Comparison

Shadow Work Journal vs Shadow Work & CBT

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

Head to head
About

Shadow Work Journal

This guided journaling app helps you explore your inner world with AI-powered dialogues, mood tracking, and a learning library. It offers a private space for self-discovery, emotional clarity, and mental wellness through structured reflection.

Highlights
  • Guided journal prompts
  • AI-powered shadow self dialogue
  • Mood and emotion tracking
  • Learning library on mental health
  • Symbol and archetype exploration
  • Weekly reflections and insights
  • Secure and private on-device storage
Features
Read full description

Discover Yourself Through Shadow Work ShadowWork is a guided journaling app designed to help you explore your inner world, uncover hidden patterns, and gently integrate the parts of yourself you’ve kept in the dark. Whether you’re journaling for anxiety and depression help, looking for ADHD emotional support, or simply seeking more clarity and self-growth, this app offers a supportive and structured space for meaningful reflection. What You’ll Experience • Guided Journal Prompts Carefully crafted questions that support therapy, mood tracking, and emotional clarity, helping you work through stress, anxiety, and unconscious beliefs. • Chat with Your Shadow Self An AI-powered reflective dialogue that mirrors your inner voice—offering insight, not advice. • Mood & Emotion Tracking Log your feelings, spot trends, and build awareness over time—helpful for those managing depression, ADHD, or emotional ups and downs. • Learning Library Dive into articles and tools on shadow work, mental health, CBT, and DBT journaling for deeper self-understanding. • Symbol & Archetype Explorer Reflect on inner patterns through symbols, archetypes, and themed journaling exercises. • Weekly Reflections & Insights Receive personalized insights that bring together your journal entries, moods, and emotional patterns. • Secure & Private Your entries are stored on your device only. No account required—you control your data. With Shadow Work Journal you can journal for healing, self-discovery, emotional clarity, and mental wellness—all in one safe, private space. Privacy Policy: https://paytaktech.com/Apps/ShadowWork/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Shadow Work & CBT

Explore your inner world with daily journaling prompts and AI-powered insights. Uncover hidden patterns, triggers, and emotional healing through guided self-discovery. Features curated categories for deeper exploration.

Highlights
  • Daily shadow work prompts
  • AI-generated personalized insights
  • Tailored reflection questions
  • Curated prompt categories
  • Private journaling space
Features
Read full description

Unlock your inner world with a Shadow Work Journal — your companion for deeper self-discovery and emotional healing. Each day, receive a powerful journaling prompt to explore your thoughts, triggers, and hidden patterns. After you write, our AI analyzes your entry and returns personalized insights—helping you uncover what lies beneath the surface. Want to dive deeper? Get reflection questions, tailored to your unique experience. Feeling called to explore something specific? Browse curated prompt categories like Inner Child Healing, Triggers, Anxiety, Family Patterns, and more. Whether you're a seasoned journaler or just starting out, a Shadow Work Journal provides a safe, private space to meet yourself with honesty, compassion, and curiosity. Features: - Daily shadow work prompts - AI-generated insights based on your entry - Personalized follow-up reflection questions - Curated prompt categories - A private, judgment-free journaling space Begin your healing journey — one reflection at a time. Privacy Policy: https://embernext.com/privacy-policy/hollowlight_shadow_work Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Shadow Work Journal4 screens
Shadow Work & CBT4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Shadow Work Journal at 67% against Shadow Work & CBT's 22%. Shadow Work Journal also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.2) and ratings volume (108 vs 11). Shadow Work & CBT's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0.0 vs 18.2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Shadow Work Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Shadow Work & CBT sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shadow Work Journal holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shadow Work Journal has 108 ratings behind it against 11, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Shadow Work Journal's written reviews are positive against 22% of Shadow Work & CBT's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shadow Work Journal ships an update monthly, Shadow Work & CBT every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and August 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Shadow Work Journal versus Shadow Work & CBT: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadow Work JournalShadow Work & CBT
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (108 ratings) — better3.2 (11 ratings)
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews — better22.2% of reviews
Number of ratings108 — better11
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.214.0.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB55 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperERSAH ATMACAEmber Next LLC

Customer experience

Shadow Work Journal

All ratings108 ratings
Positive88.0%
Neutral3.7%
Negative8.3%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

Shadow Work & CBT

All ratings11 ratings
Positive54.5%
Neutral9.1%
Negative36.4%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive22.2%
Neutral11.1%
Negative66.7%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Shadow Work Journal

Subscriptions3
  • Shadow Work Journal Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Shadow Work Annual Discounted$24.991 Year
  • Shadow Work Annual$39.991 Year
3 purchases

Shadow Work & CBT

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Premium$4.997 Days
  • Yearly Premium3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$39.99

Questions

Is Shadow Work Journal free?
Shadow Work Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shadow Work & CBT free?
Shadow Work & CBT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shadow Work Journal or Shadow Work & CBT?
Shadow Work Journal is rated higher. Shadow Work Journal averages 4.5 out of 5 from 108 ratings, while Shadow Work & CBT averages 3.2 from 11 ratings.
Do Shadow Work Journal or Shadow Work & CBT have ads?
Neither Shadow Work Journal nor Shadow Work & CBT shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shadow Work Journal or Shadow Work & CBT?
Shadow Work Journal ships an update monthly, and Shadow Work & CBT every 2 months. Most recently, Shadow Work Journal was updated on September 21, 2026 and Shadow Work & CBT on August 24, 2026.

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