Comparison

JustThoughts vs Patterns

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

Head to head
About

JustThoughts

Features
Read full description

A simple, minimal compulsion logger for OCD. - Track your compulsions day-to-day to measure progress on your ERP (Exposure Response Therapy) journey. - All data stays on-device, offline and accessible only to you. - No ads, subscriptions or data collection. This app does not substitute for therapy, nor does it provide any medical or mental health treatment advice.

About

Patterns

A private journaling app designed to help users understand and track their obsessive-compulsive patterns. Record thoughts, log obsessions and compulsions, and visualize trends over time in a secure, local-first environment.

Highlights
  • Daily journaling
  • OCD tracking (obsessions, compulsions, responses)
  • Distress trend insights
  • Private, local-first storage
  • App lock (Face ID, Touch ID, passcode)
  • Exportable PDF reports
  • JSON backup and import
Read full description

Patterns is a private OCD journal and practice companion for noticing patterns, delaying compulsions, and building consistent recovery habits. FREE TO USE • Record urges, triggers, anxiety, and responses • Keep a private daily journal • Delay compulsions with guided timers • Practice guided ERP exercises • Complete self-checks and view basic insights • Access coping and urgent-support tools PATTERNS PRO - ONE-TIME PURCHASE • Build detailed exposure hierarchies • Organize exposure materials and practice plans • Follow structured recovery programs • Use action planning and implementation intentions • Practice urge surfing, response prevention, and uncertainty • Run behavioral experiments • Explore recovery metrics and deeper reflections Your journal and OCD content remain on your device. Patterns does not require an account. Optional anonymous usage analytics are disabled unless you choose to share them. Patterns is a self-help tool and is not a replacement for professional diagnosis, therapy, or emergency care.

Screenshots

JustThoughts4 screens
Patterns4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: JustThoughts at none against Patterns's 4. Patterns's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.6). On price, 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. Patterns sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. JustThoughts asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

JustThoughts ships an update every 8 days, Patterns weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 12, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
JustThoughts versus Patterns: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJustThoughtsPatterns
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.3 (3 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJoshua NiesAftaab Siddiqui

In-app purchases

None

JustThoughts

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Patterns

One-time4
  • Small Tip$1.99
  • Medium Tip$4.99
  • Large Tip$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Patterns Pro$14.99

Questions

Is JustThoughts free?
JustThoughts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Patterns free?
Patterns is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do JustThoughts or Patterns have ads?
Neither JustThoughts nor Patterns shows ads.
Which is updated more often, JustThoughts or Patterns?
JustThoughts ships an update every 8 days, and Patterns weekly. Most recently, JustThoughts was updated on September 12, 2026 and Patterns on September 13, 2026.

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