Comparison

Mindless vs Drift

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

Head to head
About

Mindless

This app helps you understand and change your phone usage habits by prompting you to state your intention before opening distracting apps. It uses AI journaling and mood tracking to reveal patterns and provide insights into your digital behavior.

Highlights
  • Intention setting before app opens
  • AI-powered journaling and reflection
  • Mood tracking and pattern analysis
  • Accountability coaching with AI
  • Connected intelligence across data points
Read full description

You don't have a phone problem. You have a scrolling problem. Mindless helps you understand why you reach for your phone - and actually do something about it. -- THE PAUSE THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING -- Every time you open Instagram, TikTok, or any app you want to use less, Mindless asks one question: What's your intention? That single pause breaks the autopilot. Most users report catching themselves mid-scroll for the first time ever. But here's the truth: knowing your screen time is 4 hours won't change your behavior. Understanding the emotion behind it will. -- AI JOURNALING -- Write about your day. The AI doesn't just store your words - it reflects them back with follow-up questions that help you see what you couldn't see alone. Like having a wise friend who remembers everything and helps you connect the dots between your scrolling and what's really going on: stress, boredom, anxiety, avoidance. When you're ready to go deeper, Therapy Mode asks the questions that help you find the words for feelings you couldn't name. -- MOOD CHECK-INS -- Quick emotional check-ins throughout the day reveal connections you'd never spot on your own. Maybe you always scroll after hard conversations. Maybe Sunday nights are when you lose hours. The AI tracks it all. -- YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY COACH -- The AI on your home screen watches your patterns and gently calls them out. Not mean. Not preachy. Like a friend who sees your blind spots and helps you stay aware. When your screen time spikes, it asks why. When you're avoiding something, it notices. When you hit a goal, it celebrates with you. -- CONNECTED INTELLIGENCE -- Everything connects: journal entries, mood data, intentions, and usage patterns. The AI remembers your history and builds a complete picture of your digital habits. The more you share, the smarter it gets. -- HOW IT WORKS -- 1. Set which apps trigger an intention check (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) 2. When you open them, pause and state your intention 3. Journal when you feel like it - even 60 seconds helps 4. Check in with your mood throughout the day 5. Watch as the AI reveals patterns you never knew existed -- WHY MINDLESS WORKS -- Screen time trackers show you numbers.Β Mindless shows you yourself. Real habit change doesn't come from blocking apps or setting limits you'll ignore. It comes from awareness. When you understand WHY you reach for your phone - the boredom, the anxiety, the avoidance - you can finally address the real problem. -- WHAT USERS SAY -- "I finally understand why I can't put my phone down." "The AI journaling is like therapy I can actually afford." "First app that helped me see my patterns instead of just blocking me." -- SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION -- A MINDLESS SUBSCRIPTION is required to use and enjoy full access to features and content. If you choose a MINDLESS subscription, payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. -- IMPORTANT NOTE -- Mindless is designed for self-reflection and awareness, not as a replacement for professional mental health care. If you’re facing serious mental health concerns, please consult a qualified professional. -- CONTACT -- Have questions or need support? Reach out to us at support@mindless.so. We're here to help! Terms of Use: https://mindless.so/terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://mindless.so/privacy-policy Stop counting minutes.Β  Start understanding yourself. Download Mindless and break the scroll.

About

Drift

Features
Read full description

Drift teaches the CBT-I techniques clinicians use β€” a guided sleep-window plan you follow yourself, built from your own morning diary. Trackers measure your sleep. Drift is built around the intervention side: each week it reviews your diary and suggests how your in-bed window could move, using the published sleep-restriction titration rules (AASM clinical practice guideline; Edinger 2021), with a hard 6-hour minimum window and the full reasoning shown for every suggestion. NO FAKE SLEEP SCORE Your real sleep efficiency β€” time asleep over time in bed β€” charted against the 85% goal line from the published literature. No proprietary composite number, no grades. A 60-SECOND MORNING DIARY Apple Health pre-fills what it can (sleep stages, HRV, resting heart rate) so you confirm instead of typing. The diary accepts any schedule, including cross-noon and rotating shifts, and "not sure" is always an answer. BUILT FOR REAL SCHEDULES - Standard track for classic insomnia patterns - Shift-work track with a higher safety floor - Perimenopause track that doesn't penalise hot-flash wake-ups - Pain-aware track with gentler pacing READS APPLE HEALTH, NEVER WRITES TO IT Drift is read-only on Apple Health, so it can't alter or corrupt your existing health data. AUDIO NEVER LEAVES YOUR IPHONE On-device snore, cough, and sleep-talk detection stores only event labels β€” never recordings. Plus audiogram-tuned pink, brown, white, and rain noise. SAFETY-FIRST BY DESIGN A real safety screener: bipolar disorder, seizure history, and untreated sleep apnea switch Drift to diary + education mode, where the window never narrows. Drowsy-driving warnings are built in, and the window never goes below 6 hours. AN HONEST FREE TIER The morning diary, your efficiency trend, stimulus-control education, your first computed window and your first weekly review β€” free, forever. Drift Pro continues the weekly reviews and adds the coach, sound analysis, pink noise, and sleep stories. Cancel anytime: Restore and Manage Subscription are right inside the app. YOUR DATA IS YOURS Sign in with Apple, or keep a fully private on-device journal. CSV export is free. Delete everything, permanently, from inside the app. Drift is a private journal and educational tool, not a medical device. It teaches published CBT-I techniques but does not diagnose, treat, or cure any condition. If your sleep problems are severe or persistent, please talk to a clinician. Terms of Use: https://drift.keenshift.ai/terms Privacy Policy: https://drift.keenshift.ai/privacy

Screenshots

Mindless4 screens
Drift4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Drift at none against Mindless's shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Mindless sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Drift sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mindless ships an update every 3 weeks, Drift monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 7 level
Mindless versus Drift: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMindlessDrift
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews75.0% of reviewsβ€”
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks β€” betterMonthly
AdsYesNo β€” better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionβ€”
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad β€” better
Requires iOS17.6 β€” better18.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size41 MB5 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperMindless LLCMitaanshu Agarwal

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Mindless

Subscriptions5
  • Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Monthly$14.991 Month
  • Yearly$29.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Yearly$39.991 Year
  • Yearly$49.991 Year
2 purchases

Drift

Subscriptions2
  • Drift Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Drift Pro Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Mindless free?
Mindless is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Drift free?
Drift is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Mindless or Drift have ads?
Mindless shows ads; Drift does not.
Which is updated more often, Mindless or Drift?
Mindless ships an update every 3 weeks, and Drift monthly. Most recently, Mindless was updated on September 17, 2026 and Drift on September 18, 2026.

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