# OceanSelf vs Subtext

The clearest difference is update cadence: Subtext at every 4 weeks against OceanSelf's every 3 months. Subtext also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. OceanSelf sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Subtext sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

OceanSelf ships an update every 3 months, Subtext every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 15, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | OceanSelf | Subtext |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Size | 5 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [AppConsult](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818576565) | [Aura Bionics Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1884239619) |

## What reviewers say

### OceanSelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oceanself-big-five-test/id6760641243)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OceanSelf Premium | $9.99 | one-time |


### Subtext

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subtext-decode-their-texts/id6767282250)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subtext Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Subtext Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Subtext Yearly | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is OceanSelf free?

OceanSelf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Subtext free?

Subtext is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do OceanSelf or Subtext have ads?

Neither OceanSelf nor Subtext shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, OceanSelf or Subtext?

OceanSelf ships an update every 3 months, and Subtext every 4 weeks. Most recently, OceanSelf was updated on September 15, 2026 and Subtext on September 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*