Comparison

Recess vs Mindfold

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

Head to head
About

Recess

This app blocks distracting apps until you complete study tasks. It generates flashcards from your notes and quizzes you before allowing access to other applications. Earn your scroll time by building study streaks and improving recall.

Highlights
  • AI flashcard generation
  • Study gate to block apps
  • Multiple choice, T/F, fill-in-the-blank quizzes
  • Daily study goals and streaks
  • Spaced repetition scheduling
  • Web companion for file uploads
Features
Read full description

Study first, then scroll. Recess puts your flashcards in front of the apps stealing your focus. Instagram, TikTok, and the rest wait behind a study gate until you have done the work. Then your recess is earned, and you can scroll guilt free. HOW IT WORKS 1. Send Recess your notes, a PDF, or your slides. Recess builds a clean deck of flashcards and quizzes in seconds, with multiple choice, true or false, and fill in the blank questions. 2. Pick the apps that pull you away and set a daily study goal. 3. When you open a gated app, a flashcard appears first. Answer it to get through. 4. Build a streak. Watch your recall climb. Turn dead scroll time into real reps. WHAT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION KEEPS RUNNING Recess Pro is a study service, not a one time download. Your subscription pays for work that happens every time you use it: - AI deck generation that runs on our servers, turning new notes, PDFs, and slides into flashcards all semester long - An exam ramp that reschedules your reps as each test date gets closer, so the work builds early instead of piling up the night before - A web companion at studyrecess.com/create for sending files from your computer straight into the app - Spaced repetition scheduling that keeps adapting to whatever you keep forgetting WHY RECESS IS DIFFERENT Willpower is not enough, and you already know it. Recess is the external force you actually needed. It takes the app you cannot put down and puts your studying in front of it, so the thing that used to wreck your focus now protects it. Recess is on your side. It is not a lecture, not a punishment, and not a productivity guru yelling at you. It is a warm nudge that gives you permission to relax once you have earned it. MADE FOR STUDENTS Whether you are cramming for a midterm, grinding pre med or nursing prereqs, keeping a 4.0, or just learning something new, Recess fits the way you already use your phone. High school, college, and self learners use it to turn idle scrolling into study time. WHAT IS INCLUDED - AI flashcards from your notes, PDFs, and slides - Three question types: multiple choice, true or false, and fill in the blank - Quiz Me and Practice Test modes to check your recall - The study gate: distracting apps wait behind your flashcards - Soft and Hard gate modes, so you choose how hard the gate pushes back - Daily study goals and streaks - Stats, a study heatmap, and weak spot drills - Test date reminders and the exam ramp - The web companion for sending decks from a computer - Private by design, your study material stays yours SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED Recess requires an active Recess Pro subscription to use. There is no free tier. Some new subscribers can start with a free trial; the app shows your offer before you pay. Recess Pro is an auto renewable subscription: $12.99 per month, or $39.99 per year (US pricing; local prices shown in the app). Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Privacy Policy: https://studyrecess.com/privacy Terms of Use: https://studyrecess.com/terms Study first. Then scroll. You earned it.

About

Mindfold

Read full description

Mindfold helps you learn faster with AI-powered study workspaces. Turn topics, PDFs, and notes into a focused learning hub. Mindfold builds structured workspaces with summaries, short courses, practice quizzes, flashcards, glossary tools, OCR capture, and Nova — your AI study companion. Key features: • Knowledge workspaces from topics and documents • AI short courses and practice quizzes • Flashcards for spaced review • Nova chat for explanations and study help • OCR to capture text from photos and pages • Read-aloud / TTS for listening while you learn • Personal library to keep everything organized Start with a free trial, then upgrade to Premium for unlimited AI study tools. Questions? Contact support@mindfold.fyi Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://cool-fenglisu-f2db5c.netlify.app/

Screenshots

Recess4 screens
Mindfold4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Recess at every 2 weeks against Mindfold's every 2 months. Mindfold's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.5 vs 17.0). On price, 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. Recess sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Mindfold sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Recess ships an update every 2 weeks, Mindfold every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Recess versus Mindfold: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRecessMindfold
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (36 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings36 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.5 — better
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB157 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTHOMAS JOHN GIRGASHoussama bouziane

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Recess

Subscriptions5
  • Recess Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Recess Pro Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Recess Pro Yearly7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Recess Pro Yearly$39.991 Year
  • Recess Pro Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
2 purchases

Mindfold

Subscriptions2
  • Premium monthly$7.991 Month
  • yearly$49.991 Year

Questions

Is Recess free?
Recess is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mindfold free?
Mindfold is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Recess or Mindfold have ads?
Neither Recess nor Mindfold shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Recess or Mindfold?
Recess ships an update every 2 weeks, and Mindfold every 2 months. Most recently, Recess was updated on November 10, 2026 and Mindfold on November 10, 2026.

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