# SGI vs Mindgem

The clearest difference is rating: Mindgem at 4.9 against SGI's 4.1. Mindgem also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 50%). SGI's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (734 vs 24). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Mindgem holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: SGI has 734 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of SGI's written reviews are positive against 88% of Mindgem's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SGI | Mindgem |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (734 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sgi-usa/id1158895738/reviews) | **[4.9 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindgem/id1503349712/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **734** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 63 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Soka Gakkai International - USA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1158895737) | [GEORGIA MEDITATION CIRCLE INC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503349711) |

## What reviewers say

### SGI

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sgi-usa/id1158895738)

Support your daily Buddhist practice with tools for chanting, recitation, and goal tracking. Find local facilities and access Buddhist resources.

**Highlights:** Chanting calculator with target tracking, Audio guide for daily recitation, Goal setting and progress monitoring, SGI-USA facility locator, Links to World Tribune website

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for practice
- 🚀 Comprehensive app with many features
- 💡 Ability to chant with audio
- 💡 Access to publications and study materials
- 👍 Great for beginners and experienced users

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches after updates
- 🔒 Login issues and need to log in frequently
- 🔋 Timer/stopwatch issues when phone is locked or app is closed
- 👎 Slow chanting/gongyo speed options
- 👎 Difficulty navigating and finding content

**Reported bugs**

- Daimoku count not updating accurately
- Writings of Nichiren Daishonin not loading
- Crashes or freezes when using certain features
- Incorrect or outdated content displayed

**Requested features**

- Ability to adjust chanting/gongyo speed
- Seamless looping of chanting audio
- Sync daimoku counts across devices
- More customization options (e.g. font size, themes)
- Improved navigation and organization of content


### Mindgem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindgem/id1503349712)

Engage in guided meditation sessions led by experienced Buddhist monks. Connect with a supportive community focused on sharing wisdom and personal growth.

**Highlights:** Guided meditation sessions, Led by Buddhist monks, Community forum, Wisdom sharing, Personal growth focus

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SGI free?

SGI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mindgem free?

Mindgem is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SGI or Mindgem?

Mindgem is rated higher. SGI averages 4.1 out of 5 from 734 ratings, while Mindgem averages 4.9 from 24 ratings.

### Do SGI or Mindgem have ads?

Mindgem shows ads; SGI does not.

### Which is updated more often, SGI or Mindgem?

SGI ships an update every 4 months, and Mindgem every 4 months. Most recently, SGI was updated on October 17, 2026 and Mindgem on September 30, 2026.

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