Bestead vs Balm
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Bestead
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Bestead helps fathers build patience, handle stress, and stay present with practical tools designed for real parenting moments. Use Bestead to: โข Check in with your mood in under a minute โข Spot patterns across sleep, stress, and connection โข Write quick or guided journal entries โข Reframe harsh thoughts with CBT-inspired prompts โข Learn short lessons on patience, guilt, anger, and balance โข Practice weekly challenges that turn insight into action โข Use Reset Tools anytime for breathing, grounding, pause scripts, and support resources โข Export progress when you want to reflect or share it with a professional Bestead is built for dads who want something direct, private, and practical. It is not a therapy or medical app, and it is not a substitute for professional care. Subscription and trial - Start with a 7 day trial - If you continue, your iTunes account will be charged at the end of the trial - Monthly subscriptions renew monthly unless canceled at least 24 hours before renewal - Yearly subscriptions renew yearly unless canceled at least 24 hours before renewal - Manage or cancel anytime in iOS Settings -> Apple ID -> Subscriptions TERMS & CONDITIONS Terms of Use: https://janchristian.com.br/bestead/terms Privacy Policy: https://janchristian.com.br/bestead/privacy
Balm
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Name it. Watch it drop. Balm is a guided CBT thought record โ the classic five-step exercise from cognitive behavioral therapy. Take one hard moment, look at the thought behind it, answer it with something fairer, and watch the feeling lose its grip. HOW A RECORD WORKS 1. Situation โ what happened? Where, with whom? 2. Emotion โ name the feeling, rate it 0โ100. 3. Automatic thought โ catch what flashed through your mind, and how much you believed it. 4. Rational response โ challenge the thought with guided prompts: What's the evidence? What would you tell a friend? 5. Result โ re-rate the feeling and see the before โ after drop. That drop is the whole method. "Anxiety 80% โ 30%" โ measured, not imagined. GUIDED, NOT A BLANK PAGE Short prompts and tappable examples at every step, so you're never staring at an empty text box. Most records take about two minutes. Start now, finish later โ completing the record in two sittings is normal CBT practice, and the app gently reminds you about open records. QUICK CHECK-INS No energy for a full record? Name a feeling and rate it โ done in seconds. When you're ready, turn any check-in into a full thought record. SEE IT WORKING Insights show which emotions visit most often and whether negative thoughts are losing believability over time โ proof your skill is building. YOURS ALONE โข No account, no cloud. Your entries never leave this device. โข Lock the app with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. โข Export records as a clean PDF for your therapist โ you decide what leaves the device. ONE PURCHASE, FOREVER Thought records and check-ins are free. Premium โ full Insights, therapist-ready PDF export, and app lock โ is a single one-time purchase. No subscription, no account, no ads. A METHOD WITH A TRACK RECORD Thought records are a core technique of CBT, used in clinical practice for decades. Balm is a self-help tool, not therapy or a medical device. If you're in crisis, the app points you to crisis resources. MADE FOR โข Anxiety spikes and racing thoughts at night โข Overthinking, rumination, low mood, anger flares โข CBT therapy homework between sessions โข Anyone learning to name what they feel PRIVACY & TERMS Privacy Policy: https://balm-9fc2f.web.app/privacy/ Terms of Use: https://balm-9fc2f.web.app/terms/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Bestead at every 9 days against Balm's monthly. Balm's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Bestead sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Balm sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Bestead ships an update every 9 days, Balm monthly. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.
| Parameter | Bestead | Balm |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days โ better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.0 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 55 MB | 61 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jan Christian | VLADISLAVS PETKUNS |
In-app purchases
Bestead
- Bestead Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- Bestead Yearly7 Days trial$59.991 Year
Balm
- Balm Premium Launch Offer$14.99
- Balm Premium Lifetime$19.99









