Comparison

Time Monk vs TimeBack

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

Head to head
About

Time Monk

This app helps you regain control of your phone usage by blocking distracting applications and requiring you to complete real-world tasks to earn back screen time. It offers a personalized plan to build focus and self-control.

Highlights
  • Block distracting apps
  • Earn back screen time
  • Complete real-world tasks
  • Personalized 90-day plan
  • Focus and dopamine tracking
  • Rank progression
Features
Read full description

Your phone is built to keep you scrolling. Time Monk is built to give your life back. Time Monk locks the apps that steal your hours, then makes you EARN your screen time back through real action. No willpower required. No more bargaining with yourself at 2am. HOW IT WORKS 1. Lock it down. Pick the apps that drain you (social, games, news) and Time Monk shields them with Apple Screen Time. 2. Do something real. Knock out push-ups, a self-care act, a few pages of reading, or a quick brain game. 3. Earn your minutes. Every coin you earn unlocks time. 1 coin = 1 minute of the apps you love. Spend it when YOU decide, not when the algorithm does. WHY IT WORKS - Turns mindless scrolling into intentional time you actually chose - Trades the dopamine hit of the feed for the dopamine of doing - Builds focus, self-control, and momentum one rep at a time - A personalized 90-day plan that tracks your focus and dopamine recovery - Rank up as you go, so progress feels as good as the feed once did NOT another timer you ignore. NOT another limit you tap past. Time Monk puts a real cost on the scroll and a real reward on the work. JOIN THE MOVEMENT 290,000+ people are already on the path to a calmer, sharper mind, with a 4.8-star average rating. This is the reset you have been putting off. WHAT YOU GET - Block distracting apps in seconds - Earn-back system: move, read, reflect, repeat - 90-day recovery plan with focus and dopamine tracking - Rank progression and daily momentum - Clean, calm design that respects your attention MEMBERSHIP Time Monk offers weekly, quarterly, and annual subscriptions, plus a one-time lifetime unlock. Subscriptions auto-renew unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store settings. Cancel anytime. Stop trading your attention for nothing. Lock the apps. Earn it back. Become the monk of your own time. Download Time Monk and take your time back today. Terms of Use: https://timemonk.vercel.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://timemonk.vercel.app/privacy

About

TimeBack

Features
Read full description

Take your time back. TimeBack helps you cut screen time with real, enforceable blocks — not just gentle reminders. Built on Apple's Screen Time technology, it stays out of your way until the moment you need willpower most. BLOCK YOUR WAY • Daily Limits — give any app a per-day allowance; when it's spent, the app is blocked for the rest of the day • Forced Breaks — auto-pause after continuous use, so marathon sessions get a breather • Schedules — block apps during focus hours, dinner time or bedtime, on the weekdays you choose • Location Blocks — apps lock automatically when you arrive somewhere (library, office, classroom) • Your words on the wall — customize the block screen's title, message and buttons STAY HONEST • Face ID lock protects your settings • Optional guardian passcode — hand the key to someone you trust, so quitting is never one tap away • Prevent App Deletion — stops the impulsive "just delete the blocker" move (iOS applies this to all apps on the device while enabled) SEE PROGRESS • Today's usage and distraction counts at a glance • Weekly Review — a quiet Sunday summary of the time you took back PRIVATE BY DESIGN Everything stays on your device. No account, no analytics, no server. TimeBack asks for Screen Time permission to block apps — that is its only required permission. Location is requested only if you use Location Blocks. Built by an indie developer. If TimeBack helps you, you can buy me a coffee in Settings.

Screenshots

Time Monk4 screens
TimeBack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Time Monk at 17.0 against TimeBack's 26.2. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Time Monk sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and TimeBack sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Time Monk ships an update every 5 days, TimeBack every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Time Monk versus TimeBack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTime MonkTimeBack
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB33 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMesut Dincer Altunthomas kiang

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Time Monk

Subscriptions5
  • Aylık Pro Abonelik$1.991 Month
  • Monk Weekly$8.997 Days
  • Yıllık Pro Abonelik7 Days trial$9.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Monk Quarterly$35.993 Months
  • Monk Annual$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$129.99
1 purchases

TimeBack

One-time1
  • Buy the Developer a Coffee$3.99

Questions

Is Time Monk free?
Time Monk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is TimeBack free?
TimeBack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Time Monk or TimeBack have ads?
Neither Time Monk nor TimeBack shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Time Monk or TimeBack?
Time Monk ships an update every 5 days, and TimeBack every 3 days. Most recently, Time Monk was updated on November 9, 2026 and TimeBack on October 31, 2026.

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