EMDR vs Simple EMDR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
EMDR
This app offers customizable visual, audio, and haptic bilateral stimulation. It allows you to use your existing devices as controllers and broadcast sessions to web browsers. Designed with accessibility in mind, it supports VoiceOver and Assistive Access.
- Customizable visual, audio, and haptic stimulation
- Use game controllers and Joy-Cons as tappers
- Precise stereo sound positioning
- Fine-tune vibration intensity
- Cross-device syncing with EMDR Connect
- Full VoiceOver and Assistive Access support
- Start stimulation from Control Center or Siri
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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/
Simple EMDR
This app provides a private and configurable source of bilateral stimulation for relaxation, focus, or winding down. It offers customizable visual and audio cues for use in EMDR practices or general wellness. Designed for offline use with no data collection, it's a one-time purchase.
- Customizable visual motion paths
- Adjustable audio tones and panning
- Continuous and set-based session modes
- Offline functionality
- No account or data collection
- One-time purchase
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A clean, quiet source of bilateral stimulation — alternating left-right visual motion and sound. Pay once. No account, no subscription, and no data collected. Ever. Bilateral stimulation (BLS) is the alternating left-right stimulus used in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) practice, and many people also use it simply to settle, refocus, or wind down. Simple EMDR does one thing well: it gives you a precise, configurable BLS source with nothing else in the way. VISUAL STIMULATION - A smooth-moving ball — or any emoji you choose — in the size and color you want - Three paths: Sweep with adjustable arch, Figure-8 with lobe height and twist, S-Curve with adjustable wave depth - Horizontal or vertical motion, 10–120 cycles per minute - Black, dark gray, or custom background AUDIO STIMULATION - Alternating tones, hard-panned left and right (headphones recommended) - Sine, triangle, or click — with adjustable pitch, tone length, and volume - Runs on its own for eyes-closed sessions, or in sync with the visual marker SESSIONS, YOUR WAY - Continuous mode with an optional timer - Set-based mode: choose passes per set, rest length, and number of sets - Tap to pause. The screen stays awake. Nothing interrupts. PRIVATE BY DESIGN - 100% offline — the app has no network access at all - No account, no analytics, no third-party code - Privacy label: Data Not Collected - One-time purchase. No subscription, no ads, no upsells. Designed for iPhone and iPad — iPad's larger screen gives an especially wide visual sweep. Clinicians: Simple EMDR also works well as a client-side stimulus during remote sessions, fully controlled on the client's own device. IMPORTANT Simple EMDR is a wellness tool that provides bilateral stimulation for relaxation and focus. It is not a medical device, does not provide therapy or treatment, and is not a substitute for care from a qualified professional. If you are working through trauma, use it only under the guidance of a licensed clinician. Stop if you feel unwell.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: EMDR at Free against Simple EMDR's $0.99. EMDR also leads on ratings volume (173 vs 1) and device support (7 vs 2). Simple EMDR's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 6). On 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
EMDR is free to download; Simple EMDR costs $0.99 up front. EMDR sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Simple EMDR asks for nothing beyond the download.
Simple EMDR holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: EMDR has 173 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | EMDR | Simple EMDR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $0.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (173 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 45.8% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 173 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15 — better | 17.5 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 120 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bas Oppenheim | Hacking Things LLC |
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
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- 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)
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- 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
Simple EMDR
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
EMDR
- 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
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- EMDR+ (Yearly)1 Month trial$49.991 Year
- EMDR+ with Connect (Yearly)1 Month trial2 variants$199.991 Year
Simple EMDR
No in-app purchases








