Comparison

Pickles vs MathGate

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 with math. Right answers earn minutes. Wrong ones earn nothing. Built by two parents tired of negotiating screen time. Three steps, then it just runs: - Pick the apps to lock. - Kid solves math: a round of problems at the level you set. - Minutes unlock apps. Saved-up minutes run down only while locked apps are open. When they run out, the apps lock again. A math level for every grade, K–5. From adding within 10 to times tables and multi-digit × and ÷. Real problems, not flashcards: word problems, number bonds, ten-frames, number lines, clocks, coins, fractions 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 locks parent settings. That's the whole account system. Locking uses Apple's Screen Time tools, so even we can't see which apps you picked.

About

MathGate

Features
Read full description

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

Pickles4 screens
MathGate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pickles at none against MathGate's 1. Pickles also leads on update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). 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. MathGate sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pickles asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pickles ships an update weekly, MathGate fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Pickles versus MathGate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPicklesMathGate
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size14 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTomas VeselyEric Fortuna

In-app purchases

None

Pickles

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

MathGate

One-time1
  • Lifetime Unlock$4.99

Questions

Is Pickles free?
Pickles is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MathGate free?
MathGate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pickles or MathGate have ads?
Neither Pickles nor MathGate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pickles or MathGate?
Pickles ships an update weekly, and MathGate fortnightly. Most recently, Pickles was updated on October 2, 2026 and MathGate on September 28, 2026.

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