# Thoughtful vs Peterson Academy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Peterson Academy at none against Thoughtful's 2. Peterson Academy also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 63%) and ratings volume (146 vs 36). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Thoughtful sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Peterson Academy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Peterson Academy holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 36 and 146 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Thoughtful's written reviews are positive against 83% of Peterson Academy's.

Thoughtful ships an update every 10 days, Peterson Academy fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Thoughtful | Peterson Academy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thoughtful-long-form-learning/id1462977143/reviews) | **[4.8 (146 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/peterson-academy/id6458834555/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 36 | **146** |
| Positive reviews | 62.5% of reviews | **82.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 157 MB | 147 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Thoughtful, Incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462977141) | [Peterson Academy](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701468990) |

## What reviewers say

### Thoughtful

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thoughtful-long-form-learning/id1462977143)

This app consolidates your favorite podcasts, YouTube channels, blogs, and books into one focused platform. Save content from any app and pick up where you left off, transforming downtime into productive learning and growth.

**Highlights:** Consolidates podcasts, YouTube, blogs, and books, Save content from any app, Resume playback/reading where you left off, Discover content for any mood, Focused learning and personal growth

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Annual | $119.99 | per year |


### Peterson Academy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/peterson-academy/id6458834555)

Access world-class higher education from renowned experts in various fields at a fraction of traditional costs. Explore a vast library of in-depth courses, join a global community of learners, and enjoy flexible, self-paced online learning with audio-only and offline options.

**Highlights:** Affordable higher education, 70+ in-depth 8-hour courses, 4 new courses added monthly, Intellectually driven community, Courses in psychology, philosophy, science, Audio-only mode, Offline downloads

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Thoughtful free?

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

### Is Peterson Academy free?

Peterson Academy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Thoughtful or Peterson Academy?

Peterson Academy is rated higher. Thoughtful averages 4.6 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Peterson Academy averages 4.8 from 146 ratings.

### Do Thoughtful or Peterson Academy have ads?

Neither Thoughtful nor Peterson Academy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Thoughtful or Peterson Academy?

Thoughtful ships an update every 10 days, and Peterson Academy fortnightly. Most recently, Thoughtful was updated on November 3, 2026 and Peterson Academy on November 3, 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.*