Comparison

Mona Classic vs Ctrl+Shift+3

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

Head to head
About

Mona Classic

This app offers extensive customization for a popular social network, allowing users to reorder actions, set swipe gestures, and personalize notes for other users. It also features iCloud sync, game controller support, and privacy-focused design.

Highlights
  • Customizable post actions and swipe gestures
  • iCloud sync for settings and data
  • Private user notes and aliases
  • Game controller support
  • Full-screen and column view modes
  • Customizable themes and accent colors
Features
Read full description

Mona is a highly customizable Mastodon app with VoiceOver optimization and native design. Post Actions • Drag actions into the order you prefer • Configure actions as swipe options: swipe a post horizontally to perform an action • Optionally hide some or all action buttons from post cards, while keeping them accessible via context menu, swipe options, keyboard shortcuts, and VoiceOver rotor iCloud Sync • Sync your mute list, user notes, reading positions, drafts, search history, accent colors, and custom app themes across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac, privately and securely • Optionally disable some features from automatic syncing User Notes • Privately set aliases, notes and username colors for other Mastodon users • User Notes list: browse, organize and edit all your notes in one place Game Controller (require iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS 11 or a newer system) • Control the app and browse posts with a compatible game controller, such as a Playstation DualSense/DualShock, Nintendo Switch, Xbox or MFi controller • Customize button functions via in-app settings • Set extra functions for Adaptive Triggers on the Playstation DualSense controller Privacy • Mona does not collect any personal information • Your account tokens are protected by on-device Keychain • Your network connections to Mastodon servers are protected by HTTPS Other Mona features: • Full Screen mode on iPhone let your timeline content fill the entire screen once you start scrolling • Column View takes full advantage of the big screen on iPad and Mac, shows multiple views at once and allows you to navigate between views fluently and efficiently • Check recent posts on your home screen or notification center with widgets • Search posts on the Timeline • Adjustable text spacing • Adjustable and adaptive text sizes • Option to display post source on timeline (e.g. Mona for Mac) • Share a post as picture • Open multiple windows on iPad and Mac • Customizable text translation experience • Automatic video and GIF playback on timelines • Supports changing app icon on iPhone, iPad, and Mac • Turn on/off content scaling on Mac for extra screen estate or sharper text • Autocomplete for post composer • Push notifications • Lock the app with Face ID or Touch ID • Mona Pro and Mona Pro Max available as one-time in-app purchases, with 14-day free trial Tab Bar (Mona Pro feature) • Pin your frequently visit pages to the tab bar • Drag tabs into the order you prefer • Rename your tabs • Change your tab icons (more than a thousand of icons for you to choose) • Show/hide tab names and button shapes Accent Color (Mona Pro feature) • Configure different Accent Colors for Light and Dark mode • More than 10 built-in colors for you to choose • Design and set custom colors Theme Editor (Mona Pro feature) • Customize the app’s color scheme • Design and set custom themes • Advanced color settings allow you to fine-tune colors for different level of views • Export and share your custom themes • Import custom themes shared by other people Font Customization (Mona Pro feature) • Configure different fonts for body text and headings • Select from a variety of build-in fonts • Supports custom fonts installed by third-party apps Other Mona Pro features: • Full-featured post composer: write longer posts, attach pictures and videos, create polls, schedule post, and automatic thread conversion • More post actions: including favorite, repost, quote post, add bookmark, and translate • Add multiple accounts: you can also opt to favorite, repost, quote post, or follow using a non-current account • Filter and mute: filter timelines based on post category and content; hide posts with certain words; hide posts from certain people • Customize push notifications based on notification category • Export and import settings: easily transfer your custom settings between multiple devices Customer support: • Mastodon: @MonaApp@mastodon.social • Email: theSpringApp@gmail.com

About

Ctrl+Shift+3

Features
Read full description

Ctrl+Shift+3 was created because social media got out of hand. A clear sign is the fact that countries are passing laws preventing certain age groups from using social media. This tells you it's as risky as smoking or drinking alcohol. We offer a calmer, more sane space to share thoughts and links. No likes, follows, or other vanity counts. Features: - A shared chronological stream of public posts. Newest first. No algorithmic "For You" by default. - An optional wave button. Turn it on to see posts with a lot of comments first, with newer posts favored so old ones do not stay stuck on top (plus light randomization). Turn it off to return to newest-first. - Subscribe to people from their profile (privately... no follower counts). Your Subs feed shows their main-feed posts in chronological order. - A public page for each account: bio, posts, optional wall posts from others, and RSS. You control whether visitors can write on your profile. - Flat comments under a post... readable conversation without nested threads competing for attention. - Connect related posts when the community agrees the link makes sense. Ideas can point to each other over time. - Private groups called Clicks (aka cliques) for friends, family, or a shared topic. Membership is required to enter. Signed-in people can browse the directory and request to join; moderators decide. - Mention someone to get their attention. Pings collect mentions, comment notices, Click invites, and join-request notices in one place. You can optionally receive a daily email digest of unread pings (review your settings). - Block haters. A one-way way to stop seeing someone’s posts and comments, and to limit how they interact with you. - Polls: On the Feed, in a Click, or on a profile wall, use the poll toggle next to the compose label to post a timed poll instead of a plain thought. - Art: Art opens a 40×40 text "paint" grid. - Swipe right to open the chatroom. If it's not available you'll see a schedule showing the next date/time that it will open. - Old posts with 3 or less comments might get bubbled back up for a second chance at some love. - Transparent moderation with logged actions and reasons. Platform and Click moderators can keep spaces usable without silent black-box systems. - Your data: Delete your account and your writing is replaced with placeholders.

Screenshots

Mona Classic4 screens
Ctrl+Shift+34 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ctrl+Shift+3 at none against Mona Classic's 9. Ctrl+Shift+3 also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). Mona Classic's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.1 vs 17.0). On price and ads 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. Mona Classic sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Ctrl+Shift+3 asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mona Classic ships an update every 3 weeks, Ctrl+Shift+3 every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Mona Classic versus Ctrl+Shift+3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMona ClassicCtrl+Shift+3
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (166 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews70.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings166 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size77 MB4 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperJunyu KuangWilliam Wilcosky

Bugs and requests

Mona Classic

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Locking up after viewing full-screen photos
  • Replies not loading properly
  • Inconsistent behavior with server-side features

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to mute individual posts
  • Improved thread viewing experience
  • More app icon options
  • Custom notification sounds

Ctrl+Shift+3

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Mona Classic

One-time9
  • Mona Pro Max (14-day trial)Free
  • Small Tip$2.99
  • Generous Tip$6.99
Show 6 more
  • Amazing Tip$9.99
  • Upgrade to Mona Pro Max$9.99
  • Mona Pro for Mac$11.99
  • Mona Pro for iPad$11.99
  • Mona Pro for iPhone$11.99
  • Mona Pro Max$29.99
None

Ctrl+Shift+3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mona Classic free?
Mona Classic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ctrl+Shift+3 free?
Ctrl+Shift+3 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mona Classic or Ctrl+Shift+3 have ads?
Neither Mona Classic nor Ctrl+Shift+3 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mona Classic or Ctrl+Shift+3?
Mona Classic ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ctrl+Shift+3 every 3 days. Most recently, Mona Classic was updated on October 3, 2026 and Ctrl+Shift+3 on September 24, 2026.

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