Comparison

MindShift CBT vs Thrive

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

Head to head
About

MindShift CBT

This app offers free, science-backed tools based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help users manage anxiety, stress, and panic. It provides techniques for reframing thoughts, relaxation, and facing fears, with features like a thought journal and progress tracking.

Highlights
  • Thought journal
  • Fear ladder
  • Guided meditations
  • Community forum
  • Progress tracking
  • Science-backed CBT strategies
Features
Read full description

Take control of anxiety, stress, and panic with MindShift CBT. Get free, science-backed tools based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you reframe your thoughts, relax your mind, and face your fears. Struggling with anxiety? You're not alone. MindShift CBT is a free mental health app developed by experts to provide you with proven tools for anxiety relief. Using the evidence-based strategies of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), MindShift CBT helps you learn to relax and be mindful, develop more effective ways of thinking, and take active steps to face your anxiety. WHAT YOU GET: • A Powerful Toolkit: From a thought journal and fear ladder to guided meditations and a supportive community forum. • Science-Backed Strategies: All tools are based on proven Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) methods. • Progress Tracking: Visualize your mental health journey with daily check-ins and insights. • Always Free: No subscriptions, no hidden costs. Just effective, accessible support. Whether you're dealing with general worry, social anxiety, panic attacks, or phobias, MindShift CBT is your personal guide to better mental health. Download today and start your journey to a calmer mind.

About

Thrive

This app offers confidential mental health support, including therapy sessions and evidence-based programs for stress, anxiety, and depression. It uses smart technology for early detection and provides tools for building resilience and emotional well-being.

Highlights
  • Confidential therapy sessions
  • Early detection of mental health conditions
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) program
  • Mood tracking and daily check-ups
  • Meditation and relaxation exercises
  • Evidence-based tools and techniques
Features
Read full description

Empowering people to take control of their mental health through accessible and confidential mental health support. Thrive is a mental health and therapy service, delivered via an app. Our NHS-digitally compliant app* uses smart technology to prevent, detect, manage and treat conditions such as stress, anxiety and depression. Using clinically proven tools and techniques, we enable people to take control of their mental health and have access to support when they need it, where they need it, and for as long as they need it. Therapy Therapy is fully confidential and users can access as many sessions as they need without the limits of traditional services. Our certified therapists are available 8am to 8pm UK time, Monday to Friday, to deliver therapy in line with your clinical needs and get you through to full recovery. Available through video, phone call and text - all at the click of a button! Early Detection Designed for early detection, therapists are alerted when users indicate signs of anxiety and/or depression on symptom assessments. A therapist will proactively reach out to offer support - acting as a safety net, before minor issues become crises. CBT Programme Thrive uses the latest Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques to help people manage specific stressors and retrain unhelpful thoughts. Our comprehensive CBT course provides psychoeducation and engaging learning modules, allowing individuals to better understand the connection between thoughts, behaviours and emotions and be better equipped to navigate mental health difficulties. The more these connections are understood, the better they can be controlled. Build Resilience Monitor your emotions and well-being through our daily checkup session and mood tracker. Engage in validated assessments that screen for depression and anxiety levels, guiding you to the appropriate support when needed. By consistently exploring these tools within Thrive, you'll gain insights into emotional trends, enabling valuable self-reflection and learning opportunities. All assessments and trackers are completely confidential, Deep Muscle Relaxation and Breathing Exercises Modules include Meditation, Calm Breathing, Deep Muscle Relaxation and more, with customisable soundscapes and lengths to fit into your daily life. Evidence-Based Every Thrive tool and feature has been validated by research and is continually developed by experts. Evidence is at the heart of everything we do. Please note Thrive is only available through an organisation that has partnered with Thrive Mental Wellbeing. In order to sign up, please ensure you have the unique access code provided to you by your organisation (often by HR or Wellbeing).DISCLAIMER: The app provides information, suggestions and guidance regarding the treatment and management of mental health conditions. The advice presented is for information only. Please always consult a doctor before making any medical decisions *Complies with the NHS Digital Technology Assessment Criteria in the UK

Screenshots

MindShift CBT4 screens
Thrive4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: MindShift CBT at 71% against Thrive's 46%. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MindShift CBT ships an update every 4 months, Thrive every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
MindShift CBT versus Thrive: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMindShift CBTThrive
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (562 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews71.1% of reviews — better46.2% of reviews
Number of ratings562 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB65 MB
Age rating4+12+
Developer247 Labs IncThrive Therapeutic Software Ltd

Customer experience

MindShift CBT

All ratings557 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral6.1%
Negative9.7%
Written reviews342 reviews
Positive71.1%
Neutral10.2%
Negative18.7%

Thrive

Written reviews13 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative46.2%

Bugs and requests

MindShift CBT

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Login/account creation issues
  • Saving/submitting entries not working
  • Crashing/freezing
  • Incompatibility with newer OS versions
  • Sharing/exporting data not functioning

Requested features

10 requests
  • Longer journal entries
  • More customization options
  • Ability to see full history
  • Improved accessibility features
  • Community access for under 18s
Show 5 more
  • Dark mode option
  • More interactive breathing exercises
  • Ability to add own anxiety symptoms
  • Reminders to use the app
  • Sync data across devices

Thrive

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

MindShift CBT

No in-app purchases

None

Thrive

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MindShift CBT free?
MindShift CBT is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Thrive free?
Thrive is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MindShift CBT or Thrive have ads?
Neither MindShift CBT nor Thrive shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MindShift CBT or Thrive?
MindShift CBT ships an update every 4 months, and Thrive every 2 months. Most recently, MindShift CBT was updated on November 6, 2026 and Thrive on November 3, 2026.

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