Comparison

Within vs Self

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

Head to head
About

Within

This app provides an anonymous audio journal for emotional well-being, using evidence-based psychological techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy. It helps users process emotions, identify patterns, and connect with an anonymous community for shared perspective.

Highlights
  • Anonymous audio journaling
  • Evidence-based psychological techniques
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy sessions
  • Emotion identification and processing
  • Anonymous community sessions
  • Daily practice tracking
  • Emotional pattern learning
Features
Read full description

Within is the world’s first anonymous self-talk audio journal designed from evidence-based psychological techniques for emotional well-being. Process your emotions in real time as they come up with self-talk audio sessions rooted in cognitive behavioral therapy. Learn to name your emotions to effectively move through them. Listen to anonymous community sessions to gain perspective and grow. Develop a daily self-talk practice, track your sessions over time and learn your emotional patterns. Within was created for authentic and vulnerable self talk, in a space of communal anonymity. A small reminder that you are not alone in how you feel. This is your space to release the thoughts that arise in your mind and create enough separation so you can reflect on them rather than be driven by them. Particularly the ones that lead to behaviors and actions that do not help you live the life you want. One of the most powerful transformation tool is the human voice. It was the voice of our caregivers that shaped us before we were ever born, and the voice of our peers, media and culture that continue to influence us to this day. In some ways, helpful and others not so much. Within is about reclaiming your authentic voice. The one you were born with. It’s the finger print of the inner you. Your essence. So be bold, speak your truth, let go of whatever is weighing you down and speak words that affirm your core values as you discover them over time. We call these moments self-talk sessions.

About

Self

This app guides users through self-parenting techniques to develop healthy coping mechanisms. It helps connect with emotions, body, and inner child, fostering protective inner parents for navigating life's uncertainties.

Highlights
  • Self-parenting guidance
  • Connect with feelings
  • Connect with body
  • Connect with inner child
  • Develop healthy inner parents
  • Coping mechanisms for trauma survivors
Features
Read full description

The first Self-Parenting App on the App Store. Developed by Happy Brain, Inc. in Silicon Valley, CA. Self-parenting, the concept introduced a generation ago, has helped many trauma survivors to establish healthy coping mechanisms.  The app will ask you several questions, which will make your brain think in a different way. Using the app each time you have a flashback, or trigger, or stress, may save a lot of time and energy. It will help you connect with your feelings, body, and inner child. You will also be able to grow healthy inner parents, which will protect and guide your vulnerable self in this world full of uncertainty.

Screenshots

Within4 screens
Self4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Within at 4.9 against Self's 4.3. Within also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%). Self's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Within holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Within's written reviews are positive against 67% of Self's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Within ships an update fortnightly, Self every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Within versus Self: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWithinSelf
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (24 ratings) — better4.3 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings24 — better16
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB1 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperInnerverse Inc.Happy Brain, Inc.

Customer experience

Within

All ratings24 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Self

All ratings15 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

In-app purchases

None

Within

No in-app purchases

None

Self

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Within free?
Within is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Self free?
Self is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Within or Self?
Within is rated higher. Within averages 4.9 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Self averages 4.3 from 16 ratings.
Do Within or Self have ads?
Neither Within nor Self shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Within or Self?
Within ships an update fortnightly, and Self every 2 weeks. Most recently, Within was updated on November 3, 2026 and Self on November 3, 2026.

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