Comparison

No Gi Essentials vs Grapple Flow

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

Head to head
About

No Gi Essentials

Learn submission grappling techniques and strategies from a renowned instructor. This comprehensive app features private lessons, live rolling footage, and detailed analysis for beginners and intermediates.

Highlights
  • Submission grappling instruction
  • Techniques and strategies
  • Private lessons
  • Live rolling footage
  • Detailed analysis
  • Beginner and intermediate focus
Features
Read full description

Submission grappling, or no gi jiu jitsu, is a timeless expression of the art. In this stunning app, Roy Dean explains the techniques and strategies that make all the difference for beginning and intermediate players. 12 private lessons are featured, plus live rolling footage and analysis. This is a large app, designed for multiple viewings. Chapters include: Welcome Essential Movements Essential Grips Takedowns Armdrag Kimura Guillotine Guard Options Mount Options Sidemount Escapes Opening the Guard Leglock Techniques Leg Combinations No Gi Essentials Rolling Analysis “The more you improve, the more you’ll get out of No Gi Essentials. It is quite possibly Roy Dean’s best DVD to date, an impressive achievement considering the high standard he has set in the past.” -Can Sonmez Slideyfoot.com “If you want smaller details on making your armbar better, tightening your footlocks, or even a few more ideas than you already have, this is a bargain. Consider it the most well thought out 2hr private lesson on no gi grappling you’ll ever get, at one quarter the price!” -Paul Pedrazzi Norcal BJJ Roy Dean holds black belts in several arts, including Judo, Aikido, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He is renown for his clear instruction and precise technique.

About

Grapple Flow

Visualize grappling techniques and transitions across multiple martial arts styles. Explore interactive position maps, watch technique videos, and log your training sessions to track progress and identify patterns. Offers both free exploration and premium features for advanced training.

Highlights
  • Interactive position graph
  • Technique videos (255+)
  • Multi-style support (BJJ, Judo, Wrestling, Sambo, Catch)
  • Pre-built and custom technique chains
  • Training journal and progress tracking
  • Belt and rank tracking
  • Cloud sync across devices
Features
Read full description

Grapple Flow is the position map every grappler wishes they had on day one. Every position. Every transition. Every submission. All connected on one interactive graph — across BJJ, Catch Wrestling, Judo, Wrestling, and Sambo. — BUILT FOR HOW GRAPPLERS ACTUALLY THINK — Grappling isn't a list of moves. It's a network. Side control connects to mount connects to north-south connects to back. From every position, there are attacks, escapes, and transitions. Grapple Flow shows you the whole map — and lets you walk it. Tap any position to see: - Every attack you can hit from there - Every escape you can chain - Every transition that links it to the next position - Video for the techniques (255+ wired and growing) - Common counters and your opponent's likely reactions — FIVE STYLES, ONE LANGUAGE — Toggle between Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Catch Wrestling, Judo, Wrestling, and Sambo. See how the same position is attacked differently in each style. Cross-train without losing the thread. — PATHS: PRE-BUILT CHAINS + BUILD YOUR OWN — Common Chains: 78 hand-crafted multi-branch sequences across the 8 most-attacked positions (Closed Guard, Half Guard, Mount, Side Control, Back Control, Standing, Spider Guard, X-Guard). Each chain shows the initial attack, the opponent's likely reaction, and your follow-up — with hand, hip, and foot logic spelled out. Custom Paths: build your own sequences from any starting position. Save them, name them, drill them. — TRAINING JOURNAL — Log every roll: partners, submissions landed, submissions given up, what worked, what didn't. Tag partners by username. See your win/loss by opponent. The stats surface patterns you can't see in the moment. — MY GAME + BELT TRACKING — Map your A-game. Mark the positions you live in and the ones you avoid. Track belt promotions and stripes. Set goals. Watch them close. — FREE + PREMIUM — Free: explore the position graph, watch technique videos, browse the glossary. Premium: Paths, My Game, Training Journal, Belt & Rank tracking, cloud sync across devices. 7-day free trial. Founder pricing — first 1,000 monthly subscribers lock in $2.99/mo for life. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

No Gi Essentials3 screens
Grapple Flow4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Grapple Flow at Free against No Gi Essentials's $19.99. Grapple Flow also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.1) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). No Gi Essentials's advantage is ratings volume (13 vs 1). On ads, in-app purchases, 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

Grapple Flow is free to download; No Gi Essentials costs $19.99 up front. No Gi Essentials sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Grapple Flow 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

Grapple Flow holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: No Gi Essentials has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

No Gi Essentials ships an update every 2 months, Grapple Flow every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
No Gi Essentials versus Grapple Flow: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNo Gi EssentialsGrapple Flow
Price$19.99Free — better
Rating4.1 (13 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings13 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB14 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperROYDEAN TV LLCDavid McKay

Customer experience

No Gi Essentials

All ratings13 ratings
Positive76.9%
Neutral7.7%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive87.0%
Neutral13.0%
Negative0.0%

Grapple Flow

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

No Gi Essentials

One-time1
  • Access The Full Version$19.99
3 purchases

Grapple Flow

Subscriptions2
  • Grapple Flow Premium7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Premium Annual$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Founding Member$79.99

Questions

Is No Gi Essentials free?
No Gi Essentials costs $19.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Grapple Flow free?
Grapple Flow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, No Gi Essentials or Grapple Flow?
Grapple Flow is rated higher. No Gi Essentials averages 4.1 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Grapple Flow averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do No Gi Essentials or Grapple Flow have ads?
Neither No Gi Essentials nor Grapple Flow shows ads.
Which is updated more often, No Gi Essentials or Grapple Flow?
No Gi Essentials ships an update every 2 months, and Grapple Flow every 3 weeks. Most recently, No Gi Essentials was updated on September 19, 2026 and Grapple Flow on September 24, 2026.

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