Comparison

Expand vs Mindbloom

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

Head to head
About

Expand

Access profound states of expanded awareness with guided meditations and proprietary sound science. Explore topics like relaxation, joy, insight, and sleep to foster meaning, relieve stress, and release unwanted patterns. Discover inner wisdom and joy through active imagination and perception.

Highlights
  • 100+ guided meditations
  • Monroe Sound Science audio technology
  • Multi-day mini-courses
  • Guided reflection and journaling
  • Custom-generated soundscapes
  • Focus on active imagination and perception
Features
Read full description

From the world-renowned Monroe Institute, Expand helps you access deeper states of awareness to reduce stress, improve sleep, and cultivate greater meaning, clarity, and purpose. Powered by Monroe Sound Science, our proprietary audio technology, Expand uses targeted soundwave patterns to support unique states of consciousness and focused inner exploration. Through guided sessions, courses, and immersive sound experiences, you can uncover insight, release unwanted patterns, and reconnect with your inner wisdom. Inside Expand, you’ll find: • 100+ guided meditations and consciousness-expanding exercises • Multi-day mini-courses and structured practice paths • Guided reflection and journaling tools • Custom-generated soundscapes designed for specific brainwave states • Programs for both beginners and experienced practitioners Explore sessions across topics including: • Relaxation & Healing • Joy & Meaning • Insight & Intuition • Sleep & Dreaming • Healthy Relationships • Creativity & Manifestation • Beyond the Physical Unlike typical meditation apps focused only on clearing the mind, Expand encourages active imagination, perception, and intentional practice to help you achieve specific outcomes. About The Monroe Institute The Monroe Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a global leader in the study and practice of expanded consciousness. Founded in the early 1970s as a research and educational organization, Monroe offers transformative learning through the Expand app, virtual programs, and in-person retreats on its 300-acre Virginia campus and in countries worldwide. Subscription Pricing and Terms Expand offers auto-renewing subscription options: • $69.99/year • $11.99/month Payment is charged to your App Store account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged within 24 hours prior to renewal. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Terms of Service: https://info.monroeinstitute.org/expand-app-terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://info.monroeinstitute.org/expand-app-privacy-policy

About

Mindbloom

This app offers clinician-prescribed, guided psychedelic experiences at home to help manage anxiety and depression. It includes ketamine treatments, psychiatric consultations, and guide sessions, all designed by experts to facilitate healing and personal growth.

Highlights
  • Clinician-prescribed psychedelic experiences
  • At-home ketamine treatments
  • Psychiatric clinician consults
  • Guided therapy sessions
  • Group integration sessions
  • Unlimited messaging
Features
Read full description

Meds, talk therapy, or self-care not quite getting you there? Achieve your breakthrough with clinician-prescribed, guided psychedelic experiences to help combat anxiety or depression. Our science-backed programs are designed by leading psychiatrists and facilitated by caring, expert guides. Ready to join thousands of others who’ve improved their lives with Mindbloom? Go to mindbloom.com to take our brief assessment and begin your healing journey today! INCLUDED IN OUR INITIAL PROGRAM, THE BASICS - 6 At-home Ketamine Treatments - 1 Bloombox (Premium At-home Care Kit) - 2 Psychiatric Clinician Consults - 3 Guide Sessions (1 Prep / 2 Integration) - Unlimited Group Integration Sessions - Unlimited Messaging HOW MINDBLOOM WORKS - Take our brief assessment to see if you’re a fit - Book your video consult with a Mindbloom clinician - Meet with your Mindbloom Guide to set your intentions - Relax and enjoy your healing journey in the comfort of your home - Meet with your Mindbloom guide to integrate your experience - Continue building on your progress IS MINDBLOOM EFFECTIVE? Yes! Over 90% of clients report improvement in depressive symptoms and over 92% of clients report improvement in anxiety symptoms after two sessions.* *Clients with moderate to severe depression or anxiety who report improvement in symptoms after two sessions (1+ points on PHQ-9) See important safety information at: https://www.mindbloom.com/safety-information CONNECT WITH US! We’re always happy to connect and receive feedback. Email us: support@mindbloom.com Check out our website: mindbloom.com Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/mymindbloom Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/mymindbloom Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/mymindbloom/

Screenshots

Expand4 screens
Mindbloom4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Mindbloom at 4.7 against Expand's 4.0. Mindbloom also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Expand sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Mindbloom asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mindbloom holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 300 and 1.4K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Expand's written reviews are positive against 61% of Mindbloom's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Expand ships an update monthly, Mindbloom weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Expand versus Mindbloom: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExpandMindbloom
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (300 ratings)4.7 (1.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.7% of reviews61.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3001.4K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB95 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperTHE MONROE INSTITUTEMindbloom Apps

Customer experience

Expand

All ratings297 ratings
Positive73.4%
Neutral6.1%
Negative20.5%
Written reviews157 reviews
Positive49.7%
Neutral12.1%
Negative38.2%

Mindbloom

All ratings1,400 ratings
Positive92.6%
Neutral2.3%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews118 reviews
Positive61.0%
Neutral2.5%
Negative36.4%

User reviews

Expand

From 300 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful meditation tool
  • 👍 Lovely and helpful
  • 👍 Great way to practice
  • 👍 Transformative
  • 👍 First class app

Room to improve

  • 💰 Money maker
  • 🔒 How do you get a premium subscription?
  • 🐛 Cuts off sometimes?
  • 🔍 Where's the guidance?
  • 🐛 Annoyed

Mindbloom

From 1.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth user experience
  • 👍 Helpful guides and clinicians
  • 🚀 Intuitive app design
  • 🚀 Seamless integration with treatment
  • 🚀 Convenient at-home therapy

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app updates
  • 🔍 Lack of transparency in billing practices
  • 👨‍💻 Inconsistent clinician and guide availability
  • 🤖 Overreliance on chatbots for support
  • 🤔 Concerns about political ideology in clinician selection

Bugs and requests

Expand

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Paid but no play
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices
  • Sound shuts off when the iphone goes to sleep

Requested features

4 requests
  • Longer guided meditations
  • What's new section for meditations
  • Ability to turn off background music
  • Monthly charge option

Mindbloom

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes during sessions
  • Incorrect session tracking and completion
  • Unreliable app performance and stability

Requested features

4 requests
  • Bring back full audio library access
  • Improve journaling and progress tracking features
  • Provide more options for in-app customization
  • Enhance integration with external mental health tools

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Expand

Subscriptions2
  • Expand Plus Monthly$11.991 Month
  • Expand Plus Yearly$69.991 Year
None

Mindbloom

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Expand free?
Expand is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mindbloom free?
Mindbloom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Expand or Mindbloom?
Mindbloom is rated higher. Expand averages 4.0 out of 5 from 300 ratings, while Mindbloom averages 4.7 from 1.4K ratings.
Do Expand or Mindbloom have ads?
Expand shows ads; Mindbloom does not.
Which is updated more often, Expand or Mindbloom?
Expand ships an update monthly, and Mindbloom weekly. Most recently, Expand was updated on October 29, 2026 and Mindbloom on October 30, 2026.

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