# Shadow Work Journal vs Candle IQ

The clearest difference is rating: Candle IQ at 5.0 against Shadow Work Journal's 4.5. Candle IQ also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). Shadow Work Journal's advantage is ratings volume (112 vs 4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shadow Work Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Candle IQ asks for nothing beyond the download.

Candle IQ holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shadow Work Journal has 112 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Shadow Work Journal ships an update monthly, Candle IQ every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shadow Work Journal | Candle IQ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (112 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-work-journal/id6746123700/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candle-iq/id6757497059/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **112** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 50 MB | 0 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **16.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ERSAH ATMACA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708793991) | [Vincent Chapman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1867295105) |

## 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 |


### Candle IQ

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/candle-iq/id6757497059)

This app helps you optimize your candle burning experience by providing personalized recommendations. It considers factors like wax type, size, and room conditions to suggest ideal burn times, promoting safety and efficiency.

**Highlights:** Wax type selection, Candle size input, Wick count specification, Room condition adjustment, Recommended burn times, Simple interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shadow Work Journal free?

Shadow Work Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Candle IQ free?

Candle IQ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Shadow Work Journal or Candle IQ?

Candle IQ is rated higher. Shadow Work Journal averages 4.5 out of 5 from 112 ratings, while Candle IQ averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Shadow Work Journal or Candle IQ have ads?

Neither Shadow Work Journal nor Candle IQ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shadow Work Journal or Candle IQ?

Shadow Work Journal ships an update monthly, and Candle IQ every 3 days. Most recently, Shadow Work Journal was updated on October 24, 2026 and Candle IQ on October 24, 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.*