# Moodnotes vs Calm Urge

The clearest difference is ads: Moodnotes at none against Calm Urge's shown. Moodnotes also leads on ratings volume (11K vs 2K) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Calm Urge's advantage is review sentiment (83% vs 65%) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Moodnotes sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Calm Urge sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Moodnotes against 4.7 for Calm Urge. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Moodnotes has 11K ratings behind it against 2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 65% of Moodnotes's written reviews are positive against 83% of Calm Urge's.

Moodnotes ships an update every 4 weeks, Calm Urge every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Moodnotes | Calm Urge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moodnotes-mood-tracker/id1019230398/reviews) | [4.7 (2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calm-urge-self-harm-tracker/id1551984419/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 2K |
| Positive reviews | 65.5% of reviews | **82.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 146 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mosaic S.r.l.](https://appshunter.io/developer/570748343) | [Shining Muffin LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1446193687) |

## What reviewers say

### Moodnotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moodnotes-mood-tracker/id1019230398)

This app helps you track your mood, identify triggers, and improve your thinking habits using principles of cognitive behavior therapy. It offers tools for self-awareness, reducing anxiety, and developing healthier perspectives for increased well-being.

**Highlights:** Track mood and identify triggers, Automatic face scanning for mood capture, Journaling with photos and notes, Self-awareness articles by experts, Develop healthier thinking habits, Reduce anxiety and enhance well-being

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Moodnotes Pro | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Moodnotes Pro - Free Trial | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Moodnotes Premium 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Moodnotes Premium 1 Month | $14.99 | per month |
| Moodnotes Premium 1 Year | $29.99 | per year |
| Moodnotes Premium 1 Year | $34.99 | per year |
| Moodnotes Premium 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| Moodnotes Premium 1 Year | $69.99 | per year |
| Moodnotes Premium 1 Year | $69.99 | per year |
| Moodnotes Pro - Free Trial | $69.99 | per year |
| Moodnotes Premium 1 Year | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Quick mood logging
- 💡 Helpful CBT techniques
- 📊 Insightful data and analytics
- 🙌 Transformative for mental health

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited free features
- 🔁 Repetitive prompts
- 💻 Needs better iPad support
- 🔍 Difficulty customizing feelings

**Reported bugs**

- Notification issues on iOS updates
- Occasional data loss or syncing problems

**Requested features**

- Add custom feelings and activities
- More detailed data visualization
- Integration with other health apps
- Offline mode for journaling


### Calm Urge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calm-urge-self-harm-tracker/id1551984419)

This app provides tools and activities to help users resist self-harm urges. Track emotions, identify patterns, and utilize calming exercises like breathing techniques and music to manage feelings and stay in control. Secure your data with a password and access emergency contacts for support.

**Highlights:** Emotion and worry tracking, Identify emotional patterns, Develop coping mechanisms, Calming activities (breathing, music, drawing), Password protection for privacy, Communication card for expressing feelings, Emergency contact integration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $5.99 | per month |
| Premium | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for self-harm recovery
- 🚀 Lots of free features
- 🔒 Password protection for privacy
- 💡 Variety of calming activities
- 👍 Tracks progress and mood

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes or won't open
- 💰 Premium features behind paywall
- 🔍 Concerns about parents accessing app
- 🔍 Ads can be poorly timed
- 🔍 Limited emotion tracking options

**Reported bugs**

- Forgot password feature not working
- Inconsistent app performance issues

**Requested features**

- Add milestones/achievements tracking
- Improve sound/audio functionality
- Allow customizing mood/emotion options
- Provide more free access to analytics


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Moodnotes free?

Moodnotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Calm Urge free?

Calm Urge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Moodnotes or Calm Urge?

Moodnotes and Calm Urge are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 11K and 2K ratings respectively.

### Do Moodnotes or Calm Urge have ads?

Calm Urge shows ads; Moodnotes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Moodnotes or Calm Urge?

Moodnotes ships an update every 4 weeks, and Calm Urge every 8 days. Most recently, Moodnotes was updated on September 24, 2026 and Calm Urge on September 23, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*