Comparison

EMDR vs Cadence

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

Cadence

This app offers guided breathwork and bilateral stimulation exercises to help users reset, refocus, and unwind. It features various visual cues, optional haptics, and panning audio to enhance the experience. Users can track their progress, journal after sessions, and log mindful minutes to Apple Health.

Highlights
  • Bilateral stimulation exercises
  • Guided breathwork sessions
  • Visual cues (Moving Dot, Light Bar, Jet Stream)
  • Optional haptics and panning audio
  • Session tracking and history
  • Journaling and practice summaries
  • Apple Health integration
Features
Read full description

Cadence helps you reset, refocus, and unwind with left-right rhythm and guided breathwork. Choose a visual, start a session, and follow the cue for a short pause or a longer wind-down. Use Cadence to: * Practice with Moving Dot, Light Bar, and Jet Stream * Move from left-right rhythm into guided breathing * Add optional haptics, panning audio, and soundscapes * Track check-ins, streaks, and session history * Journal after sessions and review practice summaries * Log completed sessions to Apple Health as Mindful Minutes, if you choose Cadence works offline and does not require an account. Your sessions, notes, and preferences stay on your device unless you export them.

Screenshots

EMDR4 screens
Cadence4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Cadence at 5.0 against EMDR's 4.4. Cadence also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7). EMDR's advantage is ratings volume (172 vs 2) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 weeks). On price and ads 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. Cadence asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cadence holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EMDR has 172 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

EMDR ships an update weekly, Cadence every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
EMDR versus Cadence: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEMDRCadence
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (172 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews45.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings172 — better2
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 4 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBas OppenheimPaul Govan

Customer experience

EMDR

All ratings172 ratings
Positive84.9%
Neutral3.5%
Negative11.6%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive45.8%
Neutral4.2%
Negative50.0%

Cadence

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Cadence

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

Cadence

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is EMDR free?
EMDR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cadence free?
Cadence is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, EMDR or Cadence?
Cadence is rated higher. EMDR averages 4.4 out of 5 from 172 ratings, while Cadence averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do EMDR or Cadence have ads?
Neither EMDR nor Cadence shows ads.
Which is updated more often, EMDR or Cadence?
EMDR ships an update weekly, and Cadence every 4 weeks. Most recently, EMDR was updated on October 20, 2026 and Cadence on October 7, 2026.

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