# DBT Coach vs Coping Coach by VA

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Coping Coach by VA at none against DBT Coach's 3. Coping Coach by VA also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 69%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). DBT Coach's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DBT Coach sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Coping Coach by VA asks for nothing beyond the download.

Coping Coach by VA holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.7K and 1.5K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of DBT Coach's written reviews are positive against 88% of Coping Coach by VA's.

DBT Coach ships an update fortnightly, Coping Coach by VA every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | DBT Coach | Coping Coach by VA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dbt-coach/id1452264969/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coping-coach-by-va/id1504705038/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 1.5K |
| Positive reviews | 68.7% of reviews | **87.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 139 MB | 197 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Resiliens Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1295868545) | [US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)](https://appshunter.io/developer/430646305) |

## What reviewers say

### DBT Coach

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dbt-coach/id1452264969)

Learn and practice Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills to manage emotions, build resilience, and improve relationships. This app offers expert-created lessons, interactive exercises, and progress tracking to support personal growth and emotional well-being.

**Highlights:** Comprehensive DBT skills library, Interactive video lessons and animated guides, AI-powered personalized skills coach, Intuitive diary card for mood tracking, Progress visualization and clinician sharing, Guided meditations and self-reflection questionnaires, Crisis support hotlines

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $11.99 | per month |
| Family Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Six Month Subscription | $59.99 | per 6 months |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent interface and packed with skills and tools
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🌟 Helpful for managing BPD, anxiety, and depression
- 📚 Comprehensive DBT content and lessons
- 💻 Seamless integration with therapist's app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription, especially for those with limited means
- 🔒 Paywall blocks access to important features like crisis support
- 🐛 Frequent bugs, crashes, and login issues
- 🔄 Constantly logging users out, requiring re-authentication
- 📝 Editing and customization options are limited

**Reported bugs**

- Diary card entries not saving properly
- Inability to log food or physical activity
- Apple Health integration not working
- Certain meditations and lessons not functioning
- Inconsistent performance and unexpected crashes

**Requested features**

- Allow more customization of diary card and tracked items
- Improve stability and reduce bugs
- Offer more affordable subscription options
- Add ability to share diary entries with multiple providers
- Improve navigation and make the app more user-friendly


### Coping Coach by VA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coping-coach-by-va/id1504705038)

This app offers tools and resources to help users build resilience, manage stress, and improve well-being during challenging times. It provides customized support for coping, staying healthy, and navigating life changes like parenting or working from home. Users can track their mood and access additional help.

**Highlights:** Build resilience, Manage stress, Increase well-being, Coping resources, Mood tracking, Progress visualization

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🛟 Helpful for mental health
- 💯 Effective coping strategies
- 🆓 Free and ad-free
- 🎯 Tracks progress well

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Not compatible with iPhone
- 🌐 Limited offline functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- COVID-19 screening feature
- More customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DBT Coach free?

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

### Is Coping Coach by VA free?

Coping Coach by VA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DBT Coach or Coping Coach by VA?

Coping Coach by VA is rated higher. DBT Coach averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Coping Coach by VA averages 4.8 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do DBT Coach or Coping Coach by VA have ads?

Neither DBT Coach nor Coping Coach by VA shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DBT Coach or Coping Coach by VA?

DBT Coach ships an update fortnightly, and Coping Coach by VA every 2 months. Most recently, DBT Coach was updated on October 29, 2026 and Coping Coach by VA on October 29, 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.*