Comparison

Calmgate vs Aside

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

Head to head
About

Calmgate

Features
Read full description

Reclaim Your Attention with Calmgate Willpower alone is rarely a sufficient defense against highly optimized algorithmic distractions. Calmgate is a rigorous digital well-being utility engineered specifically to break the cycle of mindless scrolling and restore your capacity for deep, uninterrupted focus. Built from the ground up for individuals navigating ADHD, chronic procrastination, or severe screen fatigue, Calmgate shifts your relationship with personal technology from reactive consumption to intentional engagement. Mindful Pauses to Break the Autopilot Loop Before you are permitted to access your most distracting applications, Calmgate intervenes with a mandatory, guided breathing exercise lasting between 10 and 60 seconds. This engineered psychological friction intercepts the immediate dopamine-seeking impulse, providing a critical window of mindfulness. This brief pause breaks the autopilot scrolling loop and allows you to consciously evaluate whether opening the application aligns with your current goals. Strict Mode and Unbreakable Deletion Protection For moments of severely depleted willpower, personal accountability must be outsourced to unyielding software. Calmgate utilizes advanced restriction architecture to enforce a true digital lockdown. When Strict Mode is activated, active block sessions cannot be bypassed, and Deletion Protection actively prevents the uninstallation of the application until your scheduled focus period is entirely complete. Emergency unlocks are strictly guarded and only granted after submitting a written declaration of intent, forcing cognitive engagement over impulsive overrides. Targeted Scheduling and the Sleep Shield Structure your day proactively with highly dynamic scheduling parameters. Activate the Morning Block routine to prevent the habit of waking up to overwhelming social media feeds, utilize Monk Mode for intense, distraction-free study sessions, or engage the Sleep Shield to automatically restrict access to stimulating applications between 10 PM and 7 AM, promoting vastly improved sleep hygiene. Behavioral Tracking and Dynamic Focus Scores Sustainable behavioral transformation requires accurate measurement. Calmgate calculates a dynamic daily Focus Score by analyzing the ratio of your intentional, productive application usage against the time lost to digital distractions. Monitor your behavioral patterns over time, identify your most common distraction triggers, and celebrate tangible, data-driven improvements in your daily attention span. Strictly On-Device Privacy Architecture Your behavioral data is fundamentally personal and must remain entirely under your control. Calmgate operates with a strict, zero-transmission privacy architecture. All application processing, usage tracking, and local limits are executed entirely on your device utilizing secure local storage frameworks. Absolutely no analytics are transmitted off-device, ensuring complete confidentiality for your digital habits and routines. β€” Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Aside

Features
Read full description

Aside helps you block distracting apps, reduce doomscrolling, and stay focused when it matters most. Whether you are studying, working deeply, sleeping better, or spending less time on social media, Aside gives you a calmer way to take control of your screen time. No login. No judgment. No pressure. Create intentional blocking sessions for social apps, video apps, games, and anything that pulls your attention. Start a focus session, put your phone aside, and let Aside help you stay committed through the moments that usually slip away. Aside is designed to feel simple, warm, and motivating. It is never strict or overwhelming. A small purple companion named Pip keeps you going, and gentle streaks show your consistency building over time, without guilt if you miss a session. KEY BENEFITS - Block distracting apps during focus sessions so you can actually start - Reduce doomscrolling and impulsive checking with simple, real-time limits - Set recurring schedules for the times you need focus most, like mornings or late nights - Build streaks and track your progress without pressure - Take short challenges that help you form better phone habits - See honest insights into your screen time trends so you know what is changing - Stay motivated with Pip, your friendly companion USE ASIDE WHEN YOU WANT TO - Stop wasting time on social media - Focus on work or study - Avoid late-night scrolling - Build a digital detox routine - Create healthier phone habits - Protect your attention during deep work Aside uses Apple’s Screen Time API to help you select and block distracting apps on your device. Your app selections and blocking activity stay private on your iPhone. No account. No cloud tracking. Take a break from distractions. Put them aside. Aside Premium Aside Premium is an auto-renewable subscription with weekly and yearly options. Pricing and duration are shown clearly before purchase in the app. No account is required to use Aside. Purchases are managed through your Apple ID. You can restore your subscription in the app if you reinstall or switch devices. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://asideblocker.com/en/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Support: https://asideblocker.com/en/help

Screenshots

Calmgate4 screens
Aside4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Calmgate at none against Aside's shown. Calmgate also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 days). Aside's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Calmgate sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Aside sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Calmgate ships an update daily, Aside every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
Calmgate versus Aside: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalmgateAside
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyDaily β€” betterEvery 3 days
AdsNo β€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad β€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.016.4 β€” better
Further details β€” not scored
Size18 MB58 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPolash Chandra DasKioshi Okamoto

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Calmgate

Subscriptions3
  • Calmgate Premium Weekly$0.997 Days
  • Calmgate Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Calmgate Premium Annual3 Days trial$24.991 Year
2 purchases

Aside

Subscriptions2
  • Aside Premium3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Aside Premium7 Days trial$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Calmgate free?
Calmgate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aside free?
Aside is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Calmgate or Aside have ads?
Aside shows ads; Calmgate does not.
Which is updated more often, Calmgate or Aside?
Calmgate ships an update daily, and Aside every 3 days. Most recently, Calmgate was updated on October 14, 2026 and Aside on October 25, 2026.

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