TaskGate vs Monk Mode
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
TaskGate
Read full descriptionHide full description
TaskGate locks your most distracting apps behind a gate. The gate opens when today's tasks are done — and not a moment earlier. No timer you can dismiss. No screen you can swipe past. TaskGate uses Apple's own Screen Time controls, so when an app is blocked, it is blocked. HOW IT WORKS 1. Write down what you want to get done today. 2. Choose the apps that steal your time. 3. They stay locked until every task is checked off. At midnight the gate closes again, whether you open TaskGate or not. Tomorrow is a fresh contract. REAL APP BLOCKING Powered by Apple Screen Time. A blocked app shows a TaskGate screen telling you how many tasks are still left today. STRICT MODE For the days you mean it. While the gate is locked, today's tasks can't be deleted or pushed to tomorrow, and blocking can't be switched off. One emergency pass a day opens your apps for 15 minutes after a 10-minute wait — enough for something urgent, not enough to skip the day. FOCUS TIMERS Give a task a duration — study for an hour, read for thirty minutes. Start the timer and the task checks itself off when the time is up. Closing the app doesn't stop the clock. ROUTINES Tasks that repeat every day, on weekdays, or on the days you pick. They appear on your list each morning, automatically. PLAN AHEAD Schedule tasks for future days. When that day arrives, the gate arms itself. Tap any task to change it, and drag to reorder. STREAKS Every day you finish your list adds to your streak. Days without tasks are rest days and don't break it. Tap the number for a calendar of the days you kept and the days you missed. WIDGETS Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets show whether the gate is open, how many tasks remain, and how long your streak is. IPHONE, IPAD AND IPHONE DUO On a big screen, Today and Planned sit side by side. REMINDERS An optional evening nudge, plus a reminder time on any individual task. PRIVACY TaskGate collects nothing. There is no account, no sign-up, no analytics, and no ads. Your tasks stay on your device. The apps you choose to block are handled by iOS itself — Apple's Screen Time API hands apps opaque tokens rather than names, so TaskGate never learns which apps you picked or what you do in them. LANGUAGES English, Turkish, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), Dutch, Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Arabic and Indonesian. TaskGate needs Screen Time permission to block apps. Unless Strict mode is on, you can turn blocking off at any time.
Monk Mode
This app helps you build intentional routines and stay focused on your most important habits. Track your daily progress with a simple interface and visualize your consistency over time. It's designed for privacy, keeping your data on your device.
- Create focused daily habit lists
- Track habit completion with a tap
- Visualize consistency with a progress grid
- Home Screen widgets for progress and habits
- Daily reminders and customizable themes
- Private by design with no account required
Read full descriptionHide full description
Build a life of intention, one day at a time. Monk Mode is a private habit tracker designed to help you focus on the routines that matter most. Create your daily habits, complete them with purpose, and see your consistency grow over time. YOUR DAY, IN FOCUS • Create a focused list of daily habits • Check in with a single tap • Build momentum through simple daily progress SEE YOUR JOURNEY • Review your consistency with a GitHub-inspired progress grid • Follow cycles and protocols for your goals • Keep a daily mindset close to your routine MADE FOR YOUR IPHONE • Add Home Screen widgets for progress, habits, and daily mindset • Complete habits directly from the interactive widget • Set a daily reminder that works with your schedule • Choose light mode, dark mode, and your preferred color palette PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No Monk Mode account required • No advertising or third-party analytics • Your data stays on your device and can be privately backed up with iCloud • Delete all of your data whenever you choose Build better days. Stay in Monk Mode.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Monk Mode at daily against TaskGate's monthly. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
TaskGate ships an update monthly, Monk Mode daily. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | TaskGate | Monk Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Daily — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bilal Karadeniz | Fizz Software |
In-app purchases
TaskGate
No in-app purchases
Monk Mode
No in-app purchases









