Comparison

SGI vs Sounds True

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

Head to head
About

SGI

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
Read full description

This app provides resources to support your daily practice of SGI Nichiren Buddhism. First, there is a chanting calculator that allows you to set and track chanting targets (campaigns). There is also an audio guide useful as an aid in learning the daily recitation of Nam Myoho Renge Kyo and the Lotus Sutra. You can set your goals and watch your progress! There are several other useful tools such as a location finder for SGI-USA facilities and links to the new World Tribune website.

About

Sounds True

Access a vast library of online courses, audio programs, and exclusive content from world-renowned experts in mindfulness, healing, and personal growth. Connect with a global community, join live events, and explore a variety of wellness practices to support your journey inward.

Highlights
  • Access purchased courses and audio programs
  • Sounds True One membership content
  • Live Q&As and interviews with experts
  • Global community for connection and discussion
  • Immersive virtual retreats
  • Weekly group meditations
  • Variety of wellness practices
Features
Read full description

The Sounds True app is home to your entire Sounds True experience, from the online courses and audio programs you've purchased to the Sounds True One membership, including original series, guided practices, and live events with hundreds of world-renowned experts in mindfulness, healing, and personal growth. YOUR SOUNDS TRUE LIBRARY Access the online courses and audio programs you've purchased from Sounds True's 41 years of publishing — all in one place, available on-demand, on any device. SOUNDS TRUE ONE MEMBERSHIP Sounds True One is a global membership community committed to growth, healing, and connection, with unique learning opportunities from the world's most celebrated wisdom teachers and best-selling authors, including Caroline Myss, Pema Chödrön, Jack Kornfield, Thich Nhat Hanh, Adyashanti, Peter Levine, Gabor Maté, Richard C. Schwartz, and many more. Membership includes: ● Wisdom from World-Renowned Experts — Learn from leading voices in well-being, mindfulness, and personal growth. ● Exclusive Live Q&As & Interviews — Engage directly with sought-after teachers through interactive conversations and events. ● A Global Community — Share reflections, ask questions, and connect with members worldwide through live meditations and practice groups. ● Immersive Virtual Retreats — Join live, transformative retreats to cultivate self-awareness and growth. ● Weekly Group Meditations — Enhance your practice with meditations led by beloved Sounds True teachers and authors. ● A Variety of Wellness Practices — Explore meditation, mindful movement, qi gong and other techniques to support your well-being. ● Monthly Guided Experiences — A new theme each month to support your spiritual growth and self-discovery. ● Exclusive Original Series — Dive into our award-winning programs like Mystics Today, In the Flow, and Being with You. ● Special Member Discounts* — Get 20% off Sounds True online courses, plus exclusive event and course invitations. In just a few minutes a day, Sounds True can help you feel more connected to yourself and the world around you. Download today and continue your journey inward. - ▷ Already a Member? Sign-In to access your subscription. ▷ New? Subscribe in the app to get instant access. Sounds True offers auto-renewing subscriptions. You'll receive unlimited access to content on all your devices. Payment is charged to your account at confirmation of purchase. Pricing varies by location and is confirmed prior to purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current billing period, or the trial period (when offered). Cancel anytime in Account Settings. For more information see our: Terms of Use: https://product.soundstrue.com/terms-and-conditions/ Privacy Policy: https://product.soundstrue.com/privacy-policy/ Customer Support: membership@soundstrue.com

Screenshots

SGI4 screens
Sounds True4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sounds True at 4.6 against SGI's 4.1. Sounds True also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). SGI's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (50% vs 26%). On price, ratings volume, 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. Sounds True sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. SGI asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sounds True holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 744 and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of SGI's written reviews are positive against 26% of Sounds True's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SGI ships an update every 4 months, Sounds True every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
SGI versus Sounds True: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSGISounds True
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (744 ratings)4.6 (1.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better25.7% of reviews
Number of ratings7441.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size63 MB71 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperSoka Gakkai International - USASounds True

Customer experience

SGI

All ratings734 ratings
Positive72.6%
Neutral9.7%
Negative17.7%
Written reviews118 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral18.6%
Negative31.4%

Sounds True

All ratings1,225 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral1.8%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews105 reviews
Positive25.7%
Neutral12.4%
Negative61.9%

User reviews

SGI

From 744 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Sounds True

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 High-quality content
  • 💡 Variety of teachings and programs
  • 👍 Inspiring community

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent app crashes and glitches
  • 🔋 Audio stops playing when screen locks
  • 👎 Poor customer support and technical issues
  • 🤯 Confusing navigation and app design

Bugs and requests

SGI

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

6 requests
  • 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
Show 1 more
  • Ability to maintain active campaigns/goals across updates

Sounds True

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Unable to access purchased courses
  • App freezes and becomes unresponsive
  • Inconsistent login and password issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add search functionality to easily find content
  • Allow background audio playback when app is closed
  • Improve offline access to purchased content
  • Provide better integration between app and website

In-app purchases

None

SGI

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Sounds True

Subscriptions4
  • Monthly All Access$19.991 Month
  • Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$179.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Yearly All Access$189.001 Year

Questions

Is SGI free?
SGI is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sounds True free?
Sounds True is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SGI or Sounds True?
Sounds True is rated higher. SGI averages 4.1 out of 5 from 744 ratings, while Sounds True averages 4.6 from 1.2K ratings.
Do SGI or Sounds True have ads?
Neither SGI nor Sounds True shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SGI or Sounds True?
SGI ships an update every 4 months, and Sounds True every 2 months. Most recently, SGI was updated on November 6, 2026 and Sounds True on November 7, 2026.

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