OpenRecovery vs Empathy Messenger
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OpenRecovery
This AI-powered companion offers personalized guidance and support for various recovery paths, including 12 Steps, SMART Recovery, and CBT. Engage in voice conversations, utilize comprehensive recovery exercises, and track your progress with detailed metrics. It also provides resources for allies and professionals.
- AI Recovery Assistant (Kai)
- Voice chat with AI
- 12 Steps, SMART Recovery, CBT exercises
- Self-discovery journals
- Resources for allies and professionals
- Recovery resources library
- Daily habit recommendations
- Progress tracking and calendar view
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Welcome to OpenRecovery, your comprehensive recovery companion featuring Kai, your personal AI Recovery Assistant. OpenRecovery makes recovery accessible, inclusive, and effective—no matter your chosen recovery path or your stage in the journey. OpenRecovery supports a diverse array of recovery methodologies, including the 12 Steps, SMART Recovery, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Whether you're actively involved in a specific program, newly exploring recovery, supporting someone you care about, or you're a professional counselor or coach seeking effective tools, OpenRecovery provides personalized resources and guidance tailored to your needs. Kai offers compassionate, intelligent assistance, answering your questions and guiding you at any stage of your recovery journey—providing continuous support exactly when you need it most. Key Features: NEW Voice Chat with Kai: Experience hands-free recovery support with natural voice conversations. Turn off your screen while talking, no typing required. Choose from different voice options for a personalized experience that feels like talking to a trusted friend. Enhanced Kai AI Recovery Assistant: Intuitive conversations, personalized guidance, and non-judgmental support tailored precisely to your recovery journey. Comprehensive Recovery Exercises: - 12 Steps: Access essential tools like Inventories, Step Work, and Daily Reflections via the "Tools" icon. - SMART Recovery: Utilize Kai-powered exercises including Cost-Benefit Analysis, Hierarchy of Values, and Change Plan Worksheets. - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Access resources to challenge and manage negative thoughts, emotional triggers, and behaviors. Self-Discovery Journals: Engage with interactive journals exploring relationships, motivations, values, gratitude, habits, goals, fears, and triggers. Support for Allies and Professionals: Specialized tools for friends, family members, and professionals supporting recovery journeys. Extensive Recovery Resources Library: Access foundational texts including the AA Big Book, SMART Recovery manuals, CBT workbooks, and meditation guides. Recommended Actions with Daily Habits: Discover curated daily habits and meaningful actions with Kai's intelligent recommendations and reminders. Actions Counter: Track progress with comprehensive metrics showing weekly and lifetime totals. Enhanced AI Search: Find recovery actions instantly with improved search functionality. Calendar View: Share updates, manage recovery actions, and maintain connections with sponsors, mentors, counselors, and trusted allies. Facilitator Suggested Actions: Receive personalized tasks from your sponsor, coach, or therapist within the app. In Addition to SMART Recovery and CBT Methodologies, Specific 12 Step Recovery Programs Supported Include: Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Gamblers Anonymous (GA) Overeaters Anonymous (OA) Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA) Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) Debtors Anonymous (DA) Marijuana Anonymous (MA) Cocaine Anonymous (CA) Al-Anon / Alateen Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) Co-Anon Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) Co-Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (COSLAA) Emotions Anonymous (EA) Gam-Anon / Gam-A-Teen Heroin Anonymous (HA) Nar-Anon Sexaholics Anonymous (SA) Sexual Compulsives Anonymous (SCA) Rageaholics Anonymous (RA) Underearners Anonymous (UA) Workaholics Anonymous (WA) Crystal Meth Anonymous (CMA) Celebrate Recovery (CR) Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA) Food Addicts in Recovery (FA) General 12 Steps Recovery Coming Soon: Refuge Recovery, Dharma Recovery OpenRecovery continues to evolve, driven by the community's diverse needs, ensuring everyone can find personalized, effective tools and support for lasting recovery. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Empathy Messenger
Connect with a supportive community for addiction recovery and sobriety. Find anonymous help, accountability partners, and resources to quit drinking and stay sober. You are never alone on your journey.
- Anonymous sober community
- Addiction recovery support
- Accountability partners
- Sobriety tracker & counter
- 1:1 and group chats
- Judgment-free social network
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Empathy Messenger - the sober chat community with addiction recovery support. Quit drinking alcohol today with anonymous support from people who are also in recover. You are never alone with Empathy Messenger. Stop drinking, stay sober and get the right support. Your Sober Community Quit drinking with Empathy Messenger, a sobriety and addiction recovery app for those struggling with alcohol or drugs. Our sober community members are here to support you. Receive guidance on how to stay sober and start your recovery journey today. Join a judgment-free social network Alcohol addiction is fed in isolation. Immerse yourself in an understanding community of users who are on the path to recovery too. Stop drinking alcohol, take the first step and remember, you are not alone in this. Quit drinking or using drugs - start your addiction recovery journey with Empathy Messenger, your sobriety app. Empathy Messenger - More than a Social Network, a Valuable Sober Community Our community is engineered to help people get help, support, and encouragement when they need it. Post whatever you need help with and connect with people who can help you get through it. Receive and lend recovery support through 1:1 chat and group chats. Alcohol or drugs recovery relies heavily on community; connect with a supportive, ego-free social network. Stop drinking alcohol, seek addiction recovery and join our Empathy Messenger community today, where users have access to addiction recovery resources and daily support. Here are our app features to make your recovery journey easier: Sober Community: - Addiction recovery isn’t easy; connect with accountability partners (AA meetings) to stay on track with sobriety goals - Quit drinking and receive help: AA support is available every time you reach out, guaranteed! - Our Sobriety tracker & counter app gives you everything you need to keep moving forward Join our sober community to receive the support you need to get sober and stay that way.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Empathy Messenger at none against OpenRecovery's 1. Empathy Messenger also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). OpenRecovery's advantage is ratings volume (292 vs 5). On price, rating, ads and monetization model 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. OpenRecovery sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Empathy Messenger asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for OpenRecovery against 5.0 for Empathy Messenger. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenRecovery has 292 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.
OpenRecovery ships an update every 2 weeks, Empathy Messenger every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OpenRecovery | Empathy Messenger |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (292 ratings) | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 88.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 292 — better | 5 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 14.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 102 MB | 64 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Huxley Technologies, LLC | Chris Thompson |
Customer experience
OpenRecovery
Empathy Messenger
Bugs and requests
OpenRecovery
Reported bugs
3 issues- Service tab inaccessible due to persistent feedback popup
- App freezes preventing users from moving forward in conversations
- Feedback survey popup cannot be dismissed
Requested features
4 requests- Dark mode or night mode option
- Restore previous app icon with stairway design
- Tip jar or donation feature to support developers
- Expanded non-secular and scientifically-based program integration
Empathy Messenger
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
OpenRecovery
- Monthly Premium Access14 Days trial$9.991 Month
Empathy Messenger
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is OpenRecovery free?
Is Empathy Messenger free?
Which has better reviews, OpenRecovery or Empathy Messenger?
Do OpenRecovery or Empathy Messenger have ads?
Which is updated more often, OpenRecovery or Empathy Messenger?
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