# Mastermind vs Forge

The clearest difference is monetization model: Mastermind at free with in-app purchases against Forge's subscription. Mastermind also leads on ratings volume (53 vs 3). Forge's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mastermind sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days and Forge sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Forge holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mastermind has 53 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Mastermind ships an update monthly, Forge fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mastermind | Forge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastermind-self-improvement/id6745372849/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-mens-self-improvement/id6751777497/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **53** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 63.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 75 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [MYKS Labs Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1803280982) | [Yaroslav Henza](https://appshunter.io/developer/1832216660) |

## What reviewers say

### Mastermind

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mastermind-self-improvement/id6745372849)

This app provides a personalized habit-building system based on behavioral psychology. It assesses your needs, creates a scalable habit sequence, and offers daily coaching and progress tracking to foster lasting life changes.

**Highlights:** Personalized habit assessment, Progressive habit scaling, Daily coaching and insights, Real-time progress tracking, Gamified progress system, Evidence-based habit library

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mastermind: Self Improvement | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Mastermind: Self Improvement | $14.99 | per month |
| Mastermind: Self Improvement | $19.99 | per month |
| Mastermind: Self Improvement | $29.99 | per year |
| Mastermind: Self Improvement | $34.99 | per 3 months |
| Mastermind: Self Improvement | $39.99 | per year |
| Mastermind: Self Improvement | $39.99 | per year |
| Mastermind: Self Improvement | $49.99 | per year |
| Mastermind: Self Improvement | $59.99 | per year |


### Forge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forge-mens-self-improvement/id6751777497)

This app offers structured daily quests and 14-day programs designed to help men improve in areas like fitness, mind, career, style, charisma, and attraction. It provides a gamified approach to self-improvement with personalized stats and achievements.

**Highlights:** 14-Day Quests with lessons, Interactive exercises, Daily action completion, Gamified stat tracking, Achievements and rewards, Multiple focus paths

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Forge Access (Month) | $7.99 | per month |
| Forge Access - Annual | $29.99 | per year |
| Forge Access (1 Year) | $34.99 | per year |
| Forge Access - Annual | $34.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mastermind free?

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

### Is Forge free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mastermind or Forge?

Forge is rated higher. Mastermind averages 4.6 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while Forge averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Mastermind or Forge have ads?

Neither Mastermind nor Forge shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mastermind or Forge?

Mastermind ships an update monthly, and Forge fortnightly. Most recently, Mastermind was updated on October 30, 2026 and Forge on October 30, 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.*