Comparison

Protocol vs Ballast

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

Head to head
About

Protocol

Build sustainable, science-backed habits for a longer, healthier life. This app offers personalized recommendations for sleep, nutrition, movement, and mental well-being, focusing on small, consistent actions that compound over time. Track your progress and join a community for support on your longevity journey.

Highlights
  • Science-backed longevity protocols
  • Personalized habit recommendations
  • Micro-habit building
  • Progress tracking
  • Community insights
  • Longevity toolkit
Features
Read full description

Build the habits that add years to your life - and life to your years. Protocol turns longevity science into daily habits that actually stick. No extremes. No hacks. Just smart, consistent actions that compound into a longer, better life. What You Get: Science-backed protocols across sleep, nutrition, movement, and mental health Personalized habit recommendations based on your goals and lifestyle Micro-habits that stack into meaningful change Progress tracking that shows how small wins add up Community insights from people building similar habits How It Works: Take the assessment - We learn your goals, experience, and lifestyle Get your protocol - Receive personalized habit recommendations Start small - Begin with one micro-habit that fits your routine Build momentum - Stack new habits as previous ones become automatic Track progress - See how consistency compounds into real results Your Longevity Toolkit: Foundation protocols for energy, sleep, and movement Optimization strategies for stress, nutrition, and recovery Habit stacking guides to build sustainable routines Science explanations that make complex research simple Community features to learn from others on similar journeys Why Protocol Works: We believe small, consistent actions beat dramatic overhauls. Our approach focuses on building identity and systems, not just tracking numbers. Each protocol includes the science behind why it works and practical steps to make it stick. Perfect for: Anyone wanting to live healthier without the overwhelm People tired of conflicting health advice Those ready to build habits that actually last Beginners and optimizers alike Important: Protocol provides general wellness information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Our content is for educational purposes only. Always consult qualified healthcare providers for medical concerns or before making significant health changes. Start your longevity journey. One habit at a time. Read more about our terms and conditions here: Terms of service: https://protocol-app.net/terms-of-service Privacy policy: https://protocol-app.net/privacy-policy

About

Ballast

Features
Read full description

Private support for quitting adult content and managing the urges that come with it. Ballast brings your streak, your reasons and a practical plan for hard moments together on your iPhone. WHEN AN URGE HITS Open the four-step urge flow: guided breathing, your own reasons, a timed urge-surfing exercise and a simple check-in about what happened. Reach it from the app, a Control Centre button or a Siri shortcut. The whole flow is free. YOUR PROGRESS, AT YOUR PACE Track time since your quit date, log urges and slips, and mark milestones. A slip is information you can use to plan your next step. Keep your streak close with Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets. A SMALL STEP EACH DAY Make a daily check-in. Read short pieces about urges, slips and the situations around them. Try grounding exercises, set an if-then plan, or follow the guided 30-day course. The course offers a daily practice, with no promised timeline for change. NOTICE YOUR PATTERNS Ballast Pro shows trigger summaries and a day-and-hour heatmap based on what you log. Optional reminders can help you plan ahead of recurring windows. These are patterns in your entries, not predictions of what will happen. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No Ballast account or sign-up. Your journal, reasons, check-ins and urge logs stay on your device. Use Face ID or your device passcode to lock the app, and export your data when you choose. Apple and RevenueCat process purchases and related identifiers; your personal entries are not sent to them. USEFUL SUPPORT, FREE Your streak, the full urge flow, slip logging, daily check-ins, grounding toolbox, friction checklist, one replacement habit, one if-then plan, seven days of journal, the current calendar month and week one of the course are free. Reading about urges and slips stays free. App lock and data export are free too. BALLAST PRO Pro adds Insights, the remaining course days, the rest of the reading library, full journal and calendar history, extra habits and plans, and the weekly review. Choose a monthly or yearly subscription, or a lifetime purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled in your Apple Account settings. Ballast is a self-tracking and educational tool, not treatment. If this is affecting your work, relationships or safety, consider support from a qualified professional. Requires iOS 26 or later. Privacy Policy: https://atabany.github.io/ballast-site/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Protocol4 screens
Ballast4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Protocol at 16.4 against Ballast's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Protocol sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month and Ballast sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Protocol ships an update every 2 weeks, Ballast fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Protocol versus Ballast: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterProtocolBallast
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (53 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings53 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.4 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size108 MB12 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperBrainstash, IncMohamed Elatabany

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Protocol

Subscriptions5
  • Pro Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
  • Pro 3 Months Subscription$24.993 Months
  • Pro Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$89.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Pro Yearly Subscription$89.991 Year
  • Pro Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$99.991 Year
3 purchases

Ballast

Subscriptions2
  • Ballast Pro$2.991 Month
  • Ballast Pro$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Ballast Pro Lifetime$19.99

Questions

Is Protocol free?
Protocol is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ballast free?
Ballast is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Protocol or Ballast have ads?
Neither Protocol nor Ballast shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Protocol or Ballast?
Protocol ships an update every 2 weeks, and Ballast fortnightly. Most recently, Protocol was updated on October 28, 2026 and Ballast on October 26, 2026.

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