Comparison

Monk vs Regrind

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

Regrind

This app helps you regain control of your screen time by making you earn back access to blocked applications. Complete focus sessions to earn credits, which can then be used to unlock apps for a limited time. It's designed for those who struggle with digital distractions and want a system to improve their focus.

Highlights
  • Earn credits for focus sessions
  • Use credits to unlock apps
  • Apps locked by default
  • Tamper-resistant timer
  • Motion detection for focus sessions
  • Bonus rewards on session completion
  • Detailed transaction history
Features
Read full description

Your focus pays for your screen time. Regrind keeps the apps you choose locked until you've earned the time. Focus sessions pay Credits into your balance. Withdraw them to unlock your apps, and they lock again when the time runs out. It isn't a timer that only blocks apps while you work. When people set up Regrind, more than 6 in 10 say they spend 4+ hours a day on their phone, 8 in 10 say they scroll too much, and nearly 2 in 3 have already tried screen time limits. Limits are easy to dismiss. In Regrind, time on blocked apps must be paid for in Credits. HOW IT WORKS 1. Choose which apps and websites Regrind locks. They stay locked, no schedule needed. 2. Start a focus session. Every minute you complete earns Credits for your balance. 3. Withdraw Credits from your balance to unlock your apps for a fixed time. AS OF SEPTEMBER 2026 - 100,000+ hours of focus sessions completed - Nearly 400,000 unlocks paid for in Credits FEATURES - Block List: choose which apps, websites and whole categories stay locked - Uninstall Protection: while your blocks are on, no app can be deleted from your device, Regrind included - Screen-Off Sessions: keep earning Credits while your phone is locked - Motion Detection: move your phone too much and you lose the session - AR Lock Box: lock your phone in an augmented reality vault while you focus - Scratch Coupons: finish a session to reveal bonus Credits, paid straight to your card - Focus Card: holds your Credits, labeled with what you're saving toward - Focus Score: a credit score for your focus, based on how many earned Credits you keep each day - Transaction History: every session and unlock, itemized like a bank statement - Exchange Rate: set how many Credits screen time costs - Daily Spending Limit: cap how much screen time you can unlock each day - Withdrawal Security: confirm each withdrawal with Face ID or Touch ID - Friends and Leaderboards: see friends' balances, compare focused hours and compete to be the week's top card holder - Widgets and Live Activities: check your balance, start sessions and track progress from your Home Screen and Lock Screen Some features require the Premium plan, available as an in-app purchase. BUILT FOR - Students protecting study time - Anyone who scrolls more than they mean to - Anyone who's turned off a blocker in a weak moment - People with ADHD who find their phone hard to put down PRIVATE BY DESIGN Regrind uses Apple's Screen Time API. Your Screen Time data stays on your device, protected by Apple, and Regrind can't see which apps you use or for how long. Friends and leaderboards need you to sign in; the Privacy Policy explains what that shares. Privacy Policy: https://www.plotpilot.ai/products/regrind/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Monk4 screens
Regrind4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Regrind at freemium against Monk's subscription. Regrind also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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 Regrind sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Regrind holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 144 and 79 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 75% and 75% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Monk ships an update every 2 weeks, Regrind fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Monk versus Regrind: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonkRegrind
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (144 ratings)4.9 (79 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings144 — better79
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS17 — better18
Further details — not scored
Size131 MB391 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPolymath Labs Ltd.PlotPilot Ltd

Customer experience

Monk

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

Regrind

All ratings71 ratings
Positive98.6%
Neutral1.4%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews16 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Regrind

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
13 purchases

Regrind

Subscriptions12
  • Premium7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Premium$7.991 Month
  • Premium7 Days trial$7.991 Month
Show 9 more
  • Premium3 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Premium7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Premium$19.991 Year
  • Premium3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Premium7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Premium3 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Premium1 Month trial$24.991 Year
  • Premium3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • Premium7 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium$34.99

Questions

Is Monk free?
Monk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Regrind free?
Regrind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Monk or Regrind?
Regrind is rated higher. Monk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 144 ratings, while Regrind averages 4.9 from 79 ratings.
Do Monk or Regrind have ads?
Neither Monk nor Regrind shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Monk or Regrind?
Monk ships an update every 2 weeks, and Regrind fortnightly. Most recently, Monk was updated on October 24, 2026 and Regrind on October 30, 2026.

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