# Monk vs Fried

The clearest difference is monetization model: Fried at freemium against Monk's subscription. Fried also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). Monk's advantage is ratings volume (135 vs 1) and iOS requirement (17 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Monk sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Fried sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Fried holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monk has 135 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Monk ships an update every 2 weeks, Fried every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monk | Fried |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (135 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monk-screen-time-control/id6747911820/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fried-screen-time-control/id6780674154/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **135** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 131 MB | 111 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Polymath Labs Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823371110) | [Carter Clark](https://appshunter.io/developer/1862935823) |

## 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


### Fried

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fried-screen-time-control/id6780674154)

This app helps you reduce phone usage by blocking distracting applications and setting daily limits. It offers focus sessions, smart scheduling, and insights into your screen time habits, all while keeping a playful companion happy.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Set daily limits, Focus sessions, Smart schedules, Screen time insights, Focus companion

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fried Premium Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Fried Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monk free?

Monk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Fried free?

Fried is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Monk or Fried?

Fried is rated higher. Monk averages 4.6 out of 5 from 135 ratings, while Fried averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Monk or Fried have ads?

Neither Monk nor Fried shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monk or Fried?

Monk ships an update every 2 weeks, and Fried every 3 days. Most recently, Monk was updated on October 1, 2026 and Fried on September 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.*