Comparison

EMDR vs EMDR Self Therapy

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

Head to head
About

EMDR

This app provides customizable bilateral stimulation across Apple devices, offering control over visual, auditory, and haptic feedback. It supports various use cases like research, education, focus enhancement, and relaxation, with accessibility features and online broadcasting capabilities.

Highlights
  • Customizable pace and auto-stop
  • Stereo sounds, animations, and vibrations
  • Cross-device connectivity (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.)
  • Game controller support
  • Online broadcasting via EMDR Connect
  • Full VoiceOver and Assistive Access support
Features
Read full description

The EMDR app puts you in full control of visual, audio, and haptic bilateral stimulation. Turn game controllers and Joy-Cons into tappers, position sound precisely in stereo, and fine-tune vibration intensity. Sync across your Apple devices or broadcast to any browser with EMDR Connect. Full VoiceOver and Assistive Access support is built in. STIMULATION YOUR WAY Tailor every session to your needs: • Set your pace with presets or fine-tune it with a slider. • Use auto-stop so you never have to count along. • Choose from a wide range of sounds, animations, and vibrations. • Hear the count spoken aloud in 21 languages. • Position stereo sound to the left, right, or center. • Fine-tune vibration intensity, automatically adapted to each device. • Personalize colors, patterns, and more. WORKS ACROSS YOUR DEVICES Connect iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, Joy-Cons, and game controllers. Alternate flashes or vibrations between devices, or use one as a remote control for another. No specialized tapper hardware is needed. The devices you already own do the work. BROADCAST WITH EMDR CONNECT Send your stimulation to a protected webpage on any computer, tablet, or phone, whether it's your own device or someone else's. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No account is needed. Shared names are encrypted, and EMDR Connect session data is removed from the server when the session ends. START FROM ANYWHERE • Start stimulation from Control Center, the Lock Screen, or the Action button. • Ask Siri, or automate your setup with Shortcuts. • Control playback from your headphones or a widget, even in the background. BUILT FOR ACCESSIBILITY Full support for Assistive Access and VoiceOver makes the app usable for people with diverse needs, with specialized interfaces that don't compromise on capability. TRY ONE MONTH FREE Explore everything the EMDR app offers with a free one-month trial for new subscribers. EMDR+ unlocks the full feature set across your Apple devices. EMDR Connect adds broadcasting to any browser. Download today and see how it fits your routine. APP PURPOSE This app is a general-purpose tool for generating bilateral and other types of stimulation. It supports a wide range of applications, including: • Research, e.g. testing the effects of bilateral stimulation. • Education, e.g. illustrating bilateral stimulation principles. • Focus and attention, e.g. pacing tasks with timed signals. • Relaxation and wellness, e.g. promoting physical relaxation through bilateral vibration. This app is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

EMDR Self Therapy

Features
Read full description

A step-by-step companion for practising the Flash technique at your own pace. You never have to describe or write down your memory. PLEASE NOTE: The app interface is in Turkish. In the Flash technique your attention stays on an engaging, pleasant focus rather than on the disturbing memory. A steady left-right rhythm plays in the background, and at each spoken "Flash" cue you blink naturally three times. HOW IT WORKS 1. Starter guide: learn the sound, the butterfly hug and the Flash cue without touching any memory. You can try a practice round first. 2. Positive focus: choose a place, activity or moment that feels good. Add a short note or photo if you like. 3. Rating: mark how disturbing it feels right now, from 0 to 10. 4. Sets: rounds with rhythm, spoken Flash cues and a butterfly-hug video. 5. Re-rate: continue or stop. You do not need to reach zero. 6. Closing: "Back to the present" steps bring you back to where you are. WHAT YOU GET - Left-right rhythm with headphones, centred sound on the speaker - Video guidance filmed with a real person showing the butterfly hug and the blinks - Pause, Short break and Back to the present, available at any time - Grounding and positive-focus videos - Optional history: date, number of rounds and ratings kept only on your device - Free. No ads. No subscription. PRIVACY We do not ask for memory text, voice recordings or health history. History is off by default; if you turn it on, records stay on your device. WHO IT IS FOR Adults (18+), for mild distress, as recommended by a therapist trained in the Flash technique. Without therapist support, use the practice round and the back-to-the-present steps only. Do not try to process intense or complex trauma on your own. WHO DESIGNED IT The content was designed by Assoc. Prof. Alisan Burak Yasar, MD, psychiatrist and EMDR trainer, first author of a randomized controlled trial of the Flash technique (Yasar AB et al., Frontiers in Psychology, 2022;13:845481). Those findings concern clinician-delivered Flash; the effectiveness of this digital version has not yet been clinically tested. IMPORTANT This app is not a medical device. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and does not replace psychotherapy or emergency care. If distress increases, stop and use the back-to-the-present steps. If you are at risk of harming yourself or in immediate danger, do not stay alone; call your local emergency number.

Screenshots

EMDR4 screens
EMDR Self Therapy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: EMDR Self Therapy at none against EMDR's 7. EMDR Self Therapy also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 days). EMDR's advantage is device support (7 vs 3). On price, ads 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. EMDR sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. EMDR Self Therapy asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EMDR ships an update every 6 days, EMDR Self Therapy every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
EMDR versus EMDR Self Therapy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEMDREMDR Self Therapy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (172 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews45.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings172 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1515.0
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB12 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBas OppenheimAlisan Burak Yasar

Bugs and requests

EMDR

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Apple Watch app won't launch after update
  • Sound issues (thudding noise, stereo problems)
  • Apple TV app doesn't work
  • Session disrupted by upsell window
  • App crashes when selecting features
Show 5 more
  • Sound doesn't work after purchasing
  • App doesn't work without internet
  • Trial starts without warning
  • Trial period doesn't work
  • App doesn't play in background or when screen is locked

Requested features

13 requests
  • Gradient effect for circle
  • More customization for circle
  • Alternating controller vibration
  • Timer feature
  • Slower BPM options (down to 30)
Show 8 more
  • More frame rates per second
  • Additional movements (Achten, Kreise)
  • Slower option for Slow EMDR
  • Use two Nintendo controllers for each hand
  • Pitch control for tone option
  • Option for 48 repeats
  • Ability to run with screen locked or in background
  • Manual input for repetitions and speed

EMDR Self Therapy

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

EMDR

Subscriptions5
  • EMDR+1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • EMDR+ with Connect1 Month trial$19.991 Month
  • EMDR+ with Connect (Monthly)1 Month trial$39.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • EMDR+ (Yearly)1 Month trial$49.991 Year
  • EMDR+ with Connect (Yearly)1 Month trial2 variants$199.991 Year
One-time1
  • EMDR+ for Research$9.99
None

EMDR Self Therapy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is EMDR free?
EMDR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is EMDR Self Therapy free?
EMDR Self Therapy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do EMDR or EMDR Self Therapy have ads?
Neither EMDR nor EMDR Self Therapy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EMDR or EMDR Self Therapy?
EMDR ships an update every 6 days, and EMDR Self Therapy every 2 days. Most recently, EMDR was updated on September 29, 2026 and EMDR Self Therapy on September 24, 2026.

Other comparisons