Beyond MST vs COVID Coach Explorer
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Beyond MST
This app offers trauma-sensitive tools and features to support the health and well-being of survivors of military sexual trauma. It provides coping mechanisms, symptom management, goal setting, and progress tracking in a private and secure environment.
- Trauma-sensitive tools
- Symptom management
- Self-care goal setting
- Recovery progress tracking
- MST information resources
- PIN lock for privacy
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Beyond MST is a free, secure, trauma-sensitive mobile app that was created specifically to support the health and well-being of survivors of sexual assault or harassment during military service, also called military sexual trauma (MST). The app has over 30 specialized tools and other features to help those who use it cope with challenges, manage symptoms, improve their quality of life and find hope. You can also take brief assessments in the app, set self-care goals, track recovery progress, and learn more about MST and common concerns. You can use the app on your own or as a companion to formal treatment, and it may be helpful to survivors of other types of unwanted sexual experiences, too. The app keeps your information private; no account is needed, and any personal information entered in the app is not shared with anyone, including the VA. You can set a PIN lock for extra privacy. You are not alone: the Beyond MST app can help. Beyond MST was made by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Mobile Mental Health team at the National Center for PTSD, Dissemination and Training Division in collaboration with the National Center for PTSD, Women’s Health Sciences Division and the national VA MST Support Team.
COVID Coach Explorer
This app offers evidence-based strategies for managing pandemic-related stress and provides information on maintaining health and safety. It is designed for authorized users participating in a study and requires login credentials.
- Evidence-informed coping strategies
- Pandemic-related stress management
- Information on staying healthy and safe
- Authorized user access
- Requires username and password
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This app provides: - dozens of evidence-informed coping strategies for managing pandemic-related stress - extensive information about staying healthy, safe, and well COVID Coach Explorer is not intended to replace face-to-face clinical care. This app is designed specifically for those already enrolled in an authorized user experience study. The app REQUIRES a username and password to fully unlock. Please contact the developers if you are interested in learning more about COVID Coach Explorer: mobilementalhealth@va.gov
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: COVID Coach Explorer at fortnightly against Beyond MST's every 12 months. COVID Coach Explorer also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). Beyond MST's advantage is ratings volume (48 vs 13). On price, rating, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Beyond MST against 4.6 for COVID Coach Explorer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 48 and 13 respectively.
Beyond MST ships an update every 12 months, COVID Coach Explorer fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Beyond MST | COVID Coach Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (48 ratings) | 4.6 (13 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 48 — better | 13 |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 157 MB | 310 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) | Palo Alto Veterans Institute for Research |
Customer experience
Beyond MST
COVID Coach Explorer
In-app purchases
Beyond MST
No in-app purchases
COVID Coach Explorer
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Beyond MST free?
Is COVID Coach Explorer free?
Which has better reviews, Beyond MST or COVID Coach Explorer?
Do Beyond MST or COVID Coach Explorer have ads?
Which is updated more often, Beyond MST or COVID Coach Explorer?
Other comparisons
