Comparison

Mindshift Recovery vs Tether

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

Head to head
About

Mindshift Recovery

This app helps users overcome various addictions and bad habits, including substances, social media, and gambling. It utilizes an evidence-based, neuroscience approach to understand and change habitual behaviors. Features include science-backed lessons, craving management tools, live support, and community connection.

Highlights
  • Science-backed lessons on addiction
  • Craving management and behavior change
  • Daily live Zoom support calls
  • Supportive online community
  • Progress tracking and insights
  • Daily motivation and practical tools
Features
Read full description

Break free from alcohol & substances, food, social media, smoking, porn, gambling, and more. Mindshift Recovery's evidence-based based approach teaches you how to work with your brain rather than trying to control it - and losing. Developed by renowned addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Jud Brewer, our free, clinically-proven method is both easy and effective. KEY FEATURES • Science-backed lessons on why we get addicted in the first place • Step by step process for managing cravings and changing behavior • Daily live Zoom calls to connect, learn, and get help • Supportive online community of people on similar journeys • Progress tracking and personalized insights • Daily motivation and practical tools THE MINDSHIFT METHOD Our unique three-step approach combines cutting-edge neuroscience with proven behavioral techniques to address addiction directly: 1. Map your habitual patterns and understand your mind 2. Discover what truly drives your behaviors (and reduce the shame and stigma you feel about them!) 3. Develop better alternatives that stick Recover yourself — your journey to lasting change starts here. Download now and take the first step toward a healthier, more empowered you. Developed by Mindshift Recovery, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Note: This app is not a substitute for professional medical care. If you're experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room.

About

Tether

Read full description

Tether is a DBT skills companion built for teens — designed to work alongside therapy, not replace it. Whether you're learning Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for the first time or reinforcing what you're already working on, Tether makes it easier to actually use these skills when it matters. WHAT'S INSIDE Skill Library 18 real DBT skills across Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness — each explained in plain language, with clear steps and realistic time estimates. In the Moment When things feel like too much, get straight to a skill that can actually help — no digging through menus. Diary Card Track your emotions, urges, and which skills you used each day. See real trends over time, not just how today felt. Cope Ahead Planning for something hard? Pick the skills you want ready, get a gentle reminder, and reflect on how it went afterward. Share With a Parent (Optional) If you want support at home, choose exactly which skills a parent can see — never your private notes or check-ins, unless you choose to share those too. Therapist-Ready Export Generate a clean summary of your week to bring to your next session, with one tap. Crisis Resources Real, immediate access to 988, Crisis Text Line, and more — always available, no login required. BUILT WITH REAL DBT PRINCIPLES Tether isn't a replacement for therapy, and it's not a crisis service. It's a practice space for skills you're already learning — built to fit into an actual teenage life. Free to download, with a 7-day free trial for Tether Plus (personalized skill recommendations, full Diary Card history, and more). Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Mindshift Recovery4 screens
Tether4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Mindshift Recovery at none against Tether's 4. On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Tether sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Mindshift Recovery asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mindshift Recovery ships an update every 4 weeks, Tether monthly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Mindshift Recovery versus Tether: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMindshift RecoveryTether
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (213 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings213 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.415.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size109 MB35 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperMindshift RecoveryGolden Sunset Studios LLC

In-app purchases

None

Mindshift Recovery

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Tether

Subscriptions4
  • Tether Plus7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Tether Family7 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • Tether Plus7 Days trial$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Tether Family7 Days trial$89.991 Year

Questions

Is Mindshift Recovery free?
Mindshift Recovery is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tether free?
Tether is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Mindshift Recovery or Tether have ads?
Neither Mindshift Recovery nor Tether shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mindshift Recovery or Tether?
Mindshift Recovery ships an update every 4 weeks, and Tether monthly. Most recently, Mindshift Recovery was updated on October 25, 2026 and Tether on October 25, 2026.

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