# Sleep Restore vs EMDR

Sleep Restore and EMDR both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 81% of Sleep Restore's written reviews are positive against 46% of EMDR's. Sleep Restore also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15). EMDR's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (172 vs 32). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sleep Restore sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and EMDR sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Sleep Restore against 4.4 for EMDR. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EMDR has 172 ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of Sleep Restore's written reviews are positive against 46% of EMDR's.

Sleep Restore ships an update every 2 months, EMDR weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 3, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sleep Restore | EMDR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sleep-restore/id1339488667/reviews) | [4.4 (172 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emdr/id1572102565/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 32 | **172** |
| Positive reviews | **80.6% of reviews** | 45.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 112 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [trauma and pain management services pty ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/647038077) | [Bas Oppenheim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1009442115) |

## What reviewers say

### Sleep Restore

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sleep-restore/id1339488667)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Access | $7.99 | one-time |


### EMDR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emdr/id1572102565)

This app provides customizable bilateral stimulation across Apple devices, offering control over visual, auditory, and haptic feedback. It supports various use cases like research, education, focus enhancement, and relaxation, with accessibility features and online broadcasting capabilities.

**Highlights:** Customizable pace and auto-stop, Stereo sounds, animations, and vibrations, Cross-device connectivity (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.), Game controller support, Online broadcasting via EMDR Connect, Full VoiceOver and Assistive Access support

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EMDR+ | $4.99 | per month |
| EMDR+ with Connect | $19.99 | per month |
| EMDR+ with Connect (Monthly) | $39.99 | per month |
| EMDR+ (Yearly) | $49.99 | per year |
| EMDR+ with Connect (Yearly) | $199.99 | per year |
| EMDR+ for Research | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Effective EMDR tool
- 💡 Highly customizable
- 🚀 Works well on iPhone/iPad
- ✨ Clean interface
- 🎧 Supports audio cues

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Subscription model criticized
- 🐌 Slow on Macbook
- 📱 Apple TV app broken
- 🚫 No free trial clarity
- ⚠️ Upsell windows disrupt sessions

**Reported bugs**

- Apple Watch app won't launch after update
- Sound issues (thudding noise, stereo problems)
- Apple TV app doesn't work
- Session disrupted by upsell window
- App crashes when selecting features

**Requested features**

- Gradient effect for circle
- More customization for circle
- Alternating controller vibration
- Timer feature
- Slower BPM options (down to 30)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sleep Restore free?

Sleep Restore is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is EMDR free?

EMDR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sleep Restore or EMDR?

Sleep Restore and EMDR are both rated 4.4 out of 5 on the App Store, from 32 and 172 ratings respectively.

### Do Sleep Restore or EMDR have ads?

Neither Sleep Restore nor EMDR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sleep Restore or EMDR?

Sleep Restore ships an update every 2 months, and EMDR weekly. Most recently, Sleep Restore was updated on September 3, 2026 and EMDR on September 23, 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.*