Comparison

Nerva vs Open

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

Head to head
About

Nerva

This app offers a personalized gut-brain therapy program to manage symptoms of IBS, FD, GERD, and other gut-brain disorders. It aims to retrain the nervous system and improve communication between the gut and brain through daily sessions and practical tools.

Highlights
  • Personalized gut-brain therapy program
  • Daily 15-minute retraining sessions
  • Flare-up management tools
  • Long-term symptom maintenance plan
  • AI-driven personalization
  • Evidence-based clinical research
Features
Read full description

Address the miscommunication between your gut and brain. Designed for people living with IBS, functional dyspepsia (FD), GERD, bloating symptoms, and other gut–brain disorders - as well as those seeking additional support alongside IBD care - Nerva is a personalized gut–brain program that supports symptom management through daily sessions, practical tools, and structured guidance. Target the root cause Many people spend years cutting out foods in an effort to calm their gut - a difficult path that can miss what’s really driving symptoms. In disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBIs), the root cause is gut–brain hypersensitivity. After a trigger like illness, antibiotics, or prolonged stress, the nerves in the gut can become over-reactive. Even once the gut tissue heals, the nervous system may keep the alarm turned up. Normal digestion, gas, or movement are then misread as danger - leading to pain, bloating, reflux, urgency, constipation, or diarrhea. Diets and medications can reduce symptoms temporarily, but they don’t retrain this signaling system. That’s why symptoms often return or shift over time. Lasting relief means calming the nervous system and restoring healthy gut–brain communication - where the symptoms actually start. How Nerva helps Nerva is a structured gut–brain program that helps you practice brain-gut techniques shown to support a calmer response to gut sensations. Over the program you'll learn to: - Respond differently to uncomfortable gut signals - Practice calming the gut–brain stress response - Build daily habits that support digestive comfort Tailored to you No two guts are the same. Nerva adapts your program to your symptoms, triggers, and progress - using AI to adjust the coaching and guidance as you go. The sessions, the tools you receive, and the coaching you follow are all shaped around your experience. Evidence-based Unlike most apps, Nerva is built on clinical research. In a randomized controlled trial at Monash University, Nerva helped 81% of people significantly manage their gastrointestinal symptoms. Since then, more than 300,000 people have used Nerva, and over 11,000 healthcare providers recommend it. Features of Nerva - Daily 15-minute sessions designed to retrain gut-brain miscommunication - Flare-up tools for pain, bloating, constipation, reflux and diarrhea - Long-term maintenance plan to keep symptoms under control after the program - AI personalization to tailor the program to your selected triggers and progress Who is the team behind Nerva? Nerva was built by Dr. Simone Peters, GI psychophysiologist, together with clinicians, dietitians, and researchers. Many of us live with gut conditions ourselves. Member stories “Nerva has really worked for me. I’ve been using the app for several months now, and I’ve noticed that I’m experiencing less negative instances with my stomach. I would highly recommend to anyone - absolutely worth the subscription” Disclaimer: Nerva is a self-guided program that may help people self-manage and live well with a diagnosed disorder of the gut-brain interaction. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or treatment, and has not been evaluated by the FDA, TGA, MHRA, or equivalent bodies. Do not change prescribed medication or treatment without professional advice. Some content is personalized or generated by AI for educational and wellness purposes only. It is not therapy or mental health care, is not from a licensed professional, and is not monitored in real time. If you are in distress or thinking of harming yourself or others, call your local emergency number right away. Subscription and trial 7-day free trial After the trial, your account is charged according to the plan you choose Subscriptions renew until cancelled Cancel anytime in iOS Settings, Apple ID, Subscriptions Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.mindsethealth.com/privacy

About

Open

This app offers guided breathwork, meditation, and movement classes designed by neurobiology experts. It aims to help users regulate their nervous system, reduce stress, and foster personal growth through a blend of science and spirituality. Practice anytime, anywhere with daily new classes and progress tracking.

Highlights
  • Guided breathwork techniques
  • Daily meditation sessions
  • Mindfulness-based movement classes
  • Progress tracking and reminders
  • Expert-designed curriculum
  • On-demand class library
Features
Read full description

“We believe that mindfulness is more than a form of stress relief — it can be a tool for personal growth, deeper understanding, vibrancy. More than a way to disconnect — it can be a way to feel a part of something bigger. More than simply silence — it can be immersive, beautiful, moving.” –Raed Khawaja, Open Co-founder & CEO Regulate your nervous system with Open. Bridge science and spirituality to cleanse your body and mind. Learn breathwork, meditation, and movement techniques designed by experts in neurobiology. Practice on the app and in-person at our flagship studio in Los Angeles. CLASSES BREATHE: Since the dawn of civilization, humans have developed techniques for manipulating our breath to induce desired states of consciousness. Now peer-reviewed studies in neuroscience and psychology confirm that breathwork is a powerful toolkit for regulating your nervous system, optimizing your health and well-being, and catalyzing personal transformation. Breathwork is an umbrella term for myriad practices, both ancient and modern. While many techniques are deeply rooted in spiritual traditions like Yoga, Qi Gong, and Buddhism, contemporary applications integrate ancient wisdom with modern science.This synthesis of ancient and modern has given rise to transformational breathwork, designed to induce profound experiences of catharsis, insight, and breakthrough. Experience a mental reset with just a few minutes of conscious breathing. MEDITATE: Train your awareness and contemplate wisdom – with techniques that span generations, cultures, and traditions – with our daily meditations and monthly programs. Learn how to enhance your focus, reduce your stress and anxiety, and regulate your emotions with simple mindfulness techniques you can incorporate into your daily life. MOVE: Our methodology is designed through the intelligence of fitness – blending endurance, strength, mobility, and recovery – with the wisdom of mindfulness. A ritual for resilience, strengthening the body and mind. ANYTIME, ANYWHERE: Practice on your time with our endless library, with fresh classes added daily. From simple 5-minute breathwork techniques, to 60-minute strength and conditioning classes, build your practice to fit your schedule and meet your goals. Whether you’re starting your journey or seeking a new challenge, there are classes for every level and mood. PROGRESS TRACKING: Create a daily habit that sticks with progress tracking, push reminders, streaks, and badges. A consistent breathwork and meditation practice has proven to reduce cortisol levels and regulate the nervous system–decreasing stress, supporting emotional well-being, and enhancing mental clarity. These techniques can also improve physical health by increasing heart rate variability, promoting cardiovascular health, and boosting immune function. CONNECT WITH US Questions? Email us: support@o-p-e-n.com. Follow along on Instagram: @op_e___n. NOTES Data: Open reads and writes data to the Apple Health App to help you track your Mindful minutes. No data is being sent outside of your device. This is optional. Pricing info: This pricing is for our customers in the United States. Pricing in other countries may vary. Your subscription to Open will automatically renew, unless you disable auto-renew at least 24 hours before the current period ends. You can turn off auto-renew or manage your subscription from your Apple account settings. Payment will be charged to your Apple account. You can read more about our terms of service here: https://o-p-e-n.com/terms and our privacy policy here: https://o-p-e-n.com/privacy. GooGhywoiu9839t543j0s7543uw1 - please add peter@o-p-e-n.com to GA account of property 199812543 - date 08/06/2026.

Screenshots

Nerva4 screens
Open4 screens

Verdict

The call

Nerva and Open both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 72% of Nerva's written reviews are positive against 60% of Open's. Nerva also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Nerva sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $99.00 per month and Open sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Open holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15K and 18K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Nerva's written reviews are positive against 60% of Open's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nerva ships an update every 8 days, Open weekly. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Nerva versus Open: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNervaOpen
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (15K ratings)4.9 (18K ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.4% of reviews — better60.2% of reviews
Number of ratings15K18K — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size138 MB306 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperMindset Health Pty LtdOpen Inc.

Customer experience

Nerva

All ratings15,042 ratings
Positive93.1%
Neutral3.2%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews880 reviews
Positive72.4%
Neutral5.9%
Negative21.7%

Open

All ratings17,913 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral0.9%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews665 reviews
Positive60.2%
Neutral3.3%
Negative36.5%

User reviews

Nerva

From 15K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Effective for symptom reduction
  • 👍 Calming and relaxing sessions
  • 💡 Helpful for managing stress and anxiety
  • 👍 Positive affirmations and education
  • 🚀 Quick improvements seen by some users

Room to improve

  • 🔁 Repetitive nature of sessions
  • 💰 Expensive subscription cost
  • 🔍 Lack of customization options
  • 🐛 Technical issues with app functionality

Open

From 18K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Life changing
  • 🤗 Transformative experience
  • 🌟 High-quality classes
  • 💫 Beautiful app design
  • 🙌 Supportive community

Room to improve

  • 🤯 Difficult to cancel subscription
  • 💰 Expensive subscription cost
  • 🐛 App crashes and glitches
  • 🤔 Limited free content
  • 📞 Poor customer service

Bugs and requests

Nerva

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App getting stuck on certain days
  • Difficulty accessing previous sessions
  • Inconsistent user experience across devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • More variety in guided visualizations
  • Ability to skip or replace certain sessions
  • Maintenance plan with reduced pricing
  • Offline access to recordings

Open

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Subscription not showing in Apple account
  • Inability to cancel subscription
  • Unexpected charges after cancellation

Requested features

5 requests
  • Offline mode for classes
  • More free content options
  • Apple Watch app integration
  • Better search and discovery
  • Progress tracking and analytics

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Nerva

Subscriptions4
  • Nerva IBS program (Monthly)7 Days trial$99.001 Month
  • Nerva IBS program (3 Month)7 Days trial$149.003 Months
  • 30% Off Nerva IBS (3 Month)7 Days trial$149.003 Months
Show 1 more
  • Nerva Full Access7 Days trial$199.001 Year
2 purchases

Open

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription14 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Annual Subscription14 Days trial$149.991 Year

Questions

Is Nerva free?
Nerva is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Open free?
Open is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Nerva or Open?
Open is rated higher. Nerva averages 4.7 out of 5 from 15K ratings, while Open averages 4.9 from 18K ratings.
Do Nerva or Open have ads?
Neither Nerva nor Open shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nerva or Open?
Nerva ships an update every 8 days, and Open weekly. Most recently, Nerva was updated on October 26, 2026 and Open on October 26, 2026.

Other comparisons