# Fireside Project vs Mindbloom

Fireside Project and Mindbloom both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 100% of Fireside Project's written reviews are positive against 60% of Mindbloom's. Fireside Project also leads on monetization model (free vs paid) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.4). Mindbloom's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (1.3K vs 47). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Fireside Project holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mindbloom has 1.3K ratings behind it against 47, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Fireside Project's written reviews are positive against 60% of Mindbloom's.

Fireside Project ships an update every 8 months, Mindbloom weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 9, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fireside Project | Mindbloom |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fireside-project/id1579224953/reviews)** | [4.7 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindbloom/id1587391820/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 47 | **1.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 59.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 74 MB | 102 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Fireside Project, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1776913454) | [Mindbloom Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1587391822) |

## What reviewers say

### Fireside Project

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fireside-project/id1579224953)

This app provides immediate, free support for individuals experiencing psychedelic trips or seeking to discuss past experiences. Connect instantly via call or text to trained volunteers. Established in 2021, it has assisted over 28,000 users.

**Highlights:** Free Psychedelic Hotline, Instant Call/Text Connection, Support for Current Trips, Discussion of Past Trips, Trained Volunteers, Established Support Network

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mindbloom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindbloom/id1587391820)

This app offers clinician-prescribed, guided psychedelic experiences at home to help combat anxiety and depression. Science-backed programs are designed by leading psychiatrists and facilitated by expert guides, with multiple sessions and support included.

**Highlights:** Clinician-prescribed psychedelic experiences, Guided therapy sessions, At-home care kit, Psychiatric clinician consults, Group integration sessions, Unlimited messaging

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth user experience
- 👍 Helpful guides and clinicians
- 🚀 Intuitive app design
- 🚀 Seamless integration with treatment
- 🚀 Convenient at-home therapy

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy app updates
- 🔍 Lack of transparency in billing practices
- 👨‍💻 Inconsistent clinician and guide availability
- 🤖 Overreliance on chatbots for support
- 🤔 Concerns about political ideology in clinician selection

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes during sessions
- Incorrect session tracking and completion
- Unreliable app performance and stability

**Requested features**

- Bring back full audio library access
- Improve journaling and progress tracking features
- Provide more options for in-app customization
- Enhance integration with external mental health tools


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fireside Project free?

Fireside Project is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mindbloom free?

Mindbloom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Fireside Project or Mindbloom?

Fireside Project is rated higher. Fireside Project averages 4.9 out of 5 from 47 ratings, while Mindbloom averages 4.7 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Fireside Project or Mindbloom have ads?

Neither Fireside Project nor Mindbloom shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fireside Project or Mindbloom?

Fireside Project ships an update every 8 months, and Mindbloom weekly. Most recently, Fireside Project was updated on September 9, 2026 and Mindbloom on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*