We make ReadFirst, so we are not neutral. We checked every fact about the other apps on their App Store pages and websites on 20 October 2026 and say so on each page. Prices and features change, so check the current listing before you buy.
The short version: most app blockers ask you to wait, breathe or tap before an app opens. ReadFirst asks for a page of a printed book. Most reading trackers ask you to log what you read. ReadFirst makes the reading happen first, then tracks it for you.
App blockers
- OPAL ALTERNATIVEA calmer Opal alternative that makes you read firstOpal blocks with schedules and strict modes. ReadFirst opens your apps when you read a page of a printed book.
- ONE SEC ALTERNATIVEA one sec alternative that asks for a page, not a breathone sec asks for a breath before an app opens. ReadFirst asks for a page of a printed book.
- SCREENZEN ALTERNATIVEA ScreenZen alternative that turns the wait into readingScreenZen is free and makes you wait. ReadFirst costs money and turns the wait into a page you read.
- JOMO ALTERNATIVEA Jomo alternative where you earn screen time with pagesJomo lets you earn screen time with routines. ReadFirst lets you earn it with pages of a printed book.
- BRICK ALTERNATIVEA Brick alternative where your book is the keyNo hardware to buy or carry: your chosen apps open when you read a page of a printed book.
- FOREST ALTERNATIVEA Forest app alternative that grows pages, not treesInstead of growing a tree during a focus session, read a page of a printed book to open your apps.
- FREEDOM ALTERNATIVEA Freedom app alternative for people who want to read moreFreedom guards your workday across devices. ReadFirst makes a page of a printed book the way back into your apps.
- APPBLOCK ALTERNATIVEAn AppBlock alternative with one simple rule: read firstInstead of schedules and profiles, one rule: read a page of a printed book to open your apps.
- UNPLUQ ALTERNATIVEAn Unpluq alternative where the barrier is a pageInstead of a shake, a pattern or a tag, a page of a printed book opens your apps.
- APPLE SCREEN TIME ALTERNATIVEAn Apple Screen Time alternative you can't just tap pastBuilt on Apple's Screen Time, but your apps open only after you read a page of a printed book.
- CLEARSPACE ALTERNATIVEA ClearSpace alternative where you read before you scrollInstead of a breath before the feed, a page of a printed book opens your chosen apps.
- BEPRESENT ALTERNATIVEA quieter BePresent alternative built around readingNo leaderboards or stakes: your chosen apps open when you read a page of a printed book.
- STEPPIN ALTERNATIVESteppin for readers: earn screen time with pagesThe same idea as Steppin, earning minutes offline, but with pages of a printed book instead of steps.
- ROOTS ALTERNATIVEA Roots alternative where the speed bump is a pageInstead of a speed bump, a page of a printed book opens your chosen apps.
Reading trackers
- GOODREADS ALTERNATIVEA Goodreads alternative for people who want to read more, not log moreGoodreads logs what you read. ReadFirst puts a page of your book before your feed, then tracks every page.
- STORYGRAPH ALTERNATIVEA StoryGraph alternative for reading more, not just measuring itThe StoryGraph charts your reading. ReadFirst makes room for it by putting a page before your feed.
- BOOKLY ALTERNATIVEA Bookly alternative that makes the next page come firstBookly times your reading. ReadFirst times it too, and puts a page of your book before your feed.
- BOOKMORY ALTERNATIVEA Bookmory alternative for readers who want the book to winBookmory is a private reading journal. ReadFirst is a private tracker that puts a page before your feed.
- BASMO ALTERNATIVEA Basmo alternative that makes the book come firstBasmo helps you journal about books. ReadFirst makes you read one before your apps open.
- FABLE ALTERNATIVEA quieter Fable alternative for reading every dayFable is for reading with a club. ReadFirst is for reading before your feed.
- HARDCOVER ALTERNATIVEA Hardcover alternative for reading more, not logging moreHardcover catalogs your reading. ReadFirst gets you to read before you scroll.
Round-ups
- ROUND-UPApps like Opal: 8 alternatives comparedEight apps like Opal compared by how you get back into your apps, price and who each one suits.
- ROUND-UP · EARN YOUR SCREEN TIMEApps that lock your apps until you do somethingRead, walk, do push-ups or finish a routine: six apps that make you earn screen time, compared.
- ROUND-UP · READING TRACKERSThe best reading tracker apps for iPhone in 2026Eight reading tracker apps for iPhone compared, from social catalogs to timers, and who each one suits.
- ROUND-UP · READ TO UNLOCKRead-to-unlock apps compared (2026)Nine apps that lock your apps until you read, sorted by how they check your reading.