls. Freedom is strongest when the same block needs to follow you across phones and computers.
Four honest comparisons
Start with the alternative already on your shortlist.
Each guide compares the job the product is built to do, its blocking style, the next step it offers, public pricing and the trade-offs that matter in everyday use.
Screen time apps at a glance
Five products, five different jobs.
This is not a scorecard. A feature is useful only when it supports the change you actually want to make.
| Product | Best for | Core intervention | What comes next | Public annual price* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello Mumma | Mums protecting family time | Selected app blocking | Child-aware activity and personal reminder | US$47 founding |
| Opal | Broad personal focus | Rules, limits, timers and harder blocks | Continue the chosen focus period | US$99.99 |
| one sec | Intentional app opening | Pause, reflection, re-intervention or block | Choose whether to continue; general healthy alternatives | US$19.99 |
| Jomo | Flexible screen-time rules | Sessions, locks, limits and unlock actions | Follow the rule, journal or complete an action | US$29.99 |
| Freedom | Cross-device distraction blocking | Synced app, website or internet sessions | Return to work, study or offline time | US$39.96 equivalent |
*Public USD pricing checked 13 July 2026. Prices, taxes, currencies and promotions can vary. Sources: Opal pricing, one sec store, Jomo pricing, Freedom pricing, and Hello Mumma pricing.
How we compare
The criteria that change the experience.
We use the same practical questions for every product and link back to current first-party pages for volatile features and prices.
- PurposeIs the product built for family connection, mindful app use, productivity, strict self-control or cross-device focus?
- InterventionDoes it block outright, add friction, enforce a timer, ask for reflection or combine several approaches?
- Next stepDoes the recovered minute have somewhere useful to go, or is choosing the alternative left entirely to you?
- FlexibilityHow much setup, scheduling, rule building and device coverage does the product offer?
- ValueWhat is included for free, what requires a paid plan, and does the paid tool fit the goal closely enough to earn its price?
When the goal is family time.
Blocking is only half the decision
A strict blocker can protect an hour, and a mindful pause can interrupt muscle memory. But neither automatically answers the question that arrives next: “What do I do instead?” Hello Mumma is built around that second half. After the distraction is stopped, it offers a small activity shaped around the children and the energy available in the moment.
General focus tools may still be the better fit
If the same distraction follows you from your phone to a work laptop, Freedom’s cross-device approach may matter more. If you want rich rules and unlock conditions, Jomo may fit. If you want a menu of interventions or browser support, one sec may fit. If you want a polished focus system with history and harder blocks, Opal may fit. Specificity is valuable only when it matches your problem.
See how Hello Mumma’s three-part return works: block the detour, choose one tiny activity, then hear your own reason again.
Common questions
Choosing a screen time app.
What is the best screen time app for mums?
The best fit depends on the moment you are protecting. Hello Mumma is designed specifically for mums who want less social-media pull during family time and help turning the pause into a small activity with their children. A broader focus tool may be better for work, study or cross-device blocking.
Are app blockers and mindful-pause apps the same?
No. A blocker prevents access for a chosen period or after a limit. A mindful intervention adds friction and asks you to choose again. Some products combine both. Hello Mumma uses blocking as the boundary, then adds a family-specific alternative.
Does the cheapest annual plan offer the best value?
Not automatically. Price matters, but so do setup effort, device coverage and what happens after the block. A cheaper general tool can be excellent value for broad focus. A more specific tool can be better value when it solves the exact moment that keeps repeating.
How current are these comparisons?
Feature and pricing checks were completed on 13 July 2026 using official public pages. Every detail page includes its sources. Always confirm the latest price and platform availability with the provider before buying.
Founding access
Want the pause to lead back to your children?
Hello Mumma includes selected app blocking, small child-aware activity ideas and a reminder recorded by you. Founding mums can choose monthly access or lock in the US$47 annual price.