# Monk vs Arc

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Monk | Arc |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (135 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monk-screen-time-control/id6747911820/reviews)** | [4.4 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-screen-time-control/id6752133918/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **135** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 63.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 131 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Polymath Labs Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823371110) | [Arc Labs LLC (MT)](https://appshunter.io/developer/1838190035) |

## What reviewers say

### Monk

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monk-screen-time-control/id6747911820)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monk Pro (Monthly) | $19.99 | per month |
| Monk Pro (Annual) | $48.00 | per year |
| Monk Pro (Annual) | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app for focus
- 🚀 Boosts productivity
- 💡 Unique and intuitive design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent app blocking functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Apps not being blocked as scheduled
- Glitches in scheduling functionality

**Requested features**

- Improved app blocking reliability
- Customizable scheduling options


### Arc

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arc-screen-time-control/id6752133918)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arc Pro (Weekly) | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Arc Pro Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Arc Pro (Annual) | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*