Comparison

Positive Mind vs Hold the Wave

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

Head to head
About

Positive Mind

Features
Read full description

Feeling stuck in negative thoughts? Let's write them down and clear your mind. ABCDE Theory Note is a self-care journaling app based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles designed to help you organize your thoughts and alleviate stress. When you fail or face something unpleasant, do you automatically think, "I'm useless" or "It's all over"? In reality, what troubles you isn't the event itself, but rather your Belief (how you interpret it). Using the ABCDE model proposed by psychologist Albert Ellis, this app helps you recognize your thinking habits (cognitive distortions) and lighten your mental load. β–  Why does it work? 5 Simple Steps No specialized knowledge is required. Just follow the app's guide step-by-step: A (Activating Event): Log the objective facts of what happened. B (Belief): Record your interpretation or thoughts at that moment. C (Consequence): Reflect on the emotions and behaviors resulting from that belief. D (Disputation): Objectively challenge your thoughts. ask yourself, "Is there another way to see this?" or "Is this really true?" E (Effect): Find a new, effective beliefβ€”a realistic and constructive way of thinking that makes you feel better. β–  App Features Understand Thinking Traps: Learn about common cognitive distortions like "All-or-Nothing Thinking," "Overgeneralization," and "Should Statements." Step-by-Step Guidance: Feeling lost? Helpful hints and examples are available for every step. Messages from Your Past Self: On the home screen, your past "E (Effective New Belief)" entries are displayed randomly. Your past self encourages your present self. Privacy First: All data is stored locally on your device. Your thoughts remain yours alone. Simple & Calming Design: A user-friendly interface with soothing colors and a cute bunny character to guide you. Perfect for daily use. β–  Recommended For People who easily get down over small things. Those dealing with work or relationship stress. Anyone prone to negative thinking spirals. People interested in CBT but find it intimidating. Those who want to verbalize feelings to clear their head. Change your Beliefs, and change your Consequences. Start your journey to a lighter, freer mind with ABCDE Theory Note today.

About

Hold the Wave

Features
Read full description

Hold the Wave is a tiny tool with one main action: hold the button. When a tense or overwhelming moment arrives, you do not need to write, rate, explain, or complete a routine. Just rest a finger on the screen and hold. The haptic pulse feels like a heartbeat: one stronger beat, one softer beat, gradually moving from a little urgent to more settled. When the wave feels like it has passed, let go. The app leaves you with one gentle sentence to mark that the moment is over and you are still here. There is no countdown, no progress bar, and no failure state. Hold for as long as you need, and release when you feel ready. Hold the Wave is not a medical or therapy tool, and it is not a replacement for professional support. It is simply a short haptic anchor for moments when a small, quiet action is enough to begin. If that small moment is not enough, the app also includes a soft link to Lumea Letters: a letter a day, from far away.

Screenshots

Positive Mind4 screens
Hold the Wave2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Hold the Wave at none against Positive Mind's shown. Positive Mind's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
Positive Mind versus Hold the Wave: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPositive MindHold the Wave
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyβ€”Every 3 days
AdsYesNo β€” better
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 β€” better17.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size33 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTomoaki OkuboYou Lu

In-app purchases

None

Positive Mind

No in-app purchases

None

Hold the Wave

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Positive Mind free?
Positive Mind is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hold the Wave free?
Hold the Wave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Positive Mind or Hold the Wave have ads?
Positive Mind shows ads; Hold the Wave does not.

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