Comparison

Sleep Restore vs EMDR Tappers

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

Head to head
About

Sleep Restore

This app uses bilateral stimulation, inspired by EMDR therapy, to help reduce stress and anxiety-related insomnia. It offers guided sessions and personalized recommendations to promote natural sleep. Ideal for those struggling with sleep due to PTSD, medical issues, or general worry.

Highlights
  • Bilateral stimulation for stress reduction
  • Guided meditations, music, and natural sounds
  • Sessions for falling asleep and returning to sleep
  • Overcoming worry and tension
  • Personalized recommendations
  • Customizable playlists
  • Indefinite session looping
Features
Read full description

Uniquely designed for sufferers of stress-related insomnia, this app harnesses the power of bilateral stimulation (bls) to turn off tension and worry and restore normal sleep functioning. Bilateral stimulation is a treatment element of EMDR therapy, a psychological treatment method which harnesses your brains ability to process sensory information to de-activate the physical and mental distress which inhibits sleep. The resulting normalization of brain activity creates the conditions for sleep to happen, naturally and effortlessly. If you suffer from insomnia related to PTSD, medical problems or just general stress and anxiety this app is for you. This app works best with a good internet connection and headphones. Key Features - 6 sessions of guided meditations, music, natural sounds and bls, + 10 = 16 sessions, over 5 hours listening (premium version only) - Different sessions for ‘getting to sleep’ and ‘getting back to sleep’ - Different sessions for overcoming worry and tension, the 2 main causes of insomnia - Individualized recommendations based on sleep assessment questionnaire results - Ability to create individualized playlist - Ability to loop sessions indefinitely Plus: - 6 x unique sleep hacks for stressed people (premium version only) - Selected inspiration quotes to counteract negative attitudes and beliefs that might be contributing to your insomnia - Assessment Questionnaire indicates whether you might be suffering from a more serious sleep disorder

About

EMDR Tappers

This app provides bilateral stimulation therapy to help manage stress and anxiety. It replicates EMDR therapy using on-screen animations, vibrations, and sounds, accessible with just a phone or smartwatch. Users can customize stimuli and access positive affirmations for mental well-being.

Highlights
  • Bilateral stimulation replication
  • Customizable animations, vibrations, and sounds
  • Positive affirmations integration
  • Use with iPhone and Apple Watch
  • Single or dual phone operation
  • Preset and custom settings (premium)
Features
Read full description

The EMDR Tappers app was designed by researchers, veterans, and licensed eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) professionals to replicate EMDR therapy with only an iPhone and Apple Watch. Users can set the pace of animations, vibrations, and sounds. These stimuli are synchronized to replicate the benefits of EMDR therapy in any setting without the expensive, bulky equipment. Users can also use the app with just a single phone or two phones. All of this for free. No external, annoying ads. The core of EMDR therapy is bilateral stimulation—alternatively stimulating each side of the brain with sounds, lights, and vibrations. EMDR is a scientifically proven method of dealing with stress, anxiety, and other negative psychological conditions. The EMDR Tappers app combines the benefits of bilateral stimulation with positive affirmations. These affirmations are delivered bilaterally to help re-program your brain with healthy thoughts and beliefs. EMDR is a “strongly recommended” technique by the leading veterans' organizations, and the American Psychiatric Association has noted that EMDR is effective for treating PTSD symptoms. The premium version of the app allows users to set the color of the animation, choose the sound, and save custom settings as well as access preset settings. Download the app today to experience the power of bilateral stimulation. Terms of service: https://www.inspirehopecounseling.com/emdr-tappers-terms-of-service

Screenshots

Sleep Restore4 screens
EMDR Tappers4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sleep Restore at 81% against EMDR Tappers's 51%. Sleep Restore also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.2). EMDR Tappers's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (1.7K vs 34). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Sleep Restore sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and EMDR Tappers sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

EMDR Tappers holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EMDR Tappers has 1.7K ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of Sleep Restore's written reviews are positive against 51% of EMDR Tappers's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sleep Restore ships an update every 2 months, EMDR Tappers weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sleep Restore versus EMDR Tappers: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSleep RestoreEMDR Tappers
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (34 ratings)4.8 (1.7K ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.3% of reviews — better50.7% of reviews
Number of ratings341.7K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS11.0 — better13.2
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB229 MB
Age rating4+12+
Developertrauma and pain management services pty ltdBilateral Mind

Customer experience

Sleep Restore

All ratings34 ratings
Positive82.4%
Neutral8.8%
Negative8.8%
Written reviews32 reviews
Positive81.3%
Neutral6.3%
Negative12.5%

EMDR Tappers

All ratings1,644 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews71 reviews
Positive50.7%
Neutral12.7%
Negative36.6%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Sleep Restore

One-time1
  • Premium Access$7.99
3 purchases

EMDR Tappers

Subscriptions2
  • Guided Bilateral Stimulation3 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Guided Bilateral Stimulation14 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Premium Bilateral Stimulation$9.99

Questions

Is Sleep Restore free?
Sleep Restore is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is EMDR Tappers free?
EMDR Tappers is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sleep Restore or EMDR Tappers?
EMDR Tappers is rated higher. Sleep Restore averages 4.5 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while EMDR Tappers averages 4.8 from 1.7K ratings.
Do Sleep Restore or EMDR Tappers have ads?
Neither Sleep Restore nor EMDR Tappers shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sleep Restore or EMDR Tappers?
Sleep Restore ships an update every 2 months, and EMDR Tappers weekly. Most recently, Sleep Restore was updated on October 22, 2026 and EMDR Tappers on October 29, 2026.

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