# Shadow Work Journal vs Shadow Work & CBT

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shadow Work Journal | Shadow Work & CBT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (108 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-work-journal/id6746123700/reviews)** | [3.2 (11 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-work-and-cbt-hollowlight/id6748355158/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **108** | 11 |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 22.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **14.0.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ERSAH ATMACA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708793991) | [Ember Next LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1799292599) |

## What reviewers say

### Shadow Work Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-work-journal/id6746123700)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shadow Work Journal Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Shadow Work Annual Discounted | $24.99 | per year |
| Shadow Work Annual | $39.99 | per year |


### Shadow Work & CBT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-work-and-cbt-hollowlight/id6748355158)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*