M Check vs Essential
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
M Check
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Quick Appointment Scheduling. The application allows users to book appointments quickly without providing personal information. The appointment will be automatically canceled if it is past the scheduled time.
Essential
This productivity app focuses on the core essence of a calendar, inspired by Dieter Rams' philosophy of "less, but better." It provides daily weather, exchange rates, and historical events, aiming for a clean and focused user experience without unnecessary clutter.
- Minimalist design
- Daily weather updates
- Exchange rate information
- Historical daily events
- Focused calendar experience
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Introducing Essential, a new calendar. Essential boldly holds back on colour to create a minimalist design focused on what truly matters. Unlike other apps, events carry no colours, giving your schedule a calm, well-organised feel. Essential brings a [Monthly Calendar] and a [Timeline] together on a single screen. No need to switch screens to see the details of your day. Essential is built around [Continuity]. Whether you're searching for an event or changing a setting, you can do it without leaving the page. For example, tap the magnifying glass in the top right corner. Instead of taking you to a new screen as most apps do, the icon turns straight into a search field, so you can search right where you are. Beyond its design, Essential offers a few special features. 1. Detailed Weather Useful for those who work outdoors. Hourly forecasts, daily highs and lows, and more, made for anyone who keeps an eye on the weather. 2. A little joy in checking your schedule: "On This Day" An ordinary day for some was a meaningful one for others. While checking your schedule, discover events from history based on real facts. Topics span world history, film, art, economics, design and more. 3. Postpone Move an event to the next day. Plans don't always go as planned, so Essential's postpone feature embraces that uncertainty. It simply moves your event by one day. A little room for the days that don't go perfectly. It's okay not to be perfect. 4. The Dial Essential is inspired by the design philosophy of Dieter Rams, the world-renowned industrial designer. To celebrate his work, we've included a tribute object: the dial in the bottom right corner. Press it to add (+) a new event. Turn it like a dial to move through the timeline in one-hour steps. βββ Privacy Policy: https://dieter-rams-project.minimal-calendar.workers.dev/privacy/en
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Essential at every 4 days against M Check's every 3 weeks. M Check's advantage is iOS requirement (14.2 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
M Check ships an update every 3 weeks, Essential every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | M Check | Essential |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | β | 100.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 4 days β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | β | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 14.2 β better | 17.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 87 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Vu Bui | Chang Hyun Lee |
In-app purchases
M Check
No in-app purchases
Essential
No in-app purchases
