Comparison

Lockee vs MathGate

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

Head to head
About

Lockee

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Turn screen time into learn time! Lockee makes math practice rewarding by letting kids earn access to their favorite apps through solving problems.  HOW IT WORKS  Solve math problems to earn points. Redeem points for minutes of screen time. The more they learn, the more they play!  - 11 problem types covering grades 1-5  - Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division  - Fractions with like and unlike denominators  - Smart problem generation for endless variety  - Difficulty-based point rewards  POWERFUL PARENTAL CONTROLS  - Uses iOS Family Controls for reliable app blocking  - Block all apps, specific apps, or categories  - Passcode protection prevents rule changes  - Manual time grants for special occasions  FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE  - 5 grade-level presets or custom difficulty  - Enable/disable individual problem types  - Adjust point values per problem - Adapts to your child's learning level  WHY PARENTS LOVE LOCKEE  - Motivates daily math practice  - Reduces screen time battles  - Builds consistent learning habits  - Secure passcode protection  - Native iOS Family Controls integration  PERFECT FOR  Homeschooling families, summer learning, homework motivation, and managing screen time for gaming and social media.

About

MathGate

Features
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Lock the apps your kids love until the math is done. MathGate puts Apple's Screen Time shield over the apps you choose. Your child solves a short streak of math problems to earn a timed unlock, then the lock comes back on its own. One purchase, no subscription, no account, nothing to manage after setup. WHY PARENTS PICK MATHGATE • Set it once and forget it. The shield re-locks automatically when earned time runs out. • Pay $4.99 one time for Lifetime Unlock. No monthly fees, ever. Family Sharing supported. • No account, no sign-in, no data leaves the device. • Built on Apple's Screen Time technology, so the lock holds even if MathGate is closed or force quit. • No nagging and no timers to police. Screen time has to be earned. REAL MATH PRACTICE, A FEW MINUTES AT A TIME • Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division • Times tables, math facts, and mental math • Difficulty by grade level, from early elementary through middle school • Every unlock is a mini practice session, so idle screen time turns into daily review HOW IT WORKS 1. Create a parent PIN and pick the apps or categories to lock 2. Choose the problem types, difficulty, and how many correct answers in a row it takes 3. Your child solves the streak and earns a set amount of screen time 4. When time is up the shield returns and the next unlock takes another round of math FREE AND LIFETIME The free version locks up to 3 apps with every problem type and difficulty, so you can try the full loop before you buy. Lifetime Unlock is a single $4.99 purchase that opens unlimited apps, whole categories and Block Everything, for every device in your family. A screen time app blocker and a math tutor in one. Works on iPhone and iPad. Requires Screen Time to be enabled on the child's device.

Screenshots

Lockee3 screens
MathGate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lockee at none against MathGate's 1. MathGate's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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. MathGate sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Lockee asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lockee ships an update every 2 months, MathGate fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Lockee versus MathGate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLockeeMathGate
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrei KorolevEric Fortuna

In-app purchases

None

Lockee

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

MathGate

One-time1
  • Lifetime Unlock$4.99

Questions

Is Lockee free?
Lockee is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MathGate free?
MathGate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Lockee or MathGate have ads?
Neither Lockee nor MathGate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lockee or MathGate?
Lockee ships an update every 2 months, and MathGate fortnightly. Most recently, Lockee was updated on October 10, 2026 and MathGate on October 13, 2026.

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