Comparison

Shadow Work & CBT vs CBT+

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

Head to head
About

Shadow Work & CBT

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
Read full description

Unlock your inner world with a Shadow Work Journal — your companion for deeper self-discovery and emotional healing. Each day, receive a powerful journaling prompt to explore your thoughts, triggers, and hidden patterns. After you write, our AI analyzes your entry and returns personalized insights—helping you uncover what lies beneath the surface. Want to dive deeper? Get reflection questions, tailored to your unique experience. Feeling called to explore something specific? Browse curated prompt categories like Inner Child Healing, Triggers, Anxiety, Family Patterns, and more. Whether you're a seasoned journaler or just starting out, a Shadow Work Journal provides a safe, private space to meet yourself with honesty, compassion, and curiosity. Features: - Daily shadow work prompts - AI-generated insights based on your entry - Personalized follow-up reflection questions - Curated prompt categories - A private, judgment-free journaling space Begin your healing journey — one reflection at a time. Privacy Policy: https://embernext.com/privacy-policy/hollowlight_shadow_work Terms: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

CBT+

Features
Read full description

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy! Practice evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to track your moods, challenge unhelpful thoughts, and build healthier mental habits. Keep your reflections private, find calm with guided breathing exercises, and stay in sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac—no account signup required. Features: Thought diary Mood analytics Breathing exercises Guided CBT tools Sync with iCloud between iPhone, iPad, and Mac FaceID or passcode lock No account signup required • Guided Thought Records: Work through structured CBT exercises to identify thinking traps, review evidence, and create more balanced thoughts. • Mood Trends: Discover patterns in your emotions with clear visualizations, weekly summaries, and meaningful insights. • Breathing & Mindfulness Tools: Calm your nervous system with guided breathing exercises designed for stress relief and emotional reset. • Complete Customization: Personalize your space with accent colors, immersive themes, and a modular dashboard. • Privacy & Security: Secure your most personal reflections with FaceID/Passcode and private iCloud syncing. • Data Portability: Export your entries to CSV anytime and maintain control over your data. • Progress Metrics: Track emotional patterns, exercise completion, and other helpful signals that support your well-being. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps you interrupt negative thought cycles and strengthen the mental habits that lead to greater resilience, balance, and peace of mind. Stop feeling stuck in old patterns and start building healthier ways to think and respond. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Shadow Work & CBT4 screens
CBT+4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: CBT+ at every 8 days against Shadow Work & CBT's every 2 months. Shadow Work & CBT's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0.0 vs 17.0). 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 & CBT sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and CBT+ sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shadow Work & CBT ships an update every 2 months, CBT+ every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Shadow Work & CBT versus CBT+: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadow Work & CBTCBT+
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (11 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews22.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings11 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS14.0.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperEmber Next LLCMelissa Chan

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Shadow Work & CBT

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Premium$4.997 Days
  • Yearly Premium3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Premium$39.99
3 purchases

CBT+

Subscriptions2
  • CBT Monthly$3.991 Month
  • CBT Yearly$12.991 Year
One-time1
  • CBT Lifetime$24.99

Questions

Is Shadow Work & CBT free?
Shadow Work & CBT is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is CBT+ free?
CBT+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shadow Work & CBT or CBT+ have ads?
Neither Shadow Work & CBT nor CBT+ shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shadow Work & CBT or CBT+?
Shadow Work & CBT ships an update every 2 months, and CBT+ every 8 days. Most recently, Shadow Work & CBT was updated on October 24, 2026 and CBT+ on October 20, 2026.

Other comparisons