# MindSampler vs Sona by Pelago

The clearest difference is rating: Sona by Pelago at 4.7 against MindSampler's 2.0. Sona by Pelago also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (27 vs 4). MindSampler's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Sona by Pelago holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sona by Pelago has 27 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

MindSampler ships an update every 2 months, Sona by Pelago weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MindSampler | Sona by Pelago |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindsampler/id1617535718/reviews) | **[4.7 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sona-by-pelago/id6758111708/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **27** |
| Positive reviews | — | 83.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 52 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MindSampler Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1732037708) | [Digital Therapeutics Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1172849792) |

## What reviewers say

### MindSampler

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindsampler/id1617535718)

Participate in scientific research by answering short questions and experiments throughout your day. Contribute to understanding human thought, feelings, and behavior.

**Highlights:** Contribute to scientific understanding, Receive daily experiment notifications, Answer short questions, Enter study codes, Track daily life insights

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sona by Pelago

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sona-by-pelago/id6758111708)

This AI-powered coach offers a voice-first approach to mental well-being, providing a non-judgmental space to process thoughts and feelings anytime. It learns your patterns to offer personalized support for managing anxiety, building habits, and improving sleep.

**Highlights:** Voice-first conversations, Personalized AI learning, Non-judgmental listening, Habit building support, Anxiety management, Sleep improvement, Always available check-ins

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MindSampler free?

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

### Is Sona by Pelago free?

Sona by Pelago is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, MindSampler or Sona by Pelago?

Sona by Pelago is rated higher. MindSampler averages 2.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Sona by Pelago averages 4.7 from 27 ratings.

### Do MindSampler or Sona by Pelago have ads?

Neither MindSampler nor Sona by Pelago shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MindSampler or Sona by Pelago?

MindSampler ships an update every 2 months, and Sona by Pelago weekly. Most recently, MindSampler was updated on October 7, 2026 and Sona by Pelago on October 16, 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.*