# Fathom vs Lucid

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Fathom at 69% against Lucid's 0%. Fathom also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (503 vs 60). Lucid's advantage is monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Fathom sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month and Lucid sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Fathom holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fathom has 503 ratings behind it against 60, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Fathom's written reviews are positive against 0% of Lucid's.

Fathom ships an update weekly, Lucid every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Fathom | Lucid |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (503 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fathom-learn-philosophy/id6742149252/reviews)** | [4.6 (60 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lucid-know-yourself/id6746735774/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **503** | 60 |
| Positive reviews | **69.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 191 MB | 63 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Polywise, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437286958) | [Control. Alt. Delete. LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1762687184) |

## 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


### Lucid

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lucid-know-yourself/id6746735774)

This app helps emotionally self-aware individuals untangle their minds and heal patterns. It offers personalized journeys based on CBT and daily guided reflections to foster self-awareness and emotional regulation. It's designed for those feeling overwhelmed or anxious but seeking insight and change.

**Highlights:** Personalized emotional journeys, Interactive mini-courses, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) methods, Daily guided reflections, AI-powered emotional chat companion (coming soon), Evidence-based practices

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium | $11.99 | per year |
| Yearly Plan | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium | $25.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Premium | $59.99 | per year |
| Premium | $199.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Fathom free?

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

### Is Lucid free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Fathom or Lucid?

Fathom is rated higher. Fathom averages 4.8 out of 5 from 503 ratings, while Lucid averages 4.6 from 60 ratings.

### Do Fathom or Lucid have ads?

Fathom shows ads; Lucid does not.

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

Fathom ships an update weekly, and Lucid every 3 days. Most recently, Fathom was updated on October 20, 2026 and Lucid on October 4, 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.*