Malu vs OptimistPal
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Malu
Capture fleeting thoughts, inspirations, and aspirations in a calm, organized digital journal. Track your progress as you bring these ideas to life, fostering a sense of joy and accomplishment without the pressure of productivity.
- Collect and save ideas
- Track tried experiences
- Organized and clutter-free interface
- Gentle reminders for action
- Focus on personal fulfillment
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Collect the little ideas and thoughts that make life sweeter. Malu is your cozy idea journal for everything you want to try, experience, or remember. Whether it is a spontaneous idea, a new hobby, a recipe, or a small moment you would love to make happen someday, Malu gives you a calm and clutter-free space for your thoughts. What you can do with Malu Collect and save ideas Keep your thoughts, inspirations, and little ideas all in one place. Try things out Track what you have already tried and watch your collection of ideas grow. Cozy and organized No stress, no clutter. Just your ideas, beautifully organized. Gentle reminders Get softly reminded to turn your ideas into reality. With Malu by your side Your sweet companion makes collecting and trying new things simple and joyful. Who is Malu for? For people who want to save ideas instead of forgetting them. For anyone who wants to keep track of small dreams and plans. For creative minds, daydreamers, and the curious. For everyone looking for a simple and caring journal. Why Malu? Malu is not about being more productive. It is about paying attention to what truly matters to you. Turn inspiration into small actions. At your own pace. In your own way.
OptimistPal
This app offers daily perspective shifts to help reframe negative thought patterns. It intervenes when you reach for certain apps, providing a moment of pause and a guided reframe to encourage a more optimistic outlook without requiring willpower or promoting toxic positivity.
- Daily reframing practice
- Thought pattern identification
- Customizable app selection
- Time-limited app access
- Daily streak tracking
- Secular affirmations
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Train a more optimistic mind. OptimistPal is a daily practice in reframing: short, grounded perspective shifts for the thoughts that pull at you. Comparing spirals, worst-case loops, late-night cynicism, the everything's-bleak mood. A small reframe, in the moment you actually need it. No willpower required. No toxic positivity. Just a moment to see things differently. How it works Pick the apps that pull you in, whichever ones leave you cynical, anxious, or comparing. Reach for one. When you open it, OptimistPal steps in with a gentle moment of pause, right at the door, before you tap in. Reframe. Tap the thought that's pulling you (worst-case spiral, comparing, mind-reading, all-or-nothing, everything's bleak, not enough, stuck, just frustrated), and OptimistPal offers a short reframe and a piece of wisdom for the moment. Prefer to sit with it on your own? Do that instead. Tap Onward. Your apps open back up for the time window you've chosen: 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, or until tomorrow. What you get A library of reframes for the thoughts that actually run your day. Short, grounded perspective shifts. Timeless wisdom in your pocket, sorted by the kind of thought you're caught in. A daily streak. See your reframe days stack up. Build the habit one Onward at a time. Affirmations. Receive a small word of encouragement every time you finish a reframe: secular, grounded, never preachy. You choose the apps. Pick as few or as many as you want. Change them anytime. You choose the duration. Set how long Onward gives you after a reframe. Built on Apple Screen Time OptimistPal uses Apple's Screen Time framework so the reframe can meet you the moment you reach for one of your chosen apps, right at the door, before you tap in. That means OptimistPal cannot see what you do inside any app. Ever. Apple doesn't allow it. Your selections stay on your device. No accounts, no servers, no tracking. Who it's for Anyone who keeps reaching for their phone and wishes they'd reached for a clearer thought instead. People tired of doomscrolling, comparison spirals, or the late-night cynicism loop. Train a more optimistic mind. Download OptimistPal. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Full access to all features is only available in the paid subscription plan (Weekly/Yearly) When you purchase a subscription, please be aware of the following: - Payment will be charged to Apple Account at confirmation of purchase - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's App Store Account Settings after purchase Terms of service: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://john-apps.github.io/optimistpal-privacy-policy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Malu at free with in-app purchases against OptimistPal's subscription. Malu also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). OptimistPal's advantage is ratings volume (8 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, 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
Both are free to download. Malu sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and OptimistPal sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Malu holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 8 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Malu ships an update monthly, OptimistPal every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and August 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Malu | OptimistPal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 4.5 (8 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 8 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 54 MB | 61 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Martin Zimmer | John Kevin Basco |
Customer experience
Malu
OptimistPal
In-app purchases
Malu
- Malu Supporter$2.99
- Malu Supporter Plus$4.99
OptimistPal
- Weekly$1.997 Days
- Monthly$3.991 Month
- Yearly Lite$7.991 Year
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- Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year





