Comparison

Shadow Work Journal vs Aside

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

Aside

Features
Read full description

Aside is a journal built around how you actually think, not a blank page waiting for a perfect first sentence. Speak an entry, or type it if you'd prefer. Attach a photo to hold onto a moment, tag it so it's easy to find later. Once a day settles, Aside writes a short reflection noticing what actually stood out, plainly and without ever rewriting your words. Once a week, a longer one — a mood that shifted, a person who came up more than once, a contrast worth sitting with, written like a thoughtful note. Everything is organized by day and by week, always there to look back on. Export your full journal, entries and photos, whenever you want it. Aside. Capture life, notice patterns. Terms of Use (EULA): https://useaside.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://useaside.app/privacy

Screenshots

Shadow Work Journal4 screens
Aside4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Aside at every 3 days against Shadow Work Journal's monthly. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 Aside sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shadow Work Journal ships an update monthly, Aside every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Shadow Work Journal versus Aside: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadow Work JournalAside
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (114 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings114 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS18.217.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperERSAH ATMACAJASMINE NICOLE WRIGHT

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
2 purchases

Aside

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$7.991 Month
  • Annual$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Shadow Work Journal free?
Shadow Work Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aside free?
Aside is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shadow Work Journal or Aside have ads?
Neither Shadow Work Journal nor Aside shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shadow Work Journal or Aside?
Shadow Work Journal ships an update monthly, and Aside every 3 days. Most recently, Shadow Work Journal was updated on November 5, 2026 and Aside on October 31, 2026.

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