# PTSD Coach vs EMDR

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PTSD Coach at 81% against EMDR's 46%. PTSD Coach also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 7) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). EMDR's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 11 months) and device support (7 vs 3). On price and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. EMDR sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. PTSD Coach asks for nothing beyond the download.

PTSD Coach holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PTSD Coach has 4.3K ratings behind it against 172, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of PTSD Coach's written reviews are positive against 46% of EMDR's.

PTSD Coach ships an update every 11 months, EMDR weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PTSD Coach | EMDR |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ptsd-coach/id430646302/reviews)** | [4.4 (172 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emdr/id1572102565/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4.3K** | 172 |
| Positive reviews | **81.1% of reviews** | 45.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 83 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)](https://appshunter.io/developer/430646305) | [Bas Oppenheim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1009442115) |

## What reviewers say

### PTSD Coach

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ptsd-coach/id430646302)

This app offers educational resources and self-help tools for individuals experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It includes a self-assessment, information on professional care, and customizable tools for managing daily stress, such as relaxation techniques and anger management.

**Highlights:** PTSD education, Self-assessment tool, Professional care information, Stress management tools, Customizable features, Relaxation skills

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful app for managing PTSD symptoms
- 🚀 Accessible and easy to use
- 💡 Provides a variety of coping tools
- 🌟 Helpful for both veterans and non-veterans
- 🧠 Aids in self-assessment and progress tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Limited to veteran-focused PTSD content
- 🔊 Distracting background sounds in some exercises
- 🐛 Occasional app crashes and freezing issues
- 📱 Outdated or lacking features for modern devices

**Reported bugs**

- History data being deleted after updates
- Symptom assessment reminders not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Multi-language support
- Ability to customize or add personal content
- Integration with mental health professionals
- Expanded resources for non-veteran PTSD
- Improved symptom tracking and data visualization


### EMDR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emdr/id1572102565)

This app provides customizable bilateral stimulation across Apple devices, offering control over visual, auditory, and haptic feedback. It supports various use cases like research, education, focus enhancement, and relaxation, with accessibility features and online broadcasting capabilities.

**Highlights:** Customizable pace and auto-stop, Stereo sounds, animations, and vibrations, Cross-device connectivity (iPhone, iPad, Mac, etc.), Game controller support, Online broadcasting via EMDR Connect, Full VoiceOver and Assistive Access support

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EMDR+ | $4.99 | per month |
| EMDR+ with Connect | $19.99 | per month |
| EMDR+ with Connect (Monthly) | $39.99 | per month |
| EMDR+ (Yearly) | $49.99 | per year |
| EMDR+ with Connect (Yearly) | $199.99 | per year |
| EMDR+ for Research | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Effective EMDR tool
- 💡 Highly customizable
- 🚀 Works well on iPhone/iPad
- ✨ Clean interface
- 🎧 Supports audio cues

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Subscription model criticized
- 🐌 Slow on Macbook
- 📱 Apple TV app broken
- 🚫 No free trial clarity
- ⚠️ Upsell windows disrupt sessions

**Reported bugs**

- Apple Watch app won't launch after update
- Sound issues (thudding noise, stereo problems)
- Apple TV app doesn't work
- Session disrupted by upsell window
- App crashes when selecting features

**Requested features**

- Gradient effect for circle
- More customization for circle
- Alternating controller vibration
- Timer feature
- Slower BPM options (down to 30)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PTSD Coach free?

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

### Is EMDR free?

EMDR is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PTSD Coach or EMDR?

PTSD Coach is rated higher. PTSD Coach averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.3K ratings, while EMDR averages 4.4 from 172 ratings.

### Do PTSD Coach or EMDR have ads?

Neither PTSD Coach nor EMDR shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PTSD Coach or EMDR?

PTSD Coach ships an update every 11 months, and EMDR weekly. Most recently, PTSD Coach was updated on October 18, 2026 and EMDR 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.*