Comparison

Expand vs Patch Tarot

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

Patch Tarot

Engage in daily reflection and journaling with a digital tarot companion. Explore five unique decks, study card symbolism, and connect with a community for shared insights. Features daily reminders and a private journal to track your practice.

Highlights
  • Daily card draws and reflections
  • Private journaling for readings
  • Community sharing in The Grove
  • Five original tarot decks
  • In-depth card symbolism study
  • Daily reminders and streaks
Features
Read full description

Patch Tarot is a daily reflection and journaling app, and the official companion to the celebrated Patch Tarot deck — now available in bookstores worldwide. Pick up where your physical deck leaves off. Draw a card, sit with its meaning, write your reflection, and share with a community of people doing the same thing. THE GROVE A quiet circle of readers sharing daily reflections and notes. Post what a card brought up for you, follow voices that resonate, and reflect on the daily collective draw. Anonymous by design — no account, no pressure. Kept gentle with content filtering, reporting, and blocking. JOURNAL YOUR PRACTICE Every reading saves to your private journal with your notes attached. Write what a card brings up, flip back through your history, and notice which cards keep finding you. Everything lives on your device — nothing shared without you choosing to. FIVE ORIGINAL DECKS Five hand-crafted decks built by Spirit Studios over more than a decade. Patch Tarot 3 is the vivid, hand-painted flagship with 86 cards including the Holy Arcana. Patch Tarot 1 and 2 are earlier editions. Patch Tarot Classic uses traditional structure. Patch Oracle offers 44 cards of direct, grounded guidance. STUDY THE SYMBOLISM The Book of Patch is a full reference chapter for every card — its meaning, creator notes, and connections to sacred geometry and symbolism. The Directory gives you every card at a glance for study and reference. KEEP THE PRACTICE Daily reminders, a streak, and a private journal that holds every reading and note. PATCH PLUS All five decks, every spread, the complete Book of Patch, The Grove, and no ads. Monthly, annual, or a one-time Founder's Key for lifetime access. Designed for daily reflection, journaling, mindfulness, and the study of symbolic art. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://patchtarotworld.com/app-privacy.html

Screenshots

Expand4 screens
Patch Tarot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Patch Tarot at 100% against Expand's 50%. Patch Tarot also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). Expand's advantage is ratings volume (297 vs 26). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Expand sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month and Patch Tarot sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Patch Tarot holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Expand has 297 ratings behind it against 26, 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 100% of Patch Tarot's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Expand ships an update monthly, Patch Tarot every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Expand versus Patch Tarot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExpandPatch Tarot
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (297 ratings)5.0 (26 ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings297 — better26
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB326 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTHE MONROE INSTITUTESpirit Studios Inc.

Customer experience

Expand

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

Patch Tarot

All ratings26 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
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

Patch Tarot

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
3 purchases

Patch Tarot

Subscriptions2
  • Patch Plus (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Patch Plus (Annual)7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Founder's Key (Lifetime)$99.99

Questions

Is Expand free?
Expand is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Patch Tarot free?
Patch Tarot is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Expand or Patch Tarot?
Patch Tarot is rated higher. Expand averages 4.1 out of 5 from 297 ratings, while Patch Tarot averages 5.0 from 26 ratings.
Do Expand or Patch Tarot have ads?
Both Expand and Patch Tarot show ads.
Which is updated more often, Expand or Patch Tarot?
Expand ships an update monthly, and Patch Tarot every 3 weeks. Most recently, Expand was updated on October 17, 2026 and Patch Tarot on October 11, 2026.

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