Comparison

Expand vs JoyPilot

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

JoyPilot

This app provides tools for focus, reflection, and emotional alignment. It offers guided chat, daily prompts, meditations, and creative expression features to help users find calm and clarity.

Highlights
  • Guided chat-based reflections
  • Daily Tune-In prompts
  • Customizable meditation experiences
  • Voice-based reflection
  • Focus and awareness tools
  • Creative image generation
Features
Read full description

JoyPilot is a thoughtful, intuitive app designed to support focus, reflection, and personal alignment through gentle, user-driven tools. It helps you slow down, listen inward, and make choices from a calmer, clearer place—one moment at a time. Inside JoyPilot, you’ll find experiences that support emotional awareness, mindful attention, and creative expression, all designed to adapt to how you feel and what you need right now. Features include: • Guided chat-based reflections to help clarify thoughts, feelings, and perspectives • Daily Tune-In prompts for setting intention and checking in with yourself • Meditation experiences with customizable duration, soundscapes, and visual modes • Lock Screen and Dynamic Island meditation support for gentle reminders and presence throughout the day • Voice-based reflection features, including Mirror Chamber, which uses speech recognition to let you speak your own affirmations aloud • Focus and awareness tools designed to support attention, clarity, and momentum • Customizable navigation and personalization options so you can shape the app around what matters most to you • Creative tools for generating inspirational images and content aligned with your current mood or focus JoyPilot is designed to meet you where you are. There’s no ideal mindset to reach—only the next small shift toward ease, clarity, or relief. Whether you’re seeking calm, focus, creative flow, or a more intentional relationship with your inner experience, JoyPilot offers a supportive space to pause, reflect, and move forward with more awareness. Subscription Information JoyPilot offers auto-renewable subscriptions. • Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • You can manage or cancel your subscription in your Apple ID account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://joypilot.app/privacy

Screenshots

Expand4 screens
JoyPilot3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: JoyPilot at 4.8 against Expand's 4.0. JoyPilot also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (75% vs 50%). Expand's advantage is ratings volume (301 vs 9). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 and JoyPilot sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

JoyPilot holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Expand has 301 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Expand's written reviews are positive against 75% of JoyPilot's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Expand ships an update monthly, JoyPilot every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Expand versus JoyPilot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExpandJoyPilot
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (301 ratings)4.8 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.7% of reviews75.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings301 — better9
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB113 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTHE MONROE INSTITUTEJeffrey Utter

Customer experience

Expand

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

JoyPilot

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

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

JoyPilot

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Expand

Subscriptions2
  • Expand Plus Monthly$11.991 Month
  • Expand Plus Yearly$69.991 Year
10 purchases

JoyPilot

Subscriptions4
  • JoyPilot Pro (Monthly)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • JoyPilot Creator (Monthly)7 Days trial$29.991 Month
  • JoyPilot Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$149.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • JoyPilot Creator (Yearly)7 Days trial$299.991 Year
One-time6
  • 350 Credits$19.99
  • 350 Credits$24.99
  • 700 Credits$39.99
Show 3 more
  • 700 Credits$49.99
  • 1400 Credits$79.99
  • 1400 Credits$99.99

Questions

Is Expand free?
Expand is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is JoyPilot free?
JoyPilot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Expand or JoyPilot?
JoyPilot is rated higher. Expand averages 4.0 out of 5 from 301 ratings, while JoyPilot averages 4.8 from 9 ratings.
Do Expand or JoyPilot have ads?
Expand shows ads; JoyPilot does not.
Which is updated more often, Expand or JoyPilot?
Expand ships an update monthly, and JoyPilot every 3 weeks. Most recently, Expand was updated on November 7, 2026 and JoyPilot on October 30, 2026.

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