Comparison

Polym vs WakeShake

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

Head to head
About

Polym

Enhance your memory and recall with audio-first lessons and active learning techniques. Explore a wide range of subjects through engaging courses, flashcards, and integrated memory training. Learn effectively anytime, anywhere with this distraction-free educational tool.

Highlights
  • Audio-first lessons for on-the-go learning
  • Active audio learning with flashcards
  • Spaced repetition and interleaving techniques
  • Expansive course catalog across various subjects
  • Progress tracking and due date reminders
  • Distraction-free learning interface
Features
Read full description

Polym: Remember what you learn. Polym (pronounced: poly-m) is a learning app built for the retention of foundational knowledge. Audio and text feeds deliver sets you can finish in a sitting, drawn from a catalog of essential subjects: logic, mathematics, psychology, philosophy, history, economics, and more. Embedded retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and interleaving move what you learn into long-term memory. Designed to strengthen attention with cognition tracking to keep you accountable. Some content and features require a subscription to access. What you'll immediately receive • Audio and text feeds • Active learning, spaced repetition, and interleaving • A collection of foundational knowledge, including classic book excerpts • Cognition tracking What you'll work toward • Improved retention and recall • Strengthened attention • Greater verbal fluency • Faster pattern recognition Begin with a single set. Essential for aspiring polymaths. By using this app, you agree to Apple's standard Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

WakeShake

Features
Read full description

Stop negotiating with the snooze button. WakeShake is a mission-based alarm clock for people who need a real reason to get out of bed. When your alarm fires, complete a quick task to log a successful wake-up—then grow a streak worth protecting. WAKE UP WITH A MISSION • Solve math problems, from simple sums to Extreme three-question challenges • Shake your iPhone 10, 30, 60, or 100 times • Scan a QR code placed away from your bed (Premium) • Take a photo of an object you chose, such as shoes, a mug, a chair, or a houseplant (Premium) MAKE MORNINGS STICK • Earn XP for each successful wake • Level up from Sleepy Beginner to Wake Master • Track your current streak, best streak, and total wakes • Choose repeat days, alarm sound, vibration, and mission difficulty UNLOCK WAKESHAKE PREMIUM • Unlimited alarms (free plan includes 3) • QR-code and photo missions • Smart difficulty for Math and Shake missions • Advanced stats: success rate, average completion time, streak status, and a 30-day heatmap • Additional alarm sounds • One streak freeze each week • No ads PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account is required. Your alarms and wake history stay on your device. Photo-mission recognition runs on your iPhone; photos are not saved or uploaded. IMPORTANT FOR IPHONE WakeShake uses time-sensitive local notifications. Allow notifications, keep your ringer on, and open the alarm notification to start the mission. The mission keeps you accountable; iOS notifications themselves can still be dismissed. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION WakeShake Premium offers auto-renewing Monthly and Yearly subscriptions, plus a one-time Lifetime purchase. The applicable price is shown before purchase and may vary by region. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel subscriptions in App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://hectorta1989.github.io/wakeproof-site/privacy.html

Screenshots

Polym4 screens
WakeShake4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: WakeShake at none against Polym's shown. Polym's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Polym sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and WakeShake sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Polym ships an update every 9 days, WakeShake every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Polym versus WakeShake: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPolymWakeShake
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (38 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings38 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size66 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPolym App LLCLong Hung Ta

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Polym

Subscriptions7
  • Standard Access7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Standard Access14 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Standard Access14 Days trial$11.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Standard Access7 Days trial$14.993 Months
  • Standard Access14 Days trial$19.993 Months
  • Standard Access14 Days trial$29.993 Months
  • Standard Access14 Days trial$79.991 Year
3 purchases

WakeShake

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$99.99

Questions

Is Polym free?
Polym is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WakeShake free?
WakeShake is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Polym or WakeShake have ads?
Polym shows ads; WakeShake does not.
Which is updated more often, Polym or WakeShake?
Polym ships an update every 9 days, and WakeShake every 3 weeks. Most recently, Polym was updated on November 4, 2026 and WakeShake on November 10, 2026.

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