Comparison

Delay vs Patterns

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

Head to head
About

Delay

This self-help tool guides users through practicing techniques inspired by Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) to manage OCD urges. It offers a timer, scenario library, and various practice tools to help users sit with discomfort and let urges pass naturally.

Highlights
  • Practice Timer for urges
  • 800+ Urge Scenarios
  • 15+ Practice Tools (labeling, surfing)
  • Urge Logging & Intensity Tracking
  • Progress Tracking & Streaks
  • Pattern Insights
  • Daily Reminders
Features
Read full description

Delay - Practice Not Responding to OCD Urges Living with OCD can be exhausting. The constant urges, the rituals, the "what ifs" that won't stop. Delay is a self-help app that helps you practice techniques inspired by Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP). Instead of fighting your thoughts, you'll learn to sit with discomfort and let urges pass naturally - at your own pace. HOW IT WORKS When an OCD urge strikes, open Delay and start the timer. Choose how long you want to practice - even 2 minutes counts. The app supports you through the discomfort with calming messages, grounding exercises, and gentle encouragement. FEATURES Practice Timer - Delay your response to urges with guided sessions Urge Scenario Library - Browse common OCD-related situations across many subtypes 15+ Practice Tools - Thought labeling, urge surfing, grounding, and more Quick Urge Logging - Track urges by type and intensity Progress Tracking - Build streaks and view your practice history Pattern Insights - Discover when urges tend to peak Daily Reminders - Stay consistent with gentle notifications Dark Mode - Easy on your eyes, day or night SUBSCRIPTION Choose the plan that fits how you want to commit: • Annual: $59.99 per year, with a 1-week free trial (best value) • Monthly: $9.99 per month, with a 1-week free trial • Weekly: $2.99 per week, with a 3-day free trial Payment is charged to your Apple ID account when the free trial ends. Subscriptions auto-renew at the same price unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your device Settings. IMPORTANT Delay is a self-help tool only. It is NOT a substitute for professional mental health care, therapy, diagnosis, or medical treatment. This app does not diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. If you are struggling, please seek help from a licensed mental health professional. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Terms of Service: https://jadetradeapp.com/delay/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://jadetradeapp.com/delay/privacy-policy

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 self-help practice companion. Record intrusive thoughts and compulsions, write journal entries, delay an urge, and practise exposure and response prevention (ERP). Calm Insights can replace calculated scores and streaks with factual activity counts. Personal content stays on your device unless you choose to export an unencrypted JSON backup or PDF. Optional anonymous usage analytics are off by default and never include OCD content, summaries, locale, or language choice. Patterns does not diagnose or treat OCD and is not a replacement for qualified care or emergency support.

Screenshots

Delay4 screens
Patterns4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Delay at 5.0 against Patterns's 4.6. Patterns's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Delay sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Patterns sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Delay holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 5 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Delay ships an update every 5 weeks, Patterns every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Delay versus Patterns: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDelayPatterns
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better4.6 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings35 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPod, Mac
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB45 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperJadeTrade Marketplace LLCAftaab Siddiqui

Customer experience

Delay

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Patterns

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Delay

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year
4 purchases

Patterns

One-time4
  • Small tip$1.99
  • Medium tip$4.99
  • Large tip$9.99
Show 1 more
  • Patterns Pro$19.99

Questions

Is Delay free?
Delay is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Patterns free?
Patterns is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Delay or Patterns?
Delay is rated higher. Delay averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Patterns averages 4.6 from 5 ratings.
Do Delay or Patterns have ads?
Neither Delay nor Patterns shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Delay or Patterns?
Delay ships an update every 5 weeks, and Patterns every 8 days. Most recently, Delay was updated on October 21, 2026 and Patterns on October 25, 2026.

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