Comparison

Shadow Work vs Aethera

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

Head to head
About

Shadow Work

Explore your inner self through interactive stories and guided conversations. Uncover hidden strengths and recurring patterns by engaging with archetypal guides and reflecting on daily prompts. Integrate the parts of yourself you've pushed away to foster personal growth.

Highlights
  • Interactive daily stories with choices
  • Conversations with Jungian archetypal guides
  • Dream journaling and symbol exploration
  • Personalized insights archive
  • Journaling prompts and tarot cards
  • Spirit Animal personality test
Read full description

Shadow work often means facing a blank page and hard questions on your own. Bayun makes it easier. You step into short stories, make choices, and talk things through with guides who help you see what's beneath the surface. ◆ WHAT IS SHADOW WORK Carl Jung called the shadow the parts of ourselves we push away. It isn't only our dark side. It also holds strengths we learned to hide, like confidence, creativity, and authenticity. Pushed into the unconscious, these parts don't disappear. They show up as triggers, projections, and patterns that keep repeating. Jung warned that what we don't face within ourselves meets us outside as fate. Shadow work isn't about fixing yourself. It's about noticing the parts of you that have been hidden, and learning to integrate them. ◆ HOW BAYUN WORKS ▸ DAILY STORIES Each day, a new story puts you inside a moment that might feel familiar. At key points you choose what to do, and each choice reveals an insight and a question to reflect on. ▸ INNER GUIDES Talk by voice or text with four guides based on Jung's archetypes: the Persona about how you show up around others, the Shadow about your triggers, the Anima about your emotions, and the Self about your direction in life. ▸ DREAM JOURNAL Your dreams may be trying to tell you something. Jung saw them as messages from the unconscious. Record them and explore what their symbols might mean. ▸ YOUR ARCHIVE Over time, Bayun collects your insights, so you can see which triggers and patterns keep coming back. ◆ ALSO INSIDE - Shadow work prompts for journaling - Collectible tarot cards and archetypal symbols - Spirit Animal personality test - Tales for Midlife: classic stories retold for the middle years, with a new theme every month ◆ TRY IT FREE Your first three stories are free. If they speak to you, unlock the full journey. Terms of Use: https://catbayun.com/terms-and-conditions Privacy Policy: https://catbayun.com/privacy-policy

About

Aethera

Experience short, immersive sound and visual healing sessions designed to bring calm and clarity. Share how you feel, and receive a personalized audiovisual experience to help you return to your day with greater balance.

Highlights
  • Immersive sound and visual healing experiences
  • Personalized Moments based on your feelings
  • 2-5 minute sessions
  • Over 120 unique healing tones
  • Original compositions and stunning visuals
  • No account required
Features
Read full description

"My body felt like it was being wrapped in a luxurious robe" Aethera features Moments: short, immersive sound and visual healing experiences: 3-5 minutes of full screen audiovisuals designed to meet you exactly where you are. Each Moment is handcrafted from original compositions, specific frequencies, and stunning visuals. Simply share how you feel, and Aethera gently routes you to the Moment made for this version of you, right now A conversation is available after each Moment. Chat about what brought you in, what your experience was like, or integrate more fully. WHAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE "Clear space in my head for downloads to drop in." "Felt like a psychedelic journey while completely sober." "Brain isn't bouncing like a squirrel anymore." "Wrapping my cells in a luxurious robe." "A remembrance of pure power and divinity." HOW IT WORKS • Open the app → "How are you feeling?" • Share your state through voice or text • Receive a full-screen Moment matched to you • Return to your day with more balance, calm, and clarity WHAT MAKES AETHERA DIFFERENT • 120+ unique Moments across multiple healing tones • Original compositions made with internationally recognized musicians and healers • Visuals designed to be felt, and not just seen • No account required: open to everyone • Rooted in harmonic science and the natural creation/rest cycle of life There is no "bad" emotion in our world. Aethera simply meets you where you are, and offers a Moment of harmony Return to home Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://aethera.love/privacy

Screenshots

Shadow Work4 screens
Aethera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Aethera at free against Shadow Work's freemium. Aethera also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 90%) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). Shadow Work's advantage is ratings volume (76 vs 19). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Aethera sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $10.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Shadow Work against 4.9 for Aethera. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76 and 19 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Shadow Work's written reviews are positive against 100% of Aethera's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shadow Work ships an update weekly, Aethera every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Shadow Work versus Aethera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadow WorkAethera
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (76 ratings)4.9 (19 ratings) — better
Positive reviews90.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings76 — better19
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size194 MB171 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperOleg AzbukinOssirus LLC

Customer experience

Shadow Work

All ratings76 ratings
Positive96.1%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.6%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive90.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative10.0%

Aethera

All ratings19 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Shadow Work

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$5.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Unlock Premium$14.99
2 purchases

Aethera

Subscriptions2
  • Aethera Monthly$10.001 Month
  • Aethera Annual$77.001 Year

Questions

Is Shadow Work free?
Shadow Work is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aethera free?
Aethera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shadow Work or Aethera?
Aethera is rated higher. Shadow Work averages 4.8 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while Aethera averages 4.9 from 19 ratings.
Do Shadow Work or Aethera have ads?
Neither Shadow Work nor Aethera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shadow Work or Aethera?
Shadow Work ships an update weekly, and Aethera every 11 days. Most recently, Shadow Work was updated on November 5, 2026 and Aethera on October 30, 2026.

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