MindShift CBT vs ReliefLink
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Thought journal
- Fear ladder
- Guided meditations
- Community forum
- Progress tracking
- Science-backed CBT strategies
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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.
ReliefLink
This app offers confidential mental health support, including personalized profiles, mood tracking, safety planning, and coping exercises. It also features a map locator for mental health facilities and emergency contact options.
- Personalized mental health profile
- Mood and thought tracking
- Safety plan creation
- Coping methods and relaxation exercises
- Map locator for mental health facilities
- Emergency contact options
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*ReliefLink is an innovative free app developed specifically for suicide prevention and more generally for improving your mental health that brings confidential and supportive help right to the palm of your hand! ReliefLink enables you to create a personalized profile that includes pertinent information such as your mental health professional’s contact info, insurance coverage, and current medications. Track your mood and thoughts daily, create a safety plan, make a list of reminders (e.g. appointments, take medication, etc.) and check out the unique coping methods such as voice-recorded mindfulness and relaxation exercises or simply enjoy relaxing music! Need to find mental health help near you, especially in a crisis? Use the Map Locator to find the closest hospitals or other mental health treatment facilities. You can also find help through the therapist and support group links. **Use the Emergency button to view options such as Call 911, Helpline, Counselor, and more. And for encouraging messages or up-to-date mental health news from the ReliefLink Team, follow us on Twitter @relieflink! The ReliefLink App was developed for the purpose of entry into the SAMHSA Suicide Prevention: Continuity of Care and Follow-Up Mobile App Challenge in August 2013. The app won 1st place in the contest in September 2013 and was presented at the White House. *This is app is a supplemental tool to help the user manage his/her daily mental health, monitor suicidal feelings and thoughts, and offer options for seeking help. It should not be used in place of professional mental health or medical help. **The ReliefLink team urges anyone having a medical emergency to call 911 immediately.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: MindShift CBT at 4.3 against ReliefLink's 3.8. MindShift CBT also leads on ratings volume (562 vs 9) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 13 months). ReliefLink's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.1). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
MindShift CBT holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MindShift CBT has 562 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of MindShift CBT's written reviews are positive against 70% of ReliefLink's.
MindShift CBT ships an update every 4 months, ReliefLink every 13 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | MindShift CBT | ReliefLink |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (562 ratings) — better | 3.8 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 71.1% of reviews — better | 70.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 562 — better | 9 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months — better | Every 13 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 10.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 85 MB | 53 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | 247 Labs Inc | Emory University |
Customer experience
MindShift CBT
ReliefLink
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
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- Dark mode option
- More interactive breathing exercises
- Ability to add own anxiety symptoms
- Reminders to use the app
- Sync data across devices
ReliefLink
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
MindShift CBT
No in-app purchases
ReliefLink
No in-app purchases









