OpenRecovery vs Sober Way
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OpenRecovery
This app provides AI-powered support for various recovery paths, including 12 Steps, SMART Recovery, and CBT. It offers personalized guidance, interactive journals, and a resource library to aid individuals and their allies in their recovery journey.
- AI Recovery Assistant (Kai)
- Voice chat support
- 12 Steps, SMART Recovery, CBT tools
- Self-discovery journals
- Resource library
- Progress tracking
- 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/
Sober Way
This app provides a comprehensive recovery companion based on the 12-Step program. It offers tools for tracking sobriety, building habits, analyzing triggers, and connecting with a supportive community. Users can personalize their experience and gain insights into their progress towards an addiction-free lifestyle.
- Sobriety tracker
- 12 Steps to Recovery tools
- Motivation and reminders
- Financial and time savings calculator
- Daily journal and trigger analysis
- Community support
- Customizable experience
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Sober Way is more than just a sobriety counter. It’s a complete recovery companion built on the proven 12-Step program, offering practical tools and daily support to help you stay sober and transform your life. With Sober Way, you don’t just track sober days — you also build new habits, analyze triggers, and find motivation within a growing community of people walking the same path to freedom. This app gives you access to the 12 Steps framework and tools that guide you step by step toward a healthier, addiction-free lifestyle. Key Features of Sober Way: • Sobriety Tracker Track your progress, celebrate milestones, and see how far you’ve come. • 12 Steps to Recovery Access the full 12-Step program and tools designed to help you reflect, recognize patterns, and move forward with clarity. • Motivation & Reminders Add your reasons, photos, and notes to stay inspired and focused on why you chose sobriety. • Financial & Time Calculator See how much money and time you save by quitting your addiction. • Daily Journal & Trigger Analysis Write down your thoughts and track events that made your day easier or harder. • Community Support Connect with like-minded people, share experiences, and receive encouragement from others on the same journey. • Customizable Experience Set your sobriety date, choose the addiction you’re working on, configure reminders, and get personalized end-of-day summaries. Core features are free. For a deeper recovery journey, you can upgrade to Sober Way Plus and unlock: • Extended access to 12-Step tools • Advanced reports & insights • Premium personalization options Subscriptions are billed via App Store and renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Manage your subscription in account settings. Privacy policy: https://novadosoft.com/privacy-policy-bro/ Terms of use: https://novadosoft.com/terms-of-use/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: OpenRecovery at none against Sober Way's shown. OpenRecovery also leads on ratings volume (292 vs 8) and device support (3 vs 1). Sober Way's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 89%). On price, rating, update cadence 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. OpenRecovery sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month and Sober Way sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for OpenRecovery against 5.0 for Sober Way. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: OpenRecovery has 292 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of OpenRecovery's written reviews are positive against 100% of Sober Way's.
OpenRecovery ships an update every 2 weeks, Sober Way every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OpenRecovery | Sober Way |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (292 ratings) | 5.0 (8 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 88.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 292 — better | 8 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 110 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Huxley Technologies, LLC | Dzimitry Hutkin |
Customer experience
OpenRecovery
Sober Way
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
Sober Way
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
OpenRecovery
- Monthly Premium Access14 Days trial$9.991 Month
Sober Way
- Premium weekly2 variants$2.997 Days
- Premium weekly1 Month trial$2.997 Days
- Premium weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
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- Premium yearly1 Month trial2 variants$99.991 Year
- Premium yearly2 variants$99.991 Year
Questions
Is OpenRecovery free?
Is Sober Way free?
Which has better reviews, OpenRecovery or Sober Way?
Do OpenRecovery or Sober Way have ads?
Which is updated more often, OpenRecovery or Sober Way?
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