# BGC Next vs Sona by Pelago

The clearest difference is rating: Sona by Pelago at 4.7 against BGC Next's 1.0. Sona by Pelago also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (27 vs 1). BGC Next's advantage is monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Sona by Pelago holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sona by Pelago has 27 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

BGC Next ships an update every 2 months, Sona by Pelago weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BGC Next | Sona by Pelago |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bgc-next/id6743176334/reviews) | **[4.7 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sona-by-pelago/id6758111708/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **27** |
| Positive reviews | — | 83.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 522 MB | 86 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Northeastern University Information Services](https://appshunter.io/developer/455790172) | [Digital Therapeutics Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1172849792) |

## What reviewers say

### BGC Next

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bgc-next/id6743176334)

Conduct advanced auditory and cognitive tests from home. Developed by Northeastern University's Brain Game Center for Mental Fitness and Well-being.

**Highlights:** Auditory testing, Cognitive testing, Home-based assessments, Mental fitness tracking, Developed by university researchers

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sona by Pelago

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sona-by-pelago/id6758111708)

This AI-powered coach offers a voice-first approach to mental well-being, providing a non-judgmental space to process thoughts and feelings anytime. It learns your patterns to offer personalized support for managing anxiety, building habits, and improving sleep.

**Highlights:** Voice-first conversations, Personalized AI learning, Non-judgmental listening, Habit building support, Anxiety management, Sleep improvement, Always available check-ins

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BGC Next free?

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

### Is Sona by Pelago free?

Sona by Pelago is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, BGC Next or Sona by Pelago?

Sona by Pelago is rated higher. BGC Next averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Sona by Pelago averages 4.7 from 27 ratings.

### Do BGC Next or Sona by Pelago have ads?

Neither BGC Next nor Sona by Pelago shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BGC Next or Sona by Pelago?

BGC Next ships an update every 2 months, and Sona by Pelago weekly. Most recently, BGC Next was updated on October 28, 2026 and Sona by Pelago on October 21, 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.*