# Compulsion vs Patterns

The clearest difference is rating: Compulsion at 5.0 against Patterns's 4.6. Patterns's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Compulsion sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per month and Patterns sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Compulsion holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 5 respectively.

Compulsion ships an update weekly, Patterns every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compulsion | Patterns |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compulsion-ocd-relief-tools/id6746819901/reviews)** | [4.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patterns-ocd-and-erp-journal/id6762611172/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **5** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 99 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPod, Mac |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chase Benedict](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818682845) | [Aftaab Siddiqui](https://appshunter.io/developer/1894832139) |

## What reviewers say

### Compulsion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compulsion-ocd-relief-tools/id6746819901)

This app provides tools for managing OCD symptoms through evidence-based techniques like ERP and CBT. It helps users track compulsions, engage in guided exposures, and practice mindfulness to build resilience.

**Highlights:** Compulsion tracking, AI-powered exposures, Guided exposure therapy, Mindfulness exercises, Progress insights and metrics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| English | $5.99 | per month |


### Patterns

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/patterns-ocd-and-erp-journal/id6762611172)

A private journaling app designed to help users understand and track their obsessive-compulsive patterns. Record thoughts, log obsessions and compulsions, and visualize trends over time in a secure, local-first environment.

**Highlights:** Daily journaling, OCD tracking (obsessions, compulsions, responses), Distress trend insights, Private, local-first storage, App lock (Face ID, Touch ID, passcode), Exportable PDF reports, JSON backup and import

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small tip | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| Patterns Pro | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compulsion free?

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

### Is Patterns free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Compulsion or Patterns?

Compulsion is rated higher. Compulsion averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Patterns averages 4.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do Compulsion or Patterns have ads?

Neither Compulsion nor Patterns shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Compulsion or Patterns?

Compulsion ships an update weekly, and Patterns every 8 days. Most recently, Compulsion was updated on October 20, 2026 and Patterns on October 25, 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.*