Comparison

AltoThought vs CBT for Beginners

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 for Beginners

This app offers a structured, science-based approach to managing anxiety and overthinking. It guides users through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to improve emotional regulation and develop healthier thinking patterns. Features include thought analysis, mood tracking, and personalized daily plans.

Highlights
  • Structured thought processing
  • Emotional progress tracking
  • Science-based CBT techniques
  • Personalized daily plan
  • AI-generated suggestions
  • Expert articles on mental wellness
Features
Read full description

CBT Therapy: Mental Health Journal is a structured, science-based tool designed to help you reduce overthinking, manage anxiety, and develop healthier thinking patterns. Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), the app guides you through proven techniques that support emotional regulation, clearer thinking, and long-term mental wellness. This journal is built for users who want a practical, evidence-based approach to understanding and improving their thoughts, emotions, and daily reactions. What the app offers Clear and organized thought processing Write freely or use structured CBT prompts to analyze situations, challenge distortions, reframe negative thoughts, and build more balanced perspectives. Tracking emotional progress Monitor your mood, thought patterns, progress indicators, and long-term trends. Understand how your mindset changes over time. Science-based CBT techniques Access a library of practical tools, including thought reframing, anxiety reduction exercises, grounding strategies, stress-management techniques, and cognitive restructuring. Personalized daily plan Follow a structured, goal-oriented plan built around your needs, whether you aim to reduce overthinking, manage anxiety, improve self-awareness, or strengthen emotional resilience. AI-generated suggestions Receive personalized, context-aware recommendations based on your journal entries. AI provides practical next steps rooted in CBT principles. Expert articles and educational content Explore clear, accessible explanations of CBT, emotional regulation, stress, anxiety, cognitive distortions, and thought management. This app is not a medical device and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or therapy. *EULA*: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms of Use: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VOv3UmT0DFJfL1vxY3gHq0W8C_umJ9v8tKzQ1H8MafE/edit?usp=sharing Privacy Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yWoYqTDPyGKYWc_IySIl6N3jdS6v5j1_HnjfMU3ScL4/edit?usp=sharing

Screenshots

AltoThought4 screens
CBT for Beginners4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CBT for Beginners at 100% against AltoThought's 33%. CBT for Beginners also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 4). On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. AltoThought sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. CBT for Beginners asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CBT for Beginners holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CBT for Beginners has 23 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of AltoThought's written reviews are positive against 100% of CBT for Beginners's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
AltoThought versus CBT for Beginners: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAltoThoughtCBT for Beginners
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings)4.9 (23 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings323 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB51 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperFrank SolleveldDmytro Hrechko

Customer experience

AltoThought

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

CBT for Beginners

All ratings23 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
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
None

CBT for Beginners

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is AltoThought free?
AltoThought is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CBT for Beginners free?
CBT for Beginners is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, AltoThought or CBT for Beginners?
CBT for Beginners is rated higher. AltoThought averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while CBT for Beginners averages 4.9 from 23 ratings.
Do AltoThought or CBT for Beginners have ads?
Neither AltoThought nor CBT for Beginners shows ads.
Which is updated more often, AltoThought or CBT for Beginners?
AltoThought ships an update monthly, and CBT for Beginners monthly. Most recently, AltoThought was updated on October 17, 2026 and CBT for Beginners on October 7, 2026.

Other comparisons