Comparison

The Tools vs Founder IQ

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

The Tools

Features
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NOTE: This app is not intended as a substitute for therapy, or for advice from a trained medical professional. Nietzsche famously said “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”. But most people have no real way of turning problems into opportunities. Enter The Tools app, based on the psychotherapeutic paradigm developed by Barry Michels MSW and Dr. Phil Stutz. The app teaches you to deal with four common problems (avoidance, resentment, insecurity, and negative thinking) with quick techniques called Tools. Changing your response to problems means real-time behavioural change. If you can't stop succumbing to temptation or shying away from problems, it’s not your fault. You just didn’t have the right Tools in your toolbox – until now. FAQ: Q: “What is a Tool?” A: A Tool is a 3-5 second visualization, done at the moment you experience a problem. Using a Tool changes your inner state rapidly, helping you resolve symptoms (e.g. stress) and transmute problems (e.g. procrastination) into potential. Q: “How were The Tools created?” A: In short, free association (a la Freud), except it was the doctor, not the patient, doing the associating. When a patient had a problem that needed fixing, Dr. Stutz would ad-lib a solution; these spontaneous ideas were precursors to the Tools in the app. The patient would try the solution, and Dr. Stutz would refine the Tool over hundreds of trials and with scores of patients. Q: “Isn’t using a Tool every time I have a problem too much work?” A: Using Tools regularly takes energy in the short run, but increases your energy in the long run. Plus, each Tool only takes ~3 seconds to use. If you use a Tool 20 times a day, you’ve spent 1 minute. You’ll find it to be a bargain, because Tools help you solve your biggest problems and resolve your worst symptoms. Q: “How will I know that a Tool worked?” A: The point of a Tool is to change your inner state; feeling a change in state (e.g. going from avoidant to confident) is a strong sign that the Tool is working. But a change in state only matters because state impacts behaviour, so a change in behaviour (e.g. doing the thing you were avoiding) is the strongest sign that the Tool worked. Q: “I followed the instructions but I can’t get myself to visualize ‘correctly’, and/or I don’t feel anything. What’s wrong?” A: Using Tools is a skill you need to learn, and it helps to think of it that way – practice hard. Tools can also feel different for each person, and you’re encouraged to customize them to make them work for you. But doesn’t really matter if you can’t visualize well – what matters is that you use a Tool and experience a change in state, followed by a change in behaviour. If that happens, don't worry that you can't see what you're 'meant' to see. Q: “What’s the payoff for using Tools?” A: You’ll be able to solve your worst problems. Symptoms such as anxiety can abate. But disciplined Tool use does much more than returning you to baseline. Using The Tools will touch every part of your life, allowing you to unlock abilities you didn’t know you had. It will also have a spillover effect on the people around you. Lastly, using a Tool can make even a moment of suffering meaningful and empowering. No matter what your struggle, using Tools will give you a sense of vitality and meaning. The Tools are an antidote to nihilism (but only if you work hard).

About

Founder IQ

Features
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Everything you need to go from idea to successful startup - in your pocket. Founder IQ breaks down the entire startup journey into bite-sized lessons and practice questions. From validating your idea to building your product, finding customers, growing your business, and raising capital - learn at your own pace with 100+ modules and 1,000+ questions. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - Ideas & Validation: Spot opportunities, evaluate markets, and test your idea before building - Customers: Understand pain points, find your audience, and validate demand - Product: Define your MVP, prioritize features, and find product-market fit - Business Models: Pricing, unit economics, subscriptions, and marketplace models - Pitching: Craft your story, build your deck, and pitch to investors and customers - Growth: Traction channels, viral loops, retention, and growth metrics - People: Build your team, split equity, and lead effectively - Finance: Fundraising, valuations, term sheets, and managing your burn rate - Mindset: Decision-making, time management, resilience, and knowing when to pivot - Books: Key takeaways from 10 must-read startup books HOW IT WORKS - Learn through bite-sized cards you can study in minutes - Test your understanding with 1,000+ practice questions - Track your progress across every section and module - Study on your own schedule, at your own pace Founder IQ is for: - First-time founders exploring or validating an idea - Aspiring entrepreneurs who want to prepare before starting - Early-stage founders building their first venture - Technical builders without a business degree - Side-project builders considering going full-time - Students and young professionals interested in entrepreneurship - Anyone who wants to learn how startups actually work Download Founder IQ and start learning today. By downloading Founder IQ, you agree to our terms of service, as outlined in Apple's Standard EULA, available here: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

The Tools4 screens
Founder IQ4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Tools at none against Founder IQ's 2. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Founder IQ sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. The Tools asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
The Tools versus Founder IQ: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe ToolsFounder IQ
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 59 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnirudh KannanAlexis Lentati

In-app purchases

None

The Tools

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Founder IQ

Subscriptions2
  • Founder IQ Premium (1 month)$7.991 Month
  • Founder IQ Premium (3 months)3 Days trial$14.993 Months

Questions

Is The Tools free?
The Tools is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Founder IQ free?
Founder IQ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do The Tools or Founder IQ have ads?
Neither The Tools nor Founder IQ shows ads.

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