Comparison

Couples Coach vs Beyond MST Explorer

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

Head to head
About

Couples Coach

This app helps couples strengthen their relationship through science-based exercises and educational content. It offers interactive activities, assessments, and resources to improve communication and connection, including specialized information for couples dealing with PTSD.

Highlights
  • Expert-written education
  • Behavioral exercises
  • Interactive activities
  • Relationship assessments
  • Resource locator
  • PTSD-specific information
Features
Read full description

Couples Coach is designed for partners who want to improve their relationship and explore new ways to connect. The app takes users through five levels of expert-written education and engaging behavioral exercises informed by science. Popular exercises like Using I Messages and Active Listening are brought to life in a dynamic and interactive format. Couples Coach pairs up partners as they explore assessments and share results, learn about different approaches to common relationship issues and review available resources in their communities. It also includes comprehensive relationship information for couples living with PTSD. Although Couples Coach can help improve communication and satisfaction in your relationship, it isn’t a replacement for face-to-face couples counseling. The app features a couples counseling locator for finding a professional counselor along with several other local and national resources. Learn more about how to find a good couples therapist and take your relationship to the next level. This app is the first of its kind, and continued development is in progress. This first trial release presents a unique opportunity for users to try the beta version and share feedback to improve the app. Join our design team! To suggest enhancements and share issues encountered, please email mobilementalhealth@va.gov. Couples Coach was made by the mobile mental health team of the National Center for PTSD, Dissemination & Training Division.

About

Beyond MST Explorer

Features
Read full description

This is an evaluation version of Beyond MST that is only for participants in approved program evaluation projects for NCPTSD. Please get our public app Beyond MST if you are not enrolled in a program evaluation project. To unlock this app, you will need an invitation code from an approved investigator. Please contact your investigator if you need help.

Screenshots

Couples Coach4 screens
Beyond MST Explorer4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Couples Coach at 13.0 against Beyond MST Explorer's 15.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Couples Coach ships an update every 33 months, Beyond MST Explorer every 27 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Couples Coach versus Beyond MST Explorer: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCouples CoachBeyond MST Explorer
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (13 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 33 monthsEvery 27 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size154 MB158 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperUS Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research

In-app purchases

None

Couples Coach

No in-app purchases

None

Beyond MST Explorer

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Couples Coach free?
Couples Coach is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Beyond MST Explorer free?
Beyond MST Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Couples Coach or Beyond MST Explorer have ads?
Neither Couples Coach nor Beyond MST Explorer shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Couples Coach or Beyond MST Explorer?
Couples Coach ships an update every 33 months, and Beyond MST Explorer every 27 months. Most recently, Couples Coach was updated on October 15, 2026 and Beyond MST Explorer on October 1, 2026.

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