# Elephant Journal vs Sounds True

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Elephant Journal at 84% against Sounds True's 26%. Elephant Journal also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (14K vs 1.2K). Sounds True's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Elephant Journal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Sounds True sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Elephant Journal holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Elephant Journal has 14K ratings behind it against 1.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Elephant Journal's written reviews are positive against 26% of Sounds True's.

Elephant Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, Sounds True every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Elephant Journal | Sounds True |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elephant-journal/id1475514543/reviews)** | [4.6 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sounds-true/id1609502046/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **14K** | 1.2K |
| Positive reviews | **83.7% of reviews** | 25.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Elephant Journal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475514542) | [Sounds True](https://appshunter.io/developer/478195826) |

## What reviewers say

### Elephant Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/elephant-journal/id1475514543)

Explore mindful living through articles, videos, and podcasts on topics like meditation, relationships, and environmental tips. Engage with content, support authors, and join discussions to foster a sense of community and personal growth.

**Highlights:** Daily Front Page updates, Browse articles by topic, Comment and share content, Heart articles to boost scores, Follow favorite writers, Receive notifications

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Elephant Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Elephant Subscription | $35.99 | per year |
| Article Boost | $2.99 | one-time |
| Big Article Boost | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Nice app
- 🙏 Insightful and inspiring content
- 📚 Diverse range of topics
- 🤗 Thoughtful and engaging articles
- 💡 Valuable resource for personal growth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Restrictive reading limits
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Issues with cancelling subscription
- 🤔 Sudden change in content quality

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription cancellation button not working
- Articles not loading properly
- Inconsistent reading limits

**Requested features**

- Add dark mode option
- Implement a 'read later' feature
- Improve navigation and article tracking
- Increase free article limits


### Sounds True

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sounds-true/id1609502046)

Access a vast library of online courses, audio programs, and exclusive content from world-renowned experts in mindfulness, healing, and personal growth. Connect with a global community, join live events, and explore a variety of wellness practices to support your journey inward.

**Highlights:** Access purchased courses and audio programs, Sounds True One membership content, Live Q&As and interviews with experts, Global community for connection and discussion, Immersive virtual retreats, Weekly group meditations, Variety of wellness practices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly All Access | $19.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $19.99 | per month |
| Annual | $179.99 | per year |
| Yearly All Access | $189.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 High-quality content
- 💡 Variety of teachings and programs
- 👍 Inspiring community

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and glitches
- 🔋 Audio stops playing when screen locks
- 👎 Poor customer support and technical issues
- 🤯 Confusing navigation and app design

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to access purchased courses
- App freezes and becomes unresponsive
- Inconsistent login and password issues

**Requested features**

- Add search functionality to easily find content
- Allow background audio playback when app is closed
- Improve offline access to purchased content
- Provide better integration between app and website


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Elephant Journal free?

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

### Is Sounds True free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Elephant Journal or Sounds True?

Elephant Journal is rated higher. Elephant Journal averages 4.9 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Sounds True averages 4.6 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Elephant Journal or Sounds True have ads?

Neither Elephant Journal nor Sounds True shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Elephant Journal or Sounds True?

Elephant Journal ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sounds True every 2 months. Most recently, Elephant Journal was updated on November 1, 2026 and Sounds True on October 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*