Comparison

Monkly vs ScrollSmart

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

Head to head
About

Monkly

This app transforms distracting apps into motivation for reading. It locks down time-wasting applications, requiring you to read pages from a book to earn back access time. It's designed to help users build a reading habit and reclaim focus.

Highlights
  • System-wide app blocking
  • Customizable schedules
  • Built-in EPUB/FB2 reader
  • Import your own books
  • Free starter library of classics
  • Reading progress tracking
  • Streak protection
Features
Read full description

Stop doomscrolling. Start finishing books. Monkly turns the apps that steal your attention into fuel for a reading habit. Pick the apps you lose hours to — social media, video, games — and Monkly locks them. The only way back in? Read a few pages. Every page you read earns real unlock minutes on the apps you blocked. It's the deal you'd never make with yourself — until now. HOW IT WORKS 1. Block — Choose your most distracting apps and set a schedule. Monkly shields them system-wide using Screen Time. 2. Read — Open any book inside Monkly. Each page earns unlock minutes, at a rate you control. 3. Unlock — Spend your earned minutes when you actually want them. Out of time? Read more. WHY IT WORKS • Loss aversion beats willpower. Your apps are locked by default, so reading becomes the easiest path back in. • Streaks you don't want to break. Build a daily reading chain and protect it with Streak Freezes. • Instant payoff. Pages become minutes become real progress you can feel. • No shame, no lectures. Monkly doesn't guilt-trip you for scrolling — it just changes the price. WHAT YOU GET • System-wide app and category blocking with custom schedules • A built-in reader for EPUB and FB2 — import your own books • A free starter library of timeless classics: The Great Gatsby, Meditations, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Art of War, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and more • Daily reminders that keep your streak alive • Reading stats: pages read, minutes earned, streaks, and books finished BUILT FOR Students who want to study instead of scroll. Professionals reclaiming deep work. Anyone who keeps saying "I wish I read more" while their screen time climbs. Your screen time is going to be spent either way. Spend some of it on a book. Download Monkly and read your way back to focus. SUBSCRIPTION Monkly requires a subscription to unlock its features: • Weekly — billed weekly • Annual — billed yearly, includes a 7-day free trial for new subscribers Prices are shown in the app before you purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. Subscriptions auto-renew unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings → your name → Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://monkly.vercel.app/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://monkly.vercel.app/privacy.html

About

ScrollSmart

This app transforms screen time into a learning opportunity. It challenges users with quizzes on various subjects before granting access to selected apps, rewarding knowledge with usage time.

Highlights
  • Quiz to unlock apps
  • Customizable quiz difficulty
  • Progress tracking
  • Parental controls
  • Smart reminders
  • App time rewards
Features
Read full description

Tired of mindless scrolling? Make every minute count with Scroll Smart. Scroll Smart is the digital well-being app that turns your screen time into a reward for learning. Instead of scrolling through social media for hours, Scroll Smart challenges you to prove your knowledge before you play. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ How it works: Pick Your Apps: Choose which apps you want to "lock" (social media, games, or video streaming). Take a Quiz: When you try to open a locked app, Smart Scroll serves up a quick, engaging quiz on topics like Math, Science, History, or Vocabulary. Earn Your Time: Pass the quiz to unlock your app for a set amount of time. The better you do, the more you earn! Key Features: Customizable Difficulty: From elementary school basics to SAT-level prep. Progress Tracking: See your knowledge grow alongside your improved focus. Parental Controls: Perfect for parents who want to ensure their kids are learning before they’re gaming. Smart Reminders: Get notified when your earned time is running out. Stop scrolling away your day. Start earning your digital life with Smart Scroll. Download Scroll Smart today and make learning your new favorite habit!

Screenshots

Monkly4 screens
ScrollSmart4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: ScrollSmart at 5.0 against Monkly's 4.0. ScrollSmart also leads on monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and ratings volume (4 vs 1). 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. Monkly sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per 7 days and ScrollSmart sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ScrollSmart holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Monkly ships an update every 2 weeks, ScrollSmart every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Monkly versus ScrollSmart: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMonklyScrollSmart
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Number of ratings14 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS18.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size97 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBizhan AshykhatovRAJIV KRISHNA MALLISETTY

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Monkly

Subscriptions2
  • Monkly Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Monkly Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year
2 purchases

ScrollSmart

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Monkly free?
Monkly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ScrollSmart free?
ScrollSmart is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Monkly or ScrollSmart?
ScrollSmart is rated higher. Monkly averages 4.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while ScrollSmart averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Monkly or ScrollSmart have ads?
Neither Monkly nor ScrollSmart shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Monkly or ScrollSmart?
Monkly ships an update every 2 weeks, and ScrollSmart every 8 days. Most recently, Monkly was updated on October 22, 2026 and ScrollSmart on October 20, 2026.

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