Comparison

Healthy Minds Program by Humin vs CBT Thought Diary

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

Head to head
About

Healthy Minds Program by Humin

This app offers science-backed meditation and mindfulness practices to improve focus, reduce stress, and enhance social connections. It features guided lessons and assessments based on neuroscientific research, designed to fit into busy lifestyles.

Highlights
  • Science-backed meditation practices
  • Guided lessons on focus and stress reduction
  • Neuroscientific well-being framework
  • Active meditation for busy lives
  • Mobile mental and emotional well-being assessments
  • Integration with Apple Health
Features
Read full description

• 2024 Pick: Best Meditation App by Healthline, The New York Times Wirecutter, Vogue, and Sports Illustrated Well-being is a skill that can be learned. We’re here to guide you along the way. Backed by four decades of research from world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson and the team at Humin (formerly Healthy Minds Innovations) & the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin—Madison, the Healthy Minds Program trains your mind through meditation and podcast-style lessons to develop skills for gaining focus, reducing stress, and maintaining positive social connections. Research with the Healthy Minds App showed that just 5 minutes a day of practice leads to a 28% reduction in stress, an 18% reduction in anxiety, a 24% reduction in depression, and a 13% increase in social connection. Featuring our scientific Awareness, Connection, Insight, and Purpose, Well-being Framework, the Healthy Minds Program is a holistic, all-encompassing meditation app that offers the best of both guided meditations and opportunities to learn. You’ll learn simple skills to enhance personal well-being, build healthy relationships, and improve communication, performance, and creativity. –––––––––––––––––––––––––– What makes us unique? Developed from Science: While many meditation apps can claim the scientific benefits of meditation, our practices are developed directly from neuroscientific research. You’ll also hear from the world’s foremost neuroscientists about neuroplasticity and how to train your mind. Made for Busy Lives: Our app features active meditation practices that fit into your busy lifestyle. Don’t have time to sit for 20 minutes? Put on an active practice and train your mind while you fold the laundry. Guided by Measurement: Thanks to our pioneering scientific research, the Healthy Minds Program offers the first mobile mental and emotional well-being assessments. Learn about your current level of well-being and contribute to cutting-edge research on the science of well-being. Our app also integrates with Apple Health to track your mindful minutes. Goes Beyond Mindfulness: Our guided path offers step-by-step instructions for becoming more present in the moment and developing a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection in life. Driven by Mission and Supported by Donation: The Healthy Minds Program is made possible by our donors, who support our vision of a kinder, wiser, more compassionate world. Unlike other apps that require a subscription, the Healthy Minds Program is available by donation, driven by a mission to translate science into tools to cultivate and measure well-being. –––––––––––––––––––––––––– Read the End User License Agreement and Terms of Use here: https://hminnovations.org/terms-of-use Read our Privacy Policy here: https://hminnovations.org/privacy-policy

About

CBT Thought Diary

This app offers a structured approach to mental well-being, utilizing principles of CBT, ACT, and MSC. It provides tools for mood tracking, reframing thoughts, goal setting, and practicing mindfulness. The app guides users through insights, journaling, and skill-building exercises to foster lasting change and self-improvement.

Highlights
  • Mood tracking and daily journaling
  • Thought reframing with Socratic questioning
  • Goal setting and value alignment
  • Mindfulness and self-compassion exercises
  • Activity logging with pleasure/mastery ratings
  • Progress tracking and insights
Features
Read full description

We all dream of a clearer mind and steadier days — but life rarely slows down. When pressure builds and thoughts race, Viven helps you quiet the noise and refocus on what truly matters. Built on the foundations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), Viven guides you through structured steps to turn mental insights into lasting change. Three Spaces For Your Growth TODAY: Your Daily Anchor Mood Tracker: Check your mood and get directed to the journal you need. Starting the Day: Set your intention with the Starting the Day journal. Ending the Day: Reflect on your day with the Ending the Day journal. Free Journal: Write freely with an open journal. Activity Logging: Record your activities and rate them by pleasure, mastery, value alignment, ease, and reward. DISCOVER: Your Toolkit for Change - Thoughts: Reframe automatic thoughts using Socratic questioning and stoic wisdom. - Emotions: Recognize and label emotions. - Vision & Goals: Clarify and connect with your values and long-term direction. - Action: Turn insight into action with small, achievable steps - Relationships: Improve communication patterns in relationships. - Self - Compassion : Identify your needs and build compassionate routines. - Mindfulness : Practice grounding with breathing and Progressive Muscle Relaxation. - The Viven Method: Every category contains Insights to learn the basics → Guided Journals to apply them → Skills Practices to strengthen them. - Holistic Progress: Every practice recommends three related exercises to keep your journey connected. JOURNEY: Your Progress at a Glance - Shape your vision with a guided journal. - Work toward specific goals by examining thoughts and behaviors. - Discover your thinking patterns and cognitive distortions. - Track your favorite activities by pleasure, mastery, alignment, ease, and reward. - Record your recent wins to stay motivated. - View your mood graph and follow your patterns. WHY VIVEN FEELS DIFFERENT - Science-Backed: A structured system grounded in CBT, ACT, and Mindful Self-Compassion, designed to help you apply and strengthen your coping skills. - Structured Flow: Viven isn’t just a tracker; it’s a path: Insight → Guided Journal → Skill Practice. - Personalized: Receive tailored recommendations across all categories. - Customizable: Dark mode, custom themes, and font options for your comfort. - Private & On-Device Storage: Your content such as journal entries, reflections, notes, prompt answers, are stored locally on your device. You already carry the answers. Viven helps uncover them — gently, clearly, and at your own pace. DISCLAIMER Viven is a tool for self-improvement and is not a substitute for professional therapy or medical advice. Viven Plus Subscription Unlock full access with a Viven Plus subscription, available monthly or annually. Terms of use: https://www.rayinformatics.com/terms Privacy policy: https://www.rayinformatics.com/privacy/viven Contact: https://www.rayinformatics.com/contact

Screenshots

Healthy Minds Program by Humin4 screens
CBT Thought Diary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Healthy Minds Program by Humin at none against CBT Thought Diary's 3. Healthy Minds Program by Humin also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (9.2K vs 2). On price, ads, monetization model 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. CBT Thought Diary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Healthy Minds Program by Humin asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Healthy Minds Program by Humin holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Healthy Minds Program by Humin has 9.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Healthy Minds Program by Humin ships an update every 3 weeks, CBT Thought Diary every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Healthy Minds Program by Humin versus CBT Thought Diary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHealthy Minds Program by HuminCBT Thought Diary
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (9.2K ratings) — better4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews95.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings9.2K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size64 MB105 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperHealthy Minds Innovations, IncRAY INFORMATICS YAZILIM TEKNOLOJI MEDYA DANISMANLIK VE EGITIM TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI

Customer experience

Healthy Minds Program by Humin

All ratings9,220 ratings
Positive98.1%
Neutral0.9%
Negative1.0%
Written reviews627 reviews
Positive95.7%
Neutral1.4%
Negative2.9%

CBT Thought Diary

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Healthy Minds Program by Humin

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Progress not always saved correctly
  • Connectivity issues causing data loss

Requested features

3 requests
  • Offline mode for meditations
  • Ability to bookmark favorite sessions
  • More personalization options

CBT Thought Diary

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Healthy Minds Program by Humin

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

CBT Thought Diary

Subscriptions2
  • Viven Plus Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Viven Plus Yearly7 Days trial$12.991 Year
One-time1
  • Viven Plus Unlimited Access$24.99

Questions

Is Healthy Minds Program by Humin free?
Healthy Minds Program by Humin is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CBT Thought Diary free?
CBT Thought Diary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Healthy Minds Program by Humin or CBT Thought Diary?
Healthy Minds Program by Humin is rated higher. Healthy Minds Program by Humin averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9.2K ratings, while CBT Thought Diary averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Healthy Minds Program by Humin or CBT Thought Diary have ads?
Neither Healthy Minds Program by Humin nor CBT Thought Diary shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Healthy Minds Program by Humin or CBT Thought Diary?
Healthy Minds Program by Humin ships an update every 3 weeks, and CBT Thought Diary every 5 weeks. Most recently, Healthy Minds Program by Humin was updated on November 4, 2026 and CBT Thought Diary on October 30, 2026.

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