Comparison

AltoThought vs CBT Thought Diary

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

Head to head
About

AltoThought

This app helps you reframe negative thoughts and develop a healthier mindset. It guides you through identifying thoughts, exploring alternative perspectives, and tracking your emotional progress. It's a tool to enhance your cognitive processes and achieve a more balanced outlook.

Highlights
  • Identify and log negative thoughts
  • Explore alternative perspectives
  • Track emotional evolution
  • Enhance cognitive processes
  • Develop balanced thought patterns
Features
Read full description

AltoThought is designed to guide you through reframing negative thoughts, enhancing your cognitive process. Originally created to support my own cognitive behavioral therapy journey, it is now available to assist you in reshaping your mindset. Here's how AltoThought works: Begin by jotting down your initial thought, whatever it may be, and note your current feelings. Next, visit the Alternative tab to explore a new perspective on that thought. This helps you add nuance and reshape any cognitive patterns that may be holding you back. Analyze your progress with insightful statistics that reveal how your feelings evolve through the practice of alternative thinking. Let AltoThought be your companion in developing a healthier and more balanced thought process.

About

CBT Thought Diary

This app offers a structured approach to mental well-being, utilizing principles of CBT, ACT, and MSC. It provides tools for mood tracking, reframing thoughts, goal setting, and practicing mindfulness. The app guides users through insights, journaling, and skill-building exercises to foster lasting change and self-improvement.

Highlights
  • Mood tracking and daily journaling
  • Thought reframing with Socratic questioning
  • Goal setting and value alignment
  • Mindfulness and self-compassion exercises
  • Activity logging with pleasure/mastery ratings
  • Progress tracking and insights
Features
Read full description

We all dream of a clearer mind and steadier days — but life rarely slows down. When pressure builds and thoughts race, Viven helps you quiet the noise and refocus on what truly matters. Built on the foundations of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), Viven guides you through structured steps to turn mental insights into lasting change. Three Spaces For Your Growth TODAY: Your Daily Anchor Mood Tracker: Check your mood and get directed to the journal you need. Starting the Day: Set your intention with the Starting the Day journal. Ending the Day: Reflect on your day with the Ending the Day journal. Free Journal: Write freely with an open journal. Activity Logging: Record your activities and rate them by pleasure, mastery, value alignment, ease, and reward. DISCOVER: Your Toolkit for Change - Thoughts: Reframe automatic thoughts using Socratic questioning and stoic wisdom. - Emotions: Recognize and label emotions. - Vision & Goals: Clarify and connect with your values and long-term direction. - Action: Turn insight into action with small, achievable steps - Relationships: Improve communication patterns in relationships. - Self - Compassion : Identify your needs and build compassionate routines. - Mindfulness : Practice grounding with breathing and Progressive Muscle Relaxation. - The Viven Method: Every category contains Insights to learn the basics → Guided Journals to apply them → Skills Practices to strengthen them. - Holistic Progress: Every practice recommends three related exercises to keep your journey connected. JOURNEY: Your Progress at a Glance - Shape your vision with a guided journal. - Work toward specific goals by examining thoughts and behaviors. - Discover your thinking patterns and cognitive distortions. - Track your favorite activities by pleasure, mastery, alignment, ease, and reward. - Record your recent wins to stay motivated. - View your mood graph and follow your patterns. WHY VIVEN FEELS DIFFERENT - Science-Backed: A structured system grounded in CBT, ACT, and Mindful Self-Compassion, designed to help you apply and strengthen your coping skills. - Structured Flow: Viven isn’t just a tracker; it’s a path: Insight → Guided Journal → Skill Practice. - Personalized: Receive tailored recommendations across all categories. - Customizable: Dark mode, custom themes, and font options for your comfort. - Private & On-Device Storage: Your content such as journal entries, reflections, notes, prompt answers, are stored locally on your device. You already carry the answers. Viven helps uncover them — gently, clearly, and at your own pace. DISCLAIMER Viven is a tool for self-improvement and is not a substitute for professional therapy or medical advice. Viven Plus Subscription Unlock full access with a Viven Plus subscription, available monthly or annually. Terms of use: https://www.rayinformatics.com/terms Privacy policy: https://www.rayinformatics.com/privacy/viven Contact: https://www.rayinformatics.com/contact

Screenshots

AltoThought4 screens
CBT Thought Diary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: CBT Thought Diary at 15.6 against AltoThought's 18.0. On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. AltoThought sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and CBT Thought Diary sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CBT Thought Diary holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

AltoThought ships an update every 6 weeks, CBT Thought Diary every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
AltoThought versus CBT Thought Diary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAltoThoughtCBT Thought Diary
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings)4.5 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB105 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperFrank SolleveldRAY INFORMATICS YAZILIM TEKNOLOJI MEDYA DANISMANLIK VE EGITIM TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI

Customer experience

AltoThought

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%

CBT Thought Diary

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

AltoThought

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Coffee XL$2.99
  • Donation$3.99
Show 1 more
  • Donation XL$8.99
3 purchases

CBT Thought Diary

Subscriptions2
  • Viven Plus Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Viven Plus Yearly7 Days trial$12.991 Year
One-time1
  • Viven Plus Unlimited Access$24.99

Questions

Is AltoThought free?
AltoThought is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CBT Thought Diary free?
CBT Thought Diary is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, AltoThought or CBT Thought Diary?
CBT Thought Diary is rated higher. AltoThought averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while CBT Thought Diary averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do AltoThought or CBT Thought Diary have ads?
Neither AltoThought nor CBT Thought Diary shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AltoThought or CBT Thought Diary?
AltoThought ships an update every 6 weeks, and CBT Thought Diary every 5 weeks. Most recently, AltoThought was updated on October 27, 2026 and CBT Thought Diary on October 28, 2026.

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