Comparison

Pinc vs MainframeMonitor

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pinc

This app securely stores your PINs and passcodes using a unique pattern-based matrix system. It offers anonymous usage with no sign-up required and syncs data via iCloud. Unlock all features with a one-time purchase.

Highlights
  • Anonymous usage, no sign-up
  • Pattern-based matrix security
  • iCloud sync between devices
  • Touch and Face ID authorization
  • Unlimited code storage
  • Customizable code backgrounds and icons
Read full description

Pinc is an anonymous passwords manager for iOS. Designed for storing short passwords and pin codes. ** HOW IT WORKS ** The pattern is your key. To explain that let's take an example: we need to store a four digits code. It could be a pin code for a credit card. Like 8279. 1. The pin code will be saved in a matrix. Examples of how the matrix looks like can be seen on the screenshots above. 2. Choose cells in the matrix and enter digits there. How digits are placed in the matrix forms your pattern. 3. Remember the pattern and try to reuse it for the other codes. 4. When saved, empty cells of the matrix will be filled with random numbers. This way the pin code is impossible to find out without knowing the pattern. If not sure - a step-by-step instruction in the app will help you set it up. ** FEATURES ** - NO SIGN UP required to start using the app - Your data is SECURED, and is never stored on any 3rd party server - SYNC between devices via iCloud - Touch and Face ID AUTHORIZATION - Code REMINDER in case you forgot it (recommended to enable authorization) - UNLIMITED amount of codes - Many code background COLORS - Different SORTING options - Alternative app ICONS. ** IN-APP PURCHASE ** Pinc is free to use with limited amount of codes and set of features. One in-app purchase unlocks everything, forever. No subscriptions. ** CONTACT ** For any feedback or help, you can reach me at endore8@gmail.com

About

MainframeMonitor

Transform your iPhone into a vintage mainframe with a nostalgic CRT display. Monitor live system stats like battery, CPU, and memory, all within an authentic retro console experience. Includes hidden classic text-based games.

Highlights
  • Live system monitoring (battery, CPU, memory, storage)
  • Home screen widgets
  • Authentic CRT effects (glow, scanlines)
  • Retro boot sequence
  • Hidden classic text-based games
  • Customizable color themes (Green, Amber)
Features
Read full description

MAINFRAME MONITOR: Your Device as a Mainframe Console Mainframe Monitor shows your device's real live data in the style of a 1980s IBM operator console: CPU, memory, storage, battery, network, thermal state and motion. All values come from your device. You also get green phosphor text, scanlines, key clicks and real MVS commands. REAL DATA, CLASSIC LOOK • Live CPU load per core, memory, DASD, battery, network and thermal state • Front panel lamp strip that flickers with the load • Seismograph as a moving paper strip. Knock on the table! • Compass, audio output, brightness and refresh rate (ProMotion) • Motion sensors with pitch, roll, yaw and G-vector • Capacity planning: battery time remaining and storage forecast • Session statistics (SMF) with averages and peak values • Clock with UTC, Julian date and 64-bit TOD register FIVE HISTORIC DISPLAYS Press PF5 to switch between green and amber phosphor, the IBM 3279 color terminal, the neon-orange IBM 3290 gas plasma display and the Tektronix 4014 storage tube. Each display has its own effects, from degauss to beam redraw, and a matching app icon. MVS CONSOLE WITH REAL COMMANDS In the syslog you enter commands like a real operator: D T, D A,L, D M=CPU, D U,DASD, D NET, D IPLINFO, D ENV, D CAPACITY, D M=MIPS (CPU benchmark) and many more. With PF8, a virtual IBM 1403 line printer prints a status report on continuous paper that you can share as an image. PARALLEL SYSPLEX Couple iPhone, iPad and Mac on your local network via Bonjour to form a sysplex. The sysplex panel shows CPU, memory and battery of all devices. TRACE ROUTE WITH WORLD MAP PF9 traces the path your data takes to any website. You see every hop with IP, location and round-trip time, plus an ASCII world map of the route. The optional latency panel measures ping, jitter, packet loss and clock drift. IPL, INTRO AND SCREENSAVERS At startup the system boots with an authentic IPL sequence. The screensavers show real values too: control panel, tape drives, core memory, punch cards, printer or oscilloscope. GAMES IN THE COBLIB Hamurabi, Void Patrol, Snake and Bagels: classics in terminal style. WIDGETS AND LIVE ACTIVITY • Widgets for the Home Screen and Lock Screen in three sizes • Control Center button • Live Activity in 3270 style on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island FOR EVERY DISPLAY The layout adapts to iPhone, iPad, Mac and foldable devices like iPhone Duo, stacked or side by side. With a hardware keyboard, F1 to F12 work as PF keys. FULLY CONFIGURABLE Show, hide and reorder panels, or choose a preset: Default, Minimal, Performance, Network or Device. Under PF1, an operator guide in German and English explains every feature. PRIVACY No tracking, no ads, no analytics. The app works offline. Network features only start after you agree (message IEA910A), and you can withdraw consent at any time under PF7. The EXT lamp shows you when data goes to the internet. Note: Job names in the log are simulated. D M=MIPS is an estimate, not an official IBM rating.

Screenshots

Pinc4 screens
MainframeMonitor4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: MainframeMonitor at 5.0 against Pinc's 4.3. MainframeMonitor also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Pinc's advantage is ratings volume (30 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Pinc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. MainframeMonitor asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MainframeMonitor holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pinc has 30 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Pinc versus MainframeMonitor: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPincMainframeMonitor
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (30 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews86.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings30 — better1
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOleh StasulaRalf Langhoff

Customer experience

Pinc

All ratings30 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews22 reviews
Positive86.4%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.6%

MainframeMonitor

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Pinc

One-time1
  • Pinc Pro$1.99
None

MainframeMonitor

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pinc free?
Pinc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is MainframeMonitor free?
MainframeMonitor is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pinc or MainframeMonitor?
MainframeMonitor is rated higher. Pinc averages 4.3 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while MainframeMonitor averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Pinc or MainframeMonitor have ads?
Neither Pinc nor MainframeMonitor shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pinc or MainframeMonitor?
Pinc ships an update fortnightly, and MainframeMonitor fortnightly. Most recently, Pinc was updated on November 2, 2026 and MainframeMonitor on October 31, 2026.

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