Comparison

Hold On vs Play Aware

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

Head to head
About

Hold On

This app offers a private space to manage gambling urges with guided sessions and anonymous community support. It provides tools for immediate relief, reflection, and a structured 4-week care program without judgment or gamified recovery elements.

Highlights
  • Emergency session for immediate urge management
  • Guided breathing and focus exercises
  • Anonymous community forum
  • Supporter connection for private sharing
  • 4-week personalized care program
  • Privacy-focused design
Features
Read full description

* A quiet place to pause when gambling urges hit. Not a lecture. Not someone telling you to "just stop." Something that stays β€” calmly, without judgment β€” until the wave passes. That's HOLD ON. * Emergency Session Press one button. β‘  30 seconds of stillness Touch and hold the screen. Breathe. β‘‘ Fill the next 10 minutes Gentle guidance shifts your focus β€” to breathing, movement, or a safer activity. β‘’ A short check-in Quiet reflection. No pressure, no scoring. No points. No badges. No streak counters. Recovery isn't a game. * For the morning after a difficult day When things don't go as hoped, HOLD ON matters most. No shame screen. No "you broke your streak." No reset to zero. Four quiet steps: β‘  Steady yourself with slow breaths. β‘‘ Look around β€” notice what's here. β‘’ Revisit what happened, without blame. β‘£ Name the pattern if a trigger returns. Not a punishment. A way home. * Anonymous community Share anonymously or with a nickname. β€’ Anonymous posts β†’ anonymous comments β€’ Nickname posts β†’ nickname comments No followers. No popularity contests. Honest words from people who understand. * Supporter connection Connect someone who cares β€” a friend, partner, or family. They can't control or monitor you. They see only your nickname, connection date, and basic participation. Urges, emotions, and check-ins stay private. Private chat when you want it. * 4-week Care program A short onboarding Q&A creates your 4-week (28-day) plan. Each day: - A 1-minute check-in - Suggestions tuned to how you're doing - A quiet nudge when things feel heavy Weekly and monthly reflections help you notice patterns. * Privacy first Many hesitate to seek help, worried about leaving a record. HOLD ON gives you control over what you share and how you appear. * Important note HOLD ON is a self-help tool for gambling urges. Not a substitute for professional psychological treatment. In crisis, please seek a qualified professional or local emergency services. * Subscription Hold On Care: β‚©9,900 / month, β‚©23,000 / 3 months, β‚©39,000 / 6 months, β‚©69,000 / year Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://holdon.run/privacy

About

Play Aware

Features
Read full description

Play Aware helps you build healthier gaming and gambling habits with practical, private tools designed for everyday use. Whether you want to reduce impulsive play, understand your triggers, or stay accountable to your goals, Play Aware gives you a clear, supportive system to stay in control. FEATURES Track Your Patterns - Log sessions, mood, spend, and context to see what drives your behavior over time. Spot Your Triggers - Identify moments, emotions, and environments linked to risky decisions so you can act earlier. Set Personal Boundaries - Create limits for time, budget, and frequency that match your goals. Reflect and Reset - Use check-ins and guided prompts to pause, reflect, and make better next-step decisions. Progress Insights - See trends, streaks, and behavior changes with simple visual summaries. Private by Design - Your data stays personal and protected, so you can focus on progress without judgment. WHO IT’S FOR - People who want to play more intentionally - Anyone building safer gambling habits - Users working toward better self-control and consistency IMPORTANT NOTE Play Aware is a self-management and habit-support tool. It does not provide medical, psychiatric, or emergency services. If you are experiencing severe distress or addiction-related harm, seek professional help from qualified local services. Take back control, one decision at a time, with Play Aware.

Screenshots

Hold On4 screens
Play Aware4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Hold On at 15.0 against Play Aware's 17.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 7 level
Hold On versus Play Aware: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHold OnPlay Aware
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviewsβ€”
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksβ€”
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesβ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 β€” better17.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size60 MB15 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperDong Hwan ChoiLissiland LLC

In-app purchases

None

Hold On

No in-app purchases

None

Play Aware

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hold On free?
Hold On is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Play Aware free?
Play Aware is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Hold On or Play Aware have ads?
Neither Hold On nor Play Aware shows ads.

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