EMDR Therapy vs Balanced Mind
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
EMDR Therapy
This app simulates EMDR therapy using advanced digital techniques. It guides users through bilateral stimulation with visual, auditory, and vibration cues to help process distressing memories and reduce their emotional impact. Recommended by mental health professionals, it aims to aid recovery from trauma, depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
- Simulates EMDR therapy techniques
- Bilateral stimulation (visual, auditory, vibration)
- Guided processing of distressing memories
- Aids recovery from trauma and anxiety
- Customizable settings for user preference
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This application uses many advanced digital technics and simulates EMDR therapy. EMDR is a technique recommended by psychotherapists and Psychologists. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is an extensively researched psychotherapy method proven to be effective and help people recover from trauma and other distressing life experiences which are including depression, PTSD, panic disorders, anxiety. The American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs/Dept. of Defense, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the World Health Organization among many other national and international organizations recognize and recommend EMDR therapy as an effective treatment. First, put on your headphones, think of a traumatic and disturbing event. Follow the ball in the EMDR tool, focus on the transition of sounds in your left and right ears, and feel the vibrations. Thus, the effect of traumatic disturbing events that will provide the data flow between the right and left brain as in REM sleep will decrease. Focus on the trauma memory while simultaneously experiencing bilateral stimulation (typically eye movements), which is associated with a reduction in the vividness and emotion associated with the trauma memories. While you bring the details of that memory to mind, This tool will guide you through a series of side-to-side eye movements, auditory (with direction), and vibrations. As you learn to process the memory and related feelings it brings up, you’ll gradually be able to reframe that memory in a more positive light. Use three types of BLS: visual, auditory (with direction), and vibrations and modify your settings to suit your preferences. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a form of psychotherapy developed by Francine Shapiro in the 1980s that was originally designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In EMDR, the person being treated recalls distressing experiences whilst doing bilateral stimulation, such as side-to-side eye movement or physical stimulation, such as tapping either side of the body. According to the theory behind the approach, traumatic and painful memories can cause post-traumatic stress when you don’t process them completely. Then, when sights, sounds, words, or smells trigger those unprocessed memories, you re-experience them. The 2013 World Health Organization (WHO) practice guideline states that EMDR "is based on the idea that negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are the result of unprocessed memories. The treatment involves standardized procedures that include focusing simultaneously on spontaneous associations of traumatic images, thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations and bilateral stimulation that is most commonly in the form of repeated eye movements. This re-experiencing leads to the emotional distress and other symptoms recognized as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). EMDR aims to reduce symptoms of trauma by changing how your memories are stored in your brain. In a nutshell, an EMDR therapist does this by leading you through a series of bilateral (side-to-side) eye movements as you recall traumatic or triggering experiences in small segments, until those memories no longer cause distress.
Balanced Mind
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Feeling stuck on something — a memory, a worry, a knot in your chest that won't loosen? Balanced Mind gives you a five-minute, self-guided EMDR session you can do right now, on your phone, with no appointment and nothing to learn first. Pick what you want to feel calmer about, rate how intense it feels, and follow the moving dot with your eyes. That's it. Most people notice the intensity drop within a session or two, and the app tracks it so you can see the change. EMDR THERAPY Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Psychological Association (APA) as an effective treatment for trauma and emotional distress. Balanced Mind provides self-guided bilateral visual stimulation sessions based on protocols developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro. • Customizable visual stimulation (speed, color, pattern) • Multiple session modes and durations • Session history with progress tracking • Built-in safety timers and session reminders BINAURAL TONE THERAPY Stereo audio tones designed to support different mental states. Choose from five research-backed frequency presets: • Delta (0.5–4 Hz) — Deep relaxation & sleep • Theta (4–8 Hz) — Meditation & creativity • Alpha (8–14 Hz) — Calm focus & stress relief • Beta (14–30 Hz) — Alertness & concentration • Gamma (30–100 Hz) — Peak cognitive performance Requires stereo headphones for full effectiveness. ENCRYPTED JOURNALING Process your thoughts with a private, encrypted journal. Your entries are encrypted on your device before they ever leave it — not even we can read them. • End-to-end encryption (AES-256) • Mood tracking alongside journal entries • Search and revisit past reflections • Export your data anytime PROGRESS & INSIGHTS Track your wellness journey over time with clear, meaningful analytics. • Session frequency and duration trends • Mood patterns and emotional insights • Weekly and monthly progress summaries • Data export for sharing with your therapist PRIVACY FIRST Your mental health data deserves the highest level of protection. • End-to-end encrypted journals — only you can read them • No selling of personal data, ever • GDPR-compliant data export and account deletion • Minimal data collection — we track product analytics, not you BUILT WITH RESEARCH Every therapeutic feature in Balanced Mind is grounded in peer-reviewed research. The app includes a full citations page so you can explore the science behind EMDR and binaural therapy. CRISIS SUPPORT If you or someone you know is in crisis, the app provides immediate access to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and other mental health resources. IMPORTANT: Balanced Mind is a self-guided wellness tool and is NOT a replacement for professional therapy. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please contact 988 or your local emergency services. EARLY ACCESS Balanced Mind is in Early Access: every feature — unlimited EMDR sessions, binaural therapy, encrypted journaling and progress tracking — is free, with no card required. Paid plans will come later and early members will hear about them first.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: EMDR Therapy at none against Balanced Mind's 6. EMDR Therapy also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). Balanced Mind's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support 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. Balanced Mind sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. EMDR Therapy asks for nothing beyond the download.
EMDR Therapy ships an update every 4 days, Balanced Mind weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | EMDR Therapy | Balanced Mind |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (15 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 88.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 15 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Weekly |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 108 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Ahmet Emre Kilinc | Christopher Jerome Kiklas |
In-app purchases
EMDR Therapy
No in-app purchases
Balanced Mind
- Basic Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Premium Monthly7 Days trial$19.991 Month
- Pro Monthly7 Days trial$29.991 Month
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- Basic Annual$69.991 Year
- Preium Annual$129.991 Year
- Pro Annual$199.991 Year








