Comparison

EMDR vs Heal EMDR

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 offers customizable visual, audio, and haptic bilateral stimulation. It allows users to control pace, sound positioning, and vibration intensity, and can sync across Apple devices or broadcast to web browsers. It is designed with accessibility in mind and supports various applications like research, education, focus, and relaxation.

Highlights
  • Customizable visual, audio, and haptic stimulation
  • Control over pace, sound, and vibration
  • Cross-device syncing with Apple devices
  • Broadcast to web browsers via EMDR Connect
  • Full VoiceOver and Assistive Access support
  • Start stimulation from Control Center or Siri
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 compatible web browsers 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 in a compatible browser on a 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. Our privacy policy explains what data EMDR Connect processes and how long it is retained. 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 compatible web browsers. 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

Heal EMDR

This app offers self-guided EMDR therapy sessions to help users process distressing memories and reduce symptoms of PTSD, trauma, anxiety, and depression. It guides you through the full EMDR protocol at home, using bilateral audio stimulation instead of physical kits.

Highlights
  • Self-guided EMDR therapy sessions
  • Bilateral audio stimulation
  • Guided and advanced modes
  • Targeted programs for PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, phobias, grief, and addiction
  • Healing Journeys for multi-session issues
  • Private and secure data storage
  • Real human customer support
Features
Read full description

Heal EMDR is a self-guided EMDR therapy app that takes you through the full EMDR process at home. Each session follows the same steps a therapist uses, with a voice guiding you from start to finish, so you can work on PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression and more at your own pace. WHAT IS EMDR THERAPY? EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a structured trauma therapy designed to help your mind reprocess distressing memories so they feel less overwhelming. EMDR therapy is recommended for PTSD by the World Health Organization, the UK's NICE and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. EMDR FOR PTSD, TRAUMA, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND MORE Pick the EMDR program that fits you: - Standard EMDR Program: start here if you're new to EMDR therapy - Conquer PTSD: flashbacks, nightmares and living on high alert - Process Trauma: childhood trauma, past relationships or one hard event - Beat Anxiety: chronic worry and overwhelming thoughts - Alleviate Depression: the low mood and the memories behind it - Overcome Panic Attacks: panic and the fear of the next attack - Phobia Relief: a specific fear, like flying, needles or public speaking - Coping with Grief: the hardest moments of losing someone - Break Free from Addiction: what's behind the urge, from drinking and smoking to gambling and scrolling MORE THAN EYE MOVEMENTS EMDR is known for its eye movements, but there's more to it than that. Every Heal EMDR session includes the full EMDR protocol: - Preparation: choose the memory to work on, the negative beliefs tied to it, and how distressing it feels right now - Processing and Installation: bilateral stimulation through your headphones to reprocess the memory, then strengthen a positive belief in its place - Closure: settle with a breathing exercise, calm place visualization or guided meditation before you return to your day NO EMDR KIT OR TAPPERS NEEDED This virtual EMDR app uses bilateral audio through your headphones instead of tappers or an EMDR kit. All you need is your phone and a quiet place. GUIDED EMDR, SET BY SET In Guided mode, a voice talks you through each set of bilateral stimulation, checks in between sets and tells you what to do next. Already familiar with EMDR? Switch to Advanced mode to skip the instructions. WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE HEAL EMDR - Online EMDR you can start today, with no waiting lists - Unlimited sessions for one subscription price - Private and secure: your sessions, notes and chats are stored securely, visible only to you, and never sold - Real human support: message us and a real person replies PINPOINT WHAT TO WORK ON Not sure where to start? Talk it through in a guided chat, or answer a few short questions. Either way, you end up with a clear EMDR target: the moment, the emotion and where you feel it in your body. GO DEEPER WITH A HEALING JOURNEY Some memories take more than one session. A Healing journey connects several EMDR sessions on one issue, so each session builds on the last. SEE THE SHIFT AFTER EVERY SESSION Rate your distress before and after each session and watch it change over time. Your progress page keeps your session history, therapy notes, streaks and badges in one place. SESSIONS THAT FIT YOUR DAY Choose a shorter, standard or longer session, or set your own. Pick your tone, speed and voice. LEARN ABOUT EMDR Short videos and articles explain how EMDR works and what to expect. FREE TRIAL AND FREE ACCESS Start with a free trial. Can't afford a subscription? We offer free access to people in need. Get in touch from the app. IMPORTANT Heal EMDR provides self-guided therapy tools and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always ask your doctor or another qualified health provider about any medical condition. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, contact your local emergency number or a crisis line right away. Privacy Policy: https://www.healemdr.com/privacy Terms and Conditions: https://www.healemdr.com/terms

Screenshots

EMDR4 screens
Heal EMDR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Heal EMDR at 87% against EMDR's 46%. Heal EMDR also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.4). EMDR's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). On price, ratings volume, 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. EMDR sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Heal EMDR sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Heal EMDR holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 174 and 229 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of EMDR's written reviews are positive against 87% of Heal EMDR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EMDR ships an update every 4 days, Heal EMDR fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
EMDR versus Heal EMDR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEMDRHeal EMDR
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (174 ratings)4.8 (229 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.8% of reviews87.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings174229 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size121 MB73 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBas OppenheimHEAL APP FOR INTERNET CONTENT PROVIDER

Customer experience

EMDR

All ratings173 ratings
Positive85.0%
Neutral3.5%
Negative11.6%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive45.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative50.0%

Heal EMDR

All ratings228 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral0.4%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews55 reviews
Positive87.3%
Neutral1.8%
Negative10.9%

User reviews

EMDR

From 174 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Effective EMDR tool
  • 💡 Highly customizable
  • 🚀 Works well on iPhone/iPad
  • ✨ Clean interface
  • 🎧 Supports audio cues

Room to improve

  • 💸 Subscription model criticized
  • 🐌 Slow on Macbook
  • 📱 Apple TV app broken
  • 🚫 No free trial clarity
  • ⚠️ Upsell windows disrupt sessions

Heal EMDR

From 229 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Life-changing for trauma/PTSD
  • 👍 Highly effective EMDR alternative
  • 🌟 Accessible and affordable
  • 🧘‍♀️ Calming and grounding experience
  • 🚀 Significant improvement in mood/anxiety

Room to improve

  • 💰 Subscription cost considered high by some
  • 🤖 Unnerving AI intro videos
  • ⚠️ Self-EMDR may not be suitable for deep trauma
  • 🔄 AI function sometimes gets stuck
  • 🚫 No refund policy mentioned

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

Heal EMDR

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • AI function gets stuck
  • Intro videos are unnerving/uncanny valley

Requested features

5 requests
  • Alternative to bilateral audio
  • Graphs for progress tracking
  • Option to turn off bilateral audio
  • Use real people instead of AI for intro videos
  • Just use audio and no AI person for intro videos

In-app purchases

5 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
10 purchases

Heal EMDR

Subscriptions10
  • Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Monthly1 Month trial$19.991 Month
  • Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • 3 Months3 Months trial$44.993 Months
  • 3 Months14 Days trial$44.993 Months
  • Monthly$49.991 Month
  • Monthly - 1 Month Trial1 Month trial$59.991 Month
  • Monthly - 3 Days Trial3 Days trial$59.991 Month
  • 3 Months - 1 Month Trial1 Month trial$149.993 Months
  • 3 Months - 7 Days Trial7 Days trial$149.993 Months

Questions

Is EMDR free?
EMDR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Heal EMDR free?
Heal EMDR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, EMDR or Heal EMDR?
Heal EMDR is rated higher. EMDR averages 4.4 out of 5 from 174 ratings, while Heal EMDR averages 4.8 from 229 ratings.
Do EMDR or Heal EMDR have ads?
Neither EMDR nor Heal EMDR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EMDR or Heal EMDR?
EMDR ships an update every 4 days, and Heal EMDR fortnightly. Most recently, EMDR was updated on November 11, 2026 and Heal EMDR on November 12, 2026.

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