# Distraxt vs Arete

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Arete at none against Distraxt's 2. Arete also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). Distraxt's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Distraxt sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Arete asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Distraxt against 5.0 for Arete. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

Distraxt ships an update every 2 weeks, Arete every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Distraxt | Arete |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distraxt-stop-overthinking/id6738848575/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arete-know-thyself/id6762371595/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 109 MB | 54 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shining Muffin LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1446193687) | [Kyle Emery](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893964408) |

## What reviewers say

### Distraxt

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/distraxt-stop-overthinking/id6738848575)

This app offers quick, interactive activities to help break cycles of overthinking and calm racing thoughts. It provides instant mental relief through playful, science-inspired tools designed to redirect attention and reset your mind.

**Highlights:** Tap to distract activities, Motion-based focus games, Quick relief for stress, Minimal input required, Designed for anxiety and mental reset

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock Your Best Self | $9.99 | per month |
| Try Your Best Self | $9.99 | per month |


### Arete

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arete-know-thyself/id6762371595)

This AI-powered personal development app uses Stoic philosophy to guide self-improvement. Interact with historical figures as your personal counselors to challenge your thinking, build disciplines, and hold yourself accountable to your ideal self.

**Highlights:** AI-powered personal development, Cabinet of 23 historical counselors, Customizable daily routines, Discipline streak tracking, Personalized essays, Focus timer and deep work tracker, Journaling and goal setting

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Distraxt free?

Distraxt is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Arete free?

Arete is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Distraxt or Arete?

Distraxt and Arete are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do Distraxt or Arete have ads?

Neither Distraxt nor Arete shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Distraxt or Arete?

Distraxt ships an update every 2 weeks, and Arete every 4 days. Most recently, Distraxt was updated on October 1, 2026 and Arete on September 29, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*
