Comparison

JustThoughts vs Open Step

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ€” 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

Open Step

Features
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OpenStep is a self-guided therapeutic app for people living with OCD. Built on CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). 22-Step Exposure Ladder Your recovery starts where you are. A graduated system takes you from standing at your door to riding public transport and visiting a cinema โ€” at your own pace. Each step includes instructions, duration guidance, and encouragement. AI-Powered Cognitive Reframing Anxiety lies. OpenStep uses AI to identify cognitive distortions like catastrophizing, fortune telling, and all-or-nothing thinking. Catch the patterns your mind uses to keep you stuck - a core skill in CBT for OCD. Daily Affirmations 7 categories crafted for the unique challenges of agoraphobia โ€” brave days, setback days, being far from home, navigating crowds, and more. Structured Practice Sessions Every practice follows a 5-phase model: Plan โ†’ Stay โ†’ Notice โ†’ Return โ†’ Reflect. Track anxiety before and after, record what your mind predicted versus what actually happened, and watch evidence of your progress grow. Growth Journal Capture reflections, track anxiety patterns, and build a personal record of recovery. Daily Check-Ins A gentle morning notification invites you to set your focus โ€” keeping your CBT practice consistent and momentum steady. Why OpenStep? โ€ข Evidence-based CBT approach to OCD โ€ข Self-paced โ€” no therapist required โ€ข Warm, calming design โ€” not clinical โ€ข AI-assisted thought analysis โ€ข 49+ handcrafted affirmations โ€ข Journaling and progress tracking Terms of Use: https://www.faravaree-lab.com/terms-of-use

Screenshots

JustThoughts4 screens
Open Step4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: JustThoughts at none against Open Step's 11. JustThoughts also leads on ads (none vs shown). Open Step's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Open Step sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. JustThoughts asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

JustThoughts ships an update every 8 days, Open Step every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
JustThoughts versus Open Step: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJustThoughtsOpen Step
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 5 days โ€” better
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod โ€” better
Requires iOS18.615.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size4 MB34 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperJoshua NiesFaravaree lab

In-app purchases

None

JustThoughts

No in-app purchases

11 purchases

Open Step

Subscriptions10
  • OpenStep Pro โ€” Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Premium Weekly Access$4.997 Days
  • OpenStep Pro โ€” Monthly3 Days trial$7.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • OpenStep Pro โ€” Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • OpenStep Pro โ€” Yearly (Special)3 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • OpenStep Pro โ€” Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • OpenStep Pro โ€” Yearly3 Days trial$47.991 Year
  • OpenStep Pro โ€” Yearly3 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Yearly$59.991 Year
  • Yearly$119.991 Year
One-time1
  • AI Recovery Report$24.99

Questions

Is JustThoughts free?
JustThoughts is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Open Step free?
Open Step is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do JustThoughts or Open Step have ads?
Open Step shows ads; JustThoughts does not.
Which is updated more often, JustThoughts or Open Step?
JustThoughts ships an update every 8 days, and Open Step every 5 days. Most recently, JustThoughts was updated on October 16, 2026 and Open Step on October 20, 2026.

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