# Fathom vs Mindcraeft

Fathom and Mindcraeft are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Fathom sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Mindcraeft sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Fathom ships an update weekly, Mindcraeft every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fathom | Mindcraeft |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (503 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathom-learn-philosophy/id6742149252/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **503** | — |
| Positive reviews | 69.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 191 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Polywise, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437286958) | [ChooChoo Works, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1811484631) |

## What reviewers say

### Fathom

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathom-learn-philosophy/id6742149252)

Explore great thinkers and philosophies with bite-sized lessons. Understand complex ideas with elegant visuals and build a daily habit of learning. Access over 50 learning paths on diverse philosophical topics.

**Highlights:** Daily philosophy habit building, Bite-sized lessons (under 2 minutes), Elegant visual explanations, 50+ learning paths, Save and review insights, Set learning goals

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription (no trial) | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription (Premium) | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly Access Premium No Trial | $59.99 | per year |
| Yearly Sub Premium No Trial | $69.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription Premium | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Engaging and interactive lessons
- 🎨 Visually appealing and informative
- 🧠 Helps develop critical thinking skills
- 🔍 Broad range of philosophical topics covered

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription-based model with limited free trial
- 🤔 Some questions felt leading rather than open-ended
- 🕰️ Lack of flexibility to revisit initial philosopher selections

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected charges during free trial period
- Potential issues with app functionality and compatibility

**Requested features**

- Option to customize or revisit philosopher selections
- More information about the app's algorithm and learning progression
- Ability to explore a wider range of philosophical perspectives


### Mindcraeft

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindcraeft/id6746278661)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mindcraeft Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Mindcraeft Monthly | $24.99 | per month |
| Mindcraeft Annual Subscription | $249.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fathom free?

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

### Is Mindcraeft free?

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

### Do Fathom or Mindcraeft have ads?

Both Fathom and Mindcraeft show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Fathom or Mindcraeft?

Fathom ships an update weekly, and Mindcraeft every 5 days. Most recently, Fathom was updated on October 20, 2026 and Mindcraeft on October 7, 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.*