Comparison

Shadow Self vs Archetype Decks

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

Head to head
About

Shadow Self

Features
Read full description

There's a part of you that runs in the background shaping your choices, your reactions, your relationships without you ever seeing it clearly. Shadow Self helps you find it. Through Sage, an AI companion trained in Jungian psychology, you discover your shadow archetype: the hidden pattern beneath your behavior. Then you learn to work with it. What you get: Your shadow archetype from six Jungian archetypes Deep one-on-one conversations with Sage Journal to track patterns and breakthroughs Shadow work exercises tailored to your archetype Deep Analysis: behavioral patterns, root causes, integration plan Private by design. No account required. No data sold. Your conversations stay on your device.

About

Archetype Decks

Features
Read full description

Ask the Archetype is a depth psychology field guide. 78 figures from Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, James Hillman, Carol Pearson, and Clarissa Pinkola EstΓ©s, one a day, with citations. You draw one card a day. Just one. The deck rests until tomorrow. Each card holds a few things to sit with. A short oracle reading. A scholarly description of the figure, with the thinkers who wrote about it named. A few plain questions in everyday language. A few questions written the way the thinkers wrote them, with citations. A short reading list, if you want to follow a thread further. A note on cultural humility when a figure touches a living tradition. That is the whole app. You pull a card. You read what other people have wondered about it. You leave when you are ready. There are no streaks. No notifications. No badges. No accounts. No data collection. No ads. No subscriptions. The deck does not chase you. If you want to leave a tip, there is a small gratitude jar in Settings. Four tiers, named honestly. A candle for the desk. An afternoon in the stacks. And two for people who really want to send a thank you. 100% of net proceeds go to Nutcracker syndrome research, building toward a dedicated research grant with NORD, the National Organization for Rare Disorders. Nutcracker syndrome is a rare vascular condition most people have never heard of, which is part of why I chose it. Quarterly receipts at sillydroose.com/donations/askthearchetype. All 78 cards are available without paying anything. I built this because I love reading about archetypes, and I wanted somewhere quiet to spend a minute with one each morning. If that sounds like your kind of thing, welcome. Drew

Screenshots

Shadow Self4 screens
Archetype Decks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shadow Self at none against Archetype Decks's 4. Shadow Self also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support 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. Archetype Decks sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Shadow Self asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shadow Self ships an update every 6 days, Archetype Decks every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 8, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences Β· 3 level
Shadow Self versus Archetype Decks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadow SelfArchetype Decks
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 6 days β€” betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo β€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 β€” better17.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size7 MB202 MB
Age rating17+4+
Developeryehuda breuerDrew Douglass

In-app purchases

None

Shadow Self

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Archetype Decks

One-time4
  • A candle for the desk$1.99
  • An afternoon in the stacks$4.99
  • A key to the collection$9.99
Show 1 more
  • A new wing for the library$19.99

Questions

Is Shadow Self free?
Shadow Self is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Archetype Decks free?
Archetype Decks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Shadow Self or Archetype Decks have ads?
Neither Shadow Self nor Archetype Decks shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shadow Self or Archetype Decks?
Shadow Self ships an update every 6 days, and Archetype Decks every 3 weeks. Most recently, Shadow Self was updated on September 8, 2026 and Archetype Decks on September 8, 2026.

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