# ACT iCoach vs The Self Compassion App

The clearest difference is monetization model: The Self Compassion App at free with in-app purchases against ACT iCoach's subscription. The Self Compassion App also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (94% vs 85%). ACT iCoach's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ACT iCoach sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and The Self Compassion App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $56.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Self Compassion App holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 187 and 249 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of ACT iCoach's written reviews are positive against 94% of The Self Compassion App's.

ACT iCoach ships an update every 4 weeks, The Self Compassion App monthly. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | ACT iCoach | The Self Compassion App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (187 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/act-icoach/id1449444733/reviews) | **[4.8 (249 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-self-compassion-app/id1553464180/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 187 | **249** |
| Positive reviews | 84.6% of reviews | **94.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 66 MB | 476 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Resiliens Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1295868545) | [PSYT](https://appshunter.io/developer/941205339) |

## What reviewers say

### ACT iCoach

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/act-icoach/id1449444733)

Learn and practice Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) skills through video lessons, animations, and interactive tools. Track your mood, journal your thoughts, and monitor progress with analytics. Share data with your therapist for real-time engagement and motivation.

**Highlights:** Video lessons and animations, Mood and emotion tracking, Journaling and ACT measures, Progress summaries and analytics, Therapist sharing, Over 100 exercises, 1000+ meditations

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Six Month Subscription | $49.99 | per 6 months |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly and intuitive interface
- 📊 Excellent tracking and analytics tools
- 🎓 Comprehensive ACT lessons and educational content
- 🧘 Helpful guided meditations and exercises
- 👥 Ability to share data with therapists

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model ($10/month or $50/6 months)
- 🔒 Limited free functionality without premium
- 🐛 App freezes after entries or assessments
- 🐛 Crashes and connection failures
- ❌ Poor onboarding and unclear instructions

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes after every entry or assessment
- Failed to connect to store error
- Login page resets during account creation
- Account existence conflicts (user exists/does not exist)
- Intermittent crashes and connection issues

**Requested features**

- Offline functionality
- Goals section in addition to journal
- Better onboarding tutorial ("ACT & This App 101")
- Clearer password requirements during signup
- Clinician subscription bundling options


### The Self Compassion App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-self-compassion-app/id1553464180)

This app offers scientifically-validated practices from Compassion Focused Therapy to help users feel happier, calmer, and more connected. It provides over 50 tools, including guided meditations, breathing exercises, and journaling prompts, to manage stress, anxiety, and self-criticism.

**Highlights:** Compassion Focused Therapy practices, Guided meditations and mindfulness audio, Breathing tools for present moment awareness, Journaling for positivity habits, Reflective exercises for difficult emotions, Progress tracking surveys, Sleep stories and yoga videos

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Self-Compassion Premium | $56.99 | per year |
| Self-Compassion App Premium | $56.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful self-help app
- 🚀 Great variety of tools and resources
- 💡 Excellent for developing self-compassion
- 🤗 Calming and supportive voices
- 📚 Informative and well-structured content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription cost
- 🔍 Overwhelming amount of features
- 🔁 Difficulty canceling subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Abrupt ending of audio sessions
- Occasional issues with sound and connectivity

**Requested features**

- Quarterly payment plan option
- Improved synchronization across devices
- Simpler version with fewer features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ACT iCoach free?

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

### Is The Self Compassion App free?

The Self Compassion App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, ACT iCoach or The Self Compassion App?

The Self Compassion App is rated higher. ACT iCoach averages 4.6 out of 5 from 187 ratings, while The Self Compassion App averages 4.8 from 249 ratings.

### Do ACT iCoach or The Self Compassion App have ads?

The Self Compassion App shows ads; ACT iCoach does not.

### Which is updated more often, ACT iCoach or The Self Compassion App?

ACT iCoach ships an update every 4 weeks, and The Self Compassion App monthly. Most recently, ACT iCoach was updated on November 8, 2026 and The Self Compassion App on November 8, 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.*