Comparison

Pickles vs MathLock

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

Head to head
About

Pickles

This app allows parents to set screen time limits by requiring children to solve math problems. Children earn minutes for correct answers, which are then used to access selected apps. It offers various math levels and problem types for grades K-5.

Highlights
  • Screen time gating via math problems
  • Grade-level math challenges (K-5)
  • Multiple math operations (+, -, ×, ÷)
  • Diverse problem types (word problems, number bonds)
  • Parental PIN protection
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Math for screen time. Pickles locks the apps you pick — Roblox, YouTube, anything — until your kid earns minutes by solving math. Right answers bank time; wrong ones earn nothing. Built by two parents tired of negotiating screen time. How it works — three steps, then it just runs: - Pick the apps to gate. - Hand the phone over: a round of problems at the level you set. - Each right answer is a minute. Banked minutes drain only while the gated apps are open. When the jar empties, they lock again. A math level for every grade, K–5. Set the grade and the operations (+, −, ×, ÷) — from adding within 10 to times tables and multi-digit ×/÷. Real problems, not flashcards: word problems, number bonds, ten-frames, number lines, the hundred chart, and more. No accounts. No ads. No tracking. Everything runs on the device — no sign-in, no cloud, no analytics, no third-party SDKs. A 4-digit PIN gates parent settings; that's the whole account system. Blocking uses Apple's Family Controls, so even we can't see which apps you picked. Free. No subscription, no upsells, no in-app purchases. Just one device, one PIN, and Mr. Pickles.

About

MathLock

Features
Read full description

MathLock turns screen time into math time. It is a math app lock that guards your most distracting apps behind a quick math game, so a few minutes of math practice take the place of the mindless scroll. Before Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or any app you choose can open, MathLock asks you to solve a quick challenge. Pick your apps, set your lock times, and the lock does the work. No willpower required. HOW MATHLOCK WORKS MathLock uses Apple Screen Time (Family Controls) to lock only the apps you choose. You select them with Apple's private picker, so MathLock never sees the other apps on your phone. When a locked app opens at a locked time, MathLock's shield appears. Tap Solve, finish a quick math game, and continue to your app. FIVE MATH GAMES, ONE TAP AWAY Math Duel: a fast mental math race against a rival bot. Mini Sudoku: a compact sudoku you can finish in a minute or two. Cross Math: balance the equations in a little math crossword. Math Maze: walk the number grid to reach the target. KenKen: crack the cages in the classic KenKen, also known as Ken Ken or mathdoku. A MATH WORKOUT, NOT JUST AN APP BLOCKER Most app blockers only block. MathLock turns every unlock into math learning: arithmetic, mental math, logic and number puzzles that keep your brain sharp. It is great for students who want daily math practice, for adults who want smarter screen time and better focus, and for anyone trying to doomscroll less and learn more. DIFFICULTY THAT ADAPTS TO YOU Start at Chill, Standard or Genius, and MathLock quietly tunes every game to your level. Easy mental math to warm up, or hard logic puzzles that make you think. You always finish and you always get through to your app. Winning just earns more. STREAKS, XP AND A CHEERFUL PI Keep your daily streak alive and watch it grow. Earn streak freezes to protect it on a busy day. Collect XP, level up, and let Pi, the orange mascot, celebrate with you. LIFE HAPPENS A clearly marked emergency unlock can pause the lock when you truly need it. It is deliberately a little slower than solving, because the easiest path should always be the math. PRIVACY FIRST MathLock locks only the apps you pick, chosen through Apple's private picker, so the app never sees your full list of apps. No account is needed, nothing is collected, and nothing is shared. Everything stays on your device, and you can change or remove Screen Time access at any time in Settings. Requires iOS 16 or later. Turn scrolling time into math time. Install MathLock and make every open count. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Privacy Policy: https://reel.money/mathlock/privacy

Screenshots

Pickles4 screens
MathLock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pickles at none against MathLock's 2. Pickles also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. MathLock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Pickles asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pickles ships an update weekly, MathLock monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and July 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Pickles versus MathLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPicklesMathLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB50 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTomas VeselyHamid Mahmood Siddiqui

In-app purchases

None

Pickles

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

MathLock

Subscriptions1
  • MathLock Pro7 Days trial$2.997 Days
One-time1
  • MathLock Pro Lifetime$29.99

Questions

Is Pickles free?
Pickles is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MathLock free?
MathLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pickles or MathLock have ads?
Neither Pickles nor MathLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pickles or MathLock?
Pickles ships an update weekly, and MathLock monthly. Most recently, Pickles was updated on September 14, 2026 and MathLock on July 21, 2026.

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