Qurb vs Opal and ScreenZen: a screen time app for Muslims
Opal and ScreenZen are general screen time apps with far more blocking options than Qurb, and both run on iPhone and Android. Qurb is narrower: it locks your distracting apps until you've read your daily Quran goal, and tracks every verse until you complete the Quran. If you want fewer hours on your phone, the general apps are excellent. If you want those hours to start with the Quran, Qurb is built for that.
Opal and ScreenZen are two of the most popular screen time apps in the world, and they’re very good at what they do. Many Muslims use them. So why would you want a Quran-specific app instead, or as well? Here’s an honest look. We make Qurb; facts about Opal and ScreenZen come from their own store listings, checked on 3 November 2026.
At a glance
| Qurb | Opal | ScreenZen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it's for | Reading the Quran before you scroll | Screen time control and focus | Screen time control, mindful pauses |
| What unlocks your apps | Finishing your daily Quran goal | The end of a scheduled block or session, app limits; a "Deep Focus" mode can't be cancelled | A wait before opening, open limits, time limits, strict blocks, or earn opens with a short activity |
| Quran reader | Yes: Arabic, translations, transliteration, audio, offline | No | No |
| Tracks completing the Quran | Yes, every verse | No | No |
| Blocks websites | Not offered | Yes | Yes |
| Reports and stats | Your reading: streak, week at a glance | Focus reports, focus score, leaderboard | Screen time for your chosen distracting apps, streaks |
| Platforms | iPhone | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android |
| Pricing model | Free reader, no ads; premium for locking, 7-day free trial on yearly | Free download with in-app purchases | Free, with optional tips |
| Size | New: 4.9 from 11 ratings across all App Store countries (Oct 2026) | 4.7 from about 91,000 US App Store ratings; 500K+ Google Play downloads | 4.9 from about 53,000 US App Store ratings; 1M+ Google Play downloads |
What Opal and ScreenZen do better
- Much more control. Schedules, time limits, open limits, website blocking, allowlists, focus sessions. Qurb doesn’t try to match this.
- Android. Both run on Android as well as iPhone.
- Scale and polish. They have tens of thousands of ratings and years of refinement.
- ScreenZen’s gentle pauses. A short wait before opening an app, which can grow each time, is a clever way to break the automatic reach for the phone.
What Qurb does differently
The general apps answer the question “how do I use my phone less?” Qurb answers a different one: “how do I make sure I read the Quran today, before the phone takes over?”
- The key is your Quran goal. Your apps unlock when you’ve read your daily amount in Qurb, whether that’s a few verses, a page or a juz. A timer can run out while you’re still scrolling something else. Your goal can’t be done without reading.
- The reader is built in. No switching between apps: the lock screen sends you straight to where you left off.
- It adds up. Qurb tracks every verse, so your daily reading becomes a journey through the whole Quran, with a finish date you can see. See yours in the completion planner.
- The same framework underneath. Like Opal, Qurb uses Apple’s Screen Time on iPhone. Apple keeps your list of locked apps in a form Qurb can’t read.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Opal or ScreenZen if your main goal is fewer hours on your phone overall, you need website blocking or detailed schedules, or you’re on Android.
- Choose Qurb if your goal is to read the Quran every day and the phone keeps winning. Many people find that when the day starts with the Quran, the rest of their screen time changes too.
If doomscrolling is the struggle, you might also like How to stop doomscrolling as a Muslim.
Sources
Competitor details change. We checked each source on the date shown; if something here is out of date, email us and we'll fix it.
- Opal: Screen Time Control (App Store) (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Opal on Google Play (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- ScreenZen (App Store) (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- ScreenZen on Google Play (checked 3 Nov 2026)
- Qurb on the App Store (checked 3 Nov 2026)
Last reviewed 3 November 2026.
Questions
Can I use Opal or ScreenZen for Quran reading?
You can schedule blocks around a reading time, but neither app knows whether you've read the Quran. Your apps unlock on a schedule, after a wait or a short activity, or when you choose. Qurb unlocks them when today's Quran goal is actually done.
Is ScreenZen free?
ScreenZen's App Store listing shows it as free, with optional tips as in-app purchases (checked 3 November 2026). Check the listing for the latest.
Can I use Qurb together with Opal or ScreenZen?
Yes, though using two blockers on the same apps can be confusing. A simple setup: Qurb locks your main distractions until today's reading is done, and a general app handles things like bedtime or work hours.
Does Qurb work on Android like Opal and ScreenZen?
Not yet. Qurb's app locking uses Apple's Screen Time and is iPhone only for now.