Comparison

Monk vs Arc

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

Head to head
About

Monk

This app helps users regain focus by blocking distracting applications until a chosen meaningful activity is completed and verified. It encourages daily rituals and discipline to combat digital distractions and improve productivity.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • AI-verified activity completion
  • Daily focus rituals
  • Dopamine detox
  • Focus schedules
  • Win history and streaks
Read full description

Monk - Earn Your Dopamine The #1 Monk Mode App for Gen Z HOW IT WORKS: Every morning, choose ONE meaningful activity: studying, deep work, coding, business work, gym, meditation, journaling, or walking. Monk blocks your most distracting apps until you complete the activity and verify it with a quick AI scan. Your apps unlock only after you earn your dopamine. Monk gives you the one advantage nobody else has: a daily ritual that forces discipline, kills brainrot, and unlocks pure focus. Reclaim 1h 30m+ every day. WHY MONK - #1 Monk Mode App – Built for Gen Z’s attention war - Earn Your Dopamine – Apps unlock only after real action - Dopamine Detox – Escape the infinite scroll, kill brainrot FEATURES - Daily Win Ritual – Complete one real action and verify with AI - Focus Schedules – Automate deep work, focus, and study windows - Monk Mode – Instantly block distracting apps until tomorrow - Win History – See your daily wins, streaks, and focus hours over time WHO IT'S FOR - Students – Study like an academic weapon - Entrepreneurs – Protect focus to grow your business - Creators – Unlock the flow state for your best ideas - Athletes – Train with discipline and consistency - Builders – Execute relentlessly without distraction PRIVACY GUARANTEED We use Apple’s Screen Time API so all of your phone usage data stays on your device. JOIN THE MENTAL RENAISSANCE Download Monk now. Your attention is your superpower. *A Monk subscription is required to enjoy full access to features* TERMS & CONDITIONS: monkapp.com/terms monkapp.com/privacy

About

Arc

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by setting session limits and providing smart nudges for your to-do lists. It offers advanced analytics to understand your scrolling habits and offers AI-powered recommendations for improvement.

Highlights
  • Session limits for automatic breaks
  • Smart nudges for to-do reminders
  • Integrated to-do lists
  • Advanced session analytics
  • AI-powered recommendations
  • Bedtime mode with sleep reminders
Features
Read full description

THE ARC DIFFERENCE Arc doesn't just block apps - it redirects your attention with a powerful three-part system: - Session Limits: Automatic breaks when a session has reached the set limit. No more unintentional doomscroll sessions. Daily limits are not helpful when the problem is getting sucked into the scroll hole and not realizing it. That's why we built session limits! - Smart Nudges: Gentle reminders about your to-dos while you scroll - Integrated To-Do Lists: Track what really matters, all in one place - Advanced Analytics: Track every session with precision. See exactly when you close apps yourself (exits) vs. when the timer saves you (lockouts). Discover your most addicting apps through unblock tracking, identify your best and worst self-control patterns, and get AI-powered recommendations tailored to YOUR behavior. No more guessing where to improve, the data shows you exactly which apps need stricter limits, where you're building great habits, and actionable steps to reduce your screen time based on real patterns, not generic advice or behavior patterns. HOW IT WORKS Select your distracting apps (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) Add your daily tasks and goals Get Nudged with your to-do tasks when you're mindlessly scrolling Session Limits create automatic breaks after extended sessions Watch scrolling turn into productivity BUILT FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE Set your bedtime to switch from productivity Nudges to Sleep Reminders. Arc adapts to help you make better use of your time all day long. PERFECT FOR: People who unconsciously doomscroll and want to stop Professionals who lose focus to social media Students procrastinating on assignments Anyone who wants to build healthy daily habits Scroll Goblins People tired of feeling guilty after doomscrolling START SEEING RESULTS Reclaim hours of your day Complete the tasks you've been avoiding Track scrolling habits through intelligent insights Build habits that stick Rebuild a healthy relationship with social media Feel accomplished, not guilty Download Arc and turn scrolling into productivity. Your goals are waiting. Terms of Use (EULA): https://arcapp.io/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://arcapp.io/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Monk4 screens
Arc4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Arc at freemium against Monk's subscription. Monk's advantage is review sentiment (75% vs 64%) and ratings volume (135 vs 25). On price, rating, update cadence 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. Monk sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Arc sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Monk holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monk has 135 ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Monk's written reviews are positive against 64% of Arc's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Monk versus Arc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonkArc
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (135 ratings) — better4.4 (25 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better63.6% of reviews
Number of ratings135 — better25
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size131 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPolymath Labs Ltd.Arc Labs LLC (MT)

Customer experience

Monk

All ratings135 ratings
Positive91.1%
Neutral1.5%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Arc

All ratings25 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral8.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral9.1%
Negative27.3%

Bugs and requests

Monk

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Apps not being blocked as scheduled
  • Glitches in scheduling functionality

Requested features

2 requests
  • Improved app blocking reliability
  • Customizable scheduling options

Arc

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Monk

Subscriptions3
  • Monk Pro (Monthly)$19.991 Month
  • Monk Pro (Annual)$48.001 Year
  • Monk Pro (Annual)3 Days trial$59.991 Year
3 purchases

Arc

Subscriptions3
  • Arc Pro (Weekly)$5.997 Days
  • Arc Pro Monthly$8.991 Month
  • Arc Pro (Annual)3 Days trial$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Monk free?
Monk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Arc free?
Arc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Monk or Arc?
Monk is rated higher. Monk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 135 ratings, while Arc averages 4.4 from 25 ratings.
Do Monk or Arc have ads?
Neither Monk nor Arc shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Monk or Arc?
Monk ships an update every 2 weeks, and Arc every 2 weeks. Most recently, Monk was updated on October 6, 2026 and Arc on October 9, 2026.

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