Comparison

EMDR vs Balanced Mind

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 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

Balanced Mind

Features
Read full description

Feeling stuck on something — a memory, a worry, a knot in your chest that won't loosen? Balanced Mind gives you a five-minute, self-guided EMDR session you can do right now, on your phone, with no appointment and nothing to learn first. Pick what you want to feel calmer about, rate how intense it feels, and follow the moving dot with your eyes. That's it. Most people notice the intensity drop within a session or two, and the app tracks it so you can see the change. EMDR THERAPY Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA) as an effective treatment for trauma and emotional distress. Balanced Mind provides self-guided bilateral visual stimulation sessions based on protocols developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro. • Customizable visual stimulation (speed, color, pattern) • Multiple session modes and durations • Session history with progress tracking • Built-in safety timers and session reminders BINAURAL TONE THERAPY Stereo audio tones designed to support different mental states. Choose from five research-backed frequency presets: • Delta (0.5–4 Hz) — Deep relaxation & sleep • Theta (4–8 Hz) — Meditation & creativity • Alpha (8–14 Hz) — Calm focus & stress relief • Beta (14–30 Hz) — Alertness & concentration • Gamma (30–100 Hz) — Peak cognitive performance Requires stereo headphones for full effectiveness. ENCRYPTED JOURNALING Process your thoughts with a private, encrypted journal. Your entries are encrypted on your device before they ever leave it — not even we can read them. • End-to-end encryption (AES-256) • Mood tracking alongside journal entries • Search and revisit past reflections • Export your data anytime PROGRESS & INSIGHTS Track your wellness journey over time with clear, meaningful analytics. • Session frequency and duration trends • Mood patterns and emotional insights • Weekly and monthly progress summaries • Data export for sharing with your therapist PRIVACY FIRST Your mental health data deserves the highest level of protection. • End-to-end encrypted journals — only you can read them • No selling of personal data, ever • GDPR-compliant data export and account deletion • Minimal data collection — we track product analytics, not you BUILT WITH RESEARCH Every therapeutic feature in Balanced Mind is grounded in peer-reviewed research. The app includes a full citations page so you can explore the science behind EMDR and binaural therapy. CRISIS SUPPORT If you or someone you know is in crisis, the app provides immediate access to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other mental health resources. IMPORTANT: Balanced Mind is a self-guided wellness tool and is NOT a replacement for professional therapy. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please contact 988 or your local emergency services. EARLY ACCESS Balanced Mind is in Early Access: every feature — unlimited EMDR sessions, binaural therapy, encrypted journaling and progress tracking — is free, with no card required. Paid plans will come later and early members will hear about them first.

Screenshots

EMDR4 screens
Balanced Mind4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: EMDR at 7 against Balanced Mind's 3. 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. EMDR sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Balanced Mind sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EMDR ships an update every 6 days, Balanced Mind weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
EMDR versus Balanced Mind: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEMDRBalanced Mind
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (172 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews45.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings172 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size114 MB59 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperBas OppenheimChristopher Jerome Kiklas

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

Balanced Mind

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
6 purchases

Balanced Mind

Subscriptions6
  • Basic Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly7 Days trial$29.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Basic Annual$69.991 Year
  • Preium Annual$129.991 Year
  • Pro Annual$199.991 Year

Questions

Is EMDR free?
EMDR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Balanced Mind free?
Balanced Mind is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do EMDR or Balanced Mind have ads?
Neither EMDR nor Balanced Mind shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EMDR or Balanced Mind?
EMDR ships an update every 6 days, and Balanced Mind weekly. Most recently, EMDR was updated on October 25, 2026 and Balanced Mind on October 24, 2026.

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