Comparison

Pirates vs Meno

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

Head to head
About

Pirates

Take back control of your time by blocking distracting apps and websites. Utilize a focus timer with custom soundscapes to enhance productivity. Enjoy a fun, engaging experience with unique characters and ships while gaining clear insights into your progress.

Highlights
  • App and website blocking
  • Focus timer with Pomodoro
  • Customizable soundscapes
  • Engaging character and ship designs
  • On-device blocking via Screen Time API
  • Progress insights
Features
Read full description

A cozy Pomodoro timer with a crew of cat pirates. Start a focus round, sail with your cats, and earn gold when the timer ends. Your distracting apps stay locked until you're done. No accounts, no ads, no tracking. A TIMER THAT FEELS LIKE A GAME • Pick your focus and break lengths, or use the classic 25/5 • Earn gold every time a round ends, not at the end of the week • Recruit 7 cats, dress them in 170+ outfits, and decorate your ship and camp • Come home to a cozy camp with a hammock, a campfire, and cats wandering around while you work BUILT FOR DISTRACTED BRAINS • One big button to start. No setup, no to-do list first • Short rounds with a visible timer, so time stops feeling invisible • Streaks start at 1 day, so a bad week never wipes you out • Mix your own ambient sound: waves, rain, fireplace, lo-fi, and a purring cat KEEPS YOUR PHONE QUIET • Optional app and website blocking with iOS Screen Time. No VPN, no servers • You pick which apps lock during a round. Calls and texts always work • Quit a round early and you lose the reward. Hard mode locks the timer so you can't end it early MORE ON DECK • Live Activity keeps the timer on your lock screen and Dynamic Island • Three daily missions arrive in your mailbox and pay extra gold • Climb 11 pirate ranks from Deckhand to Legend of the Seven Seas • The Captain's log charts every focus minute PERFECT FOR • Students who want study sessions to feel less lonely and more finished • ADHD brains that do better with short rounds and instant rewards • Writers, developers, and anyone whose work needs long stretches of focus PRICING A monthly subscription, an annual subscription with 14 days free, or a one-time lifetime purchase. All unlock the full app. No ads, ever. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your progress stays on your phone. No account, no ads, no tracking. The lock runs on your device through Apple's Screen Time, and your app choices never leave it. The only things the app sends out are anonymous usage statistics and crash reports. Terms of Use: https://cachepapi.github.io/pirates-legal/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://cachepapi.github.io/pirates-legal/privacy/ Study with cat pirates. Your first voyage awaits, Captain!

About

Meno

Features
Read full description

Meno is a notepad built on one idea: what you write is meant to disappear. Open the app and start writing instantly. No accounts, no folders, no clutter — just a clean white page. Swipe left or right, or leave the app, and your note is gone. Meno is the perfect space for passing thoughts, quick drafts, sensitive notes, and anything you don't want lingering on your phone. Need something to last a little longer? Create a Timed Note. Choose how long it should live — from a few minutes up to 24 hours — and it will quietly delete itself when time runs out. Your first Timed Note each day is free; after that, watch a short ad to create as many as you like. FEATURES - Instant, distraction-free writing on a clean white page - Swipe to erase — or simply leave the app and it's gone - Timed Notes that self-delete after up to 24 hours - One free Timed Note every day - Adjustable text size - No accounts. No cloud. Your notes never leave your device. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Meno has no servers and no sign-up. Notes exist only on your device and vanish by design. Nothing you write is ever collected or stored by us. Write it down. Let it go.

Screenshots

Pirates4 screens
Meno3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Meno at none against Pirates's 3. Meno also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Pirates's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price 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. Pirates sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Meno asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pirates ships an update every 4 days, Meno every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Pirates versus Meno: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPiratesMeno
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (12 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings12 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size160 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn JangJuyeon Lee

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Pirates

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Annual14 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$29.99
None

Meno

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pirates free?
Pirates is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Meno free?
Meno is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pirates or Meno have ads?
Meno shows ads; Pirates does not.
Which is updated more often, Pirates or Meno?
Pirates ships an update every 4 days, and Meno every 3 weeks. Most recently, Pirates was updated on October 25, 2026 and Meno on October 25, 2026.

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