Comparison

Examined Self vs mindcomb

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

Head to head
About

Examined Self

Read full description

Welcome to Examined Self — a journal for people who want more than just a place to write. It’s a system for thinking, helping you reflect on life’s important questions and apply time-tested wisdom to your own challenges and priorities. Your notes become the starting point for personalized insights that connect your thinking to philosophy, psychology, and powerful mental models — revealing deeper patterns as the system learns from your writing. Begin with a free trial. Continued access requires a subscription. --- WHAT MAKES EXAMINED SELF STAND OUT Many powerful ideas from philosophy, psychology, and decision science can change how we see our lives — but they often remain abstract. Examined Self aims to make those ideas practical and personal, helping people think more clearly about purpose, priorities, decisions, and how to live well. PERSONALIZED INSIGHTS FROM YOUR WRITING As you write, Examined Self generates insights and questions tailored to your notes — helping you see patterns in your thinking and approach challenges more clearly. APPLY TIME-TESTED WISDOM TO YOUR LIFE Ideas from philosophy, psychology, and decision science appear directly in your insights — connecting your writing to ideas that have guided thinkers, creators, and decision-makers for generations. A TIMELINE FOR YOUR THINKING Your writing builds into a timeline of key ideas and reflections, helping you see your thinking across time and return to what matters most. GUIDED BY A LIBRARY OF POWERFUL IDEAS Explore a growing library of concepts, mental models, and prompts designed to deepen reflection and support wiser decisions. INSPIRATION FROM REAL STORIES Learn from thinkers, creators, and historical figures whose stories illuminate your own path. --- SUBSCRIPTIONS & TERMS Examined Self offers a free trial so you can explore everything before subscribing. After the trial, continued use requires a subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account upon confirmation of purchase. You can manage or cancel anytime in your App Store settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula Privacy Policy: https://www.examinedself.app/privacy

About

mindcomb

This audio app offers guided sessions to help users achieve a sense of calm, clarity, and control. It uses a structured method of Reset, Reflect, and Realign to guide users through their thoughts and emotions, providing a tool for consistent mental well-being.

Highlights
  • Guided audio sessions
  • Original sound for emotional regulation
  • Reflection for clarity and insight
  • Structured process for mental well-being
  • Reset, Reflect, Realign method
Features
Read full description

A more structured way to work with your mind. mindcomb is a psychiatrist-led audio app designed to help you feel calm, clear, and in control. Not occasionally, but consistently. Built around a simple method: Reset, Reflect, Realign Most support stops at insight. mindcomb is designed to help you apply it. Each session guides you through a clear process, helping you move through your thoughts and emotions with structure and direction. Designed for real life, and for consistent use. Reset To return to a sense of calm. Reflect To understand your internal world with clarity. Realign To move forward with intention and control. Inside the app: • Guided audio sessions designed for real-time use • Original sound designed to support emotional regulation • Reflection designed to deepen clarity and insight • A structure you can return to whenever you need it This is not meditation. This is not therapy. It is a structured way to work with your mind. To feel more calm, clear, and in control. SUBSCRIPTIONS mindcomb offers two auto-renewable subscription plans with a 14-day free trial: Yearly Plan — USD 159.99/year • 14-day free trial included • Billed annually • Full access • Best value Monthly Plan — USD 19.99/month • 14-day free trial included • Billed monthly • Full access with flexibility to cancel anytime. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy Privacy Policy: https://mindcombapp.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms and Conditions: https://mindcombapp.com/terms-conditions/

Screenshots

Examined Self4 screens
mindcomb4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Examined Self at none against mindcomb's shown. mindcomb's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). On price, in-app purchases 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. Examined Self sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and mindcomb sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Examined Self ships an update every 3 weeks, mindcomb weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Examined Self versus mindcomb: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExamined Selfmindcomb
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB86 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPedro Vasconcelosmindcomb Inc.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Examined Self

Subscriptions3
  • Examined Self Premium – Monthly7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Premium Subscription Monthly3 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • Premium Subscription Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year
2 purchases

mindcomb

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly14 Days trial$19.991 Month
  • Yearly14 Days trial$159.991 Year

Questions

Is Examined Self free?
Examined Self is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is mindcomb free?
mindcomb is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Examined Self or mindcomb have ads?
mindcomb shows ads; Examined Self does not.
Which is updated more often, Examined Self or mindcomb?
Examined Self ships an update every 3 weeks, and mindcomb weekly. Most recently, Examined Self was updated on October 7, 2026 and mindcomb on October 24, 2026.

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