Comparison

Dhamma.org vs Dharma Bob

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

Head to head
About

Dhamma.org

Explore Vipassana meditation techniques and find residential courses worldwide. Access audio and video resources, apply for courses, and manage your user account. This app offers a path to self-purification through self-observation.

Highlights
  • Learn about Vipassana Meditation
  • Find worldwide course locations
  • Search courses by date, region, language
  • Apply and register for courses
  • Download/stream audio and video resources
  • Manage user account and application forms
  • Access group sitting recordings
Features
Read full description

This is the official DhammaOrg iOS mobile App for Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U Ba Khin. Vipassana Meditation Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India's most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills, an Art of Living. Vipassana is the process of self-purification by self-observation. One begins by observing the natural breath to concentrate the mind. Then, with a sharpened awareness, one proceeds to observe the changing nature of body and mind and experiences the universal truths of impermanence, suffering and egolessness. This truth-realization by direct experience results in mental purification. Courses The technique of Vipassana Meditation is taught at 10-day residential courses during which participants learn the basics of the method, and practice sufficiently to experience its beneficial results. There are no charges for the courses - not even to cover the cost of food and accommodation. All expenses are met by donations from people who, having completed a course and experienced the benefits of Vipassana, wish to give others the opportunity to also benefit. Locations Courses are given in numerous Meditation Centers and at Non-Center course locations. Each location has its own schedule of courses. In most cases, an application for admission to these courses can be completed online using this App. There are numerous Centers currently in operation and more in development around the world, including Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Features of this App - Learn more about Vipassana Meditation. - Find locations near you that offer Vipassana Meditation courses from a complete worldwide listing or map of over 300 locations spread across 80+ countries. - Locate Vipassana Meditation courses using search criteria such as dates, regions, and instruction languages. - Apply and register to attend a Vipassana Meditation course. - Download or listen online to audio resources in different languages, including 10-Day Discourses and instructions for Mini- Ānāpāna meditation. - Stream videos in different languages, including 10-Day Discourses, Talks, Interviews, and Q&As by S.N. Goenka, Documentaries about Vipassana for adults and children, Vipassana for business executives and Vipassana in prisons, and a Mini-Ānāpāna Introduction and Practice. - Support for creating and maintaining individual user account - Pre-fill course application forms with profile information from user account - Sync user account with updated information provided on application forms Old Students - One hour group sitting recordings in 25+ different languages. - Play group sitting recordings with an option to log your daily sittings. All logged data is only stored locally on your device. - Turn on group sitting counter to join and see how many Old Students are currently meditating. - Find information about group sittings and other events hosted near you or hosted online. - Additional audio resources, including discourses for Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta, 1/2/3-day, and 7-day teenager courses; Morning Chantings and Dohas for 10-day courses; Special Chantings; Talks, Interviews, and Q&As by S.N. Goenka; Pāḷi Training; and Gong Sounds. - Additional video resources, including Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta Discourses, Benefits of Dhamma Service, Talks, Interviews, and Q&As by S.N. Goenka for Old Students and Dhamma Servers, and Special Chantings in the Gem Set in Gold. - A wealth of written resources including the Old Student Guide, Course Formalities and Pāḷi Passages, Group Sittings Chantings, the 10-Day Discourse Summaries, Glossary of Pāḷi Terms, FAQs about doing a Self Course, information about the Chain of Teachers in this Tradition, information about Dhamma Service, and Dāna. - Administer standard or customized self courses

About

Dharma Bob

This app offers a calm companion for your modern mind, providing plain-language guidance to Buddhist wisdom for everyday life. It helps cultivate clarity, compassion, and a steadier mind through practical micro-practices and guided meditations.

Highlights
  • Plain-English answers
  • Practical micro-practices
  • Compassionate guidance
  • Meditation sessions
  • Voice chat interface
  • Professor Tenzin Bob Thurman's teachings
Features
Read full description

About Dharmabob.ai A calm companion for your modern mind. Dharmabob.ai is a gentle, plain-language guide to Buddha's Wisdom for everyday life—helping you cultivate clarity, compassion, and a steadier mind amid real-world challenges. Key Features: • Plain-English answers to your questions • Practical micro-practices you can try in under two minutes • Kind, compassionate guidance designed to reduce harm • Meditation sessions and guided practices • Voice chat interface for natural conversation • Accessible teachings from Professor Tenzin Bob Thurman's life's work Who It's For: Anyone seeking practical wisdom, stress relief, or a gentler approach to life's challenges. Whether you're curious about Buddhist philosophy, need quick perspective shifts, or want to build steadier attention and kinder speech, Dharmabob.ai meets you where you are. Ownership & Authenticity: Dharmabob.ai is Professor Tenzin Bob Thurman's exclusive intellectual property for applying AI to make his life's work accessible to anyone, worldwide. It is the officially stewarded expression of his teachings in AI form—not an independent project. Built from a living archive of scholarly, private, and personal talks—many never before available—shared with audiences worldwide, including students, translators, and private groups. AI-Generated Content Disclosure: This app uses artificial intelligence to generate responses based on Professor Thurman's teachings. All content is derived from his authentic teachings and scholarly work. Responses are generated in real-time and may vary. The AI is designed to provide educational guidance and should not be considered a replacement for professional medical, psychological, or spiritual counseling. What You'll Find: When you're stressed: • Quick breathing and attention resets • Gentle perspective shifts grounded in compassion When you're stuck: • Reframes to loosen perfectionism and all-or-nothing thinking • Step-by-step practices you can try in under 2 minutes When you're curious: • Clear explainers—Buddha's Wisdom in action • Context from classic sources and modern commentary Meditation & Guidance Features: The app includes guided meditation sessions and contemplative practices. These are educational tools for personal development and stress management. Sessions are designed to be accessible and can be paused or stopped at any time. Meditation practices are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Guiding Principles: Compassion first: reduce harm; assume good intent. Clarity over cleverness: make the subtle practical and the practical doable. Humility: offer perspectives, not pronouncements. Integrity: no medical, legal, or clinical claims; know the limits and say so. Privacy: respect user data; keep interactions lightweight and secure. What Dharmabob.ai Is Not: Dharmabob.ai is a guide and learning companion—not a therapist, doctor, or spiritual authority. If you're in crisis or need clinical support, please reach out to qualified professionals. Medical & Mental Health Disclaimer: This app provides educational content and meditation practices for general wellness and personal development. It is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical or mental health condition, please consult with a qualified healthcare provider. In case of a medical emergency, call your local emergency services immediately. Start where you are. Bring your questions, your doubts, and your everyday life—we'll work with that. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://app.dharmabob.ai/privacy

Screenshots

Dhamma.org4 screens
Dharma Bob4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Dhamma.org at none against Dharma Bob's 7. Dhamma.org also leads on ratings volume (191 vs 3). Dharma Bob's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 85%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Dharma Bob sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Dhamma.org asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dharma Bob holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dhamma.org has 191 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Dhamma.org's written reviews are positive against 100% of Dharma Bob's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dhamma.org ships an update fortnightly, Dharma Bob every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Dhamma.org versus Dharma Bob: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDhamma.orgDharma Bob
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (191 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings191 — better3
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size134 MB21 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSAYATGYI U BA KHIN MEMORIAL TRUST OF MASSACHUSSETS, INCShree Collective, Inc.

Customer experience

Dhamma.org

All ratings189 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral2.6%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews133 reviews
Positive85.0%
Neutral6.8%
Negative8.3%

Dharma Bob

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Dhamma.org

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Dharma Bob

Subscriptions6
  • Spark Monthly$5.991 Month
  • Adept Monthly$13.991 Month
  • Healer Monthly$29.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Spark Yearly$66.991 Year
  • Adept Yearly$149.991 Year
  • Healer Yearly$324.991 Year
One-time1
  • First Step Pass$0.99

Questions

Is Dhamma.org free?
Dhamma.org is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dharma Bob free?
Dharma Bob is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dhamma.org or Dharma Bob?
Dharma Bob is rated higher. Dhamma.org averages 4.8 out of 5 from 191 ratings, while Dharma Bob averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Dhamma.org or Dharma Bob have ads?
Neither Dhamma.org nor Dharma Bob shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dhamma.org or Dharma Bob?
Dhamma.org ships an update fortnightly, and Dharma Bob every 9 days. Most recently, Dhamma.org was updated on October 24, 2026 and Dharma Bob on October 22, 2026.

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