IntelliCare Plus vs BARCS Trial
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
IntelliCare Plus
This digital mental health tool integrates psychotherapy principles into an easy-to-use mobile application. It offers on-demand support with interactive activities designed by leading clinicians to help users cope with negative feelings and manage stress.
- Decreases depression and anxiety symptoms
- Integrates psychotherapy principles
- On-demand support tool
- Interactive daily activities
- Stress management skills
- Challenges harmful thinking
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IntelliCare Plus is a digital mental health tool. One of the only apps validated in clinical trials to be effective in decreasing the symptoms of depression and anxiety. IntelliCare Plus has been proven effective by integrating the principles of psychotherapy into an easy to use, convenient mobile application. IntelliCare Plus empowers you to take control of your own mental health. The easy to use, on-demand support tool was designed by some of the leading clinicians to help patients cope with negative feelings and get back to enjoying life. Each activity focuses on a different skill and can teach you how to anticipate and cope with stress, increase gratitude, challenge harmful thinking, engage in more activities, and much more! All the activities provide interactive tools you can use daily to practice the skills and are there to help whenever you need immediate, in-the-moment support. DISCLAIMER: THIS APP DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material obtained on this app are for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regiment, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this app. To learn more about the science behind this app, check out our article, "Graham AK, Greene CJ, Kwasny MJ, Kaiser SM, Lieponis P, Powell T, Mohr DC. Coached Mobile App Platform for the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety Among Primary Care Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 1;77(9):906-914. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2020.1011. PMID: 32432695; PMCID: PMC7240649.
BARCS Trial
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This app teaches skills that can change the way you think and feel through brief and interactive exercises. The exercises are based on proven techniques in psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy. Depending on what conditions you are assigned, the app may contain brief and easy-to-follow exercises on any of the following: - Promoting a grateful outlook - Challenging negative thoughts - Living a value-driven life - Problem solving - Savoring positive experiences - Reducing worry - Relaxation techniques - Improving knowledge about mental health This app was created for a University of Virginia research study examining the impact of brief, targeted digital interventions for managing mental health symptoms in cancer survivors. This study was approved by the University of Virginia Institutional Review Board for Social and Behavioral Sciences (#6002). Only individuals enrolled in this study should download and use this app.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: BARCS Trial at every 3 weeks against IntelliCare Plus's every 6 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
IntelliCare Plus ships an update every 6 weeks, BARCS Trial every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | IntelliCare Plus | BARCS Trial |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (7 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 13 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Adaptive Health, Inc | University of Virginia (VA) |
In-app purchases
IntelliCare Plus
No in-app purchases
BARCS Trial
No in-app purchases









