# Innermost Journal vs Shadow Work

The clearest difference is rating: Innermost Journal at 5.0 against Shadow Work's 3.7. Innermost Journal also leads on ratings volume (9 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Innermost Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Shadow Work sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Innermost Journal holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 3 respectively.

Innermost Journal ships an update monthly, Shadow Work every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Innermost Journal | Shadow Work |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/innermost-journal/id6761146483/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-work-shadow-forge/id6772528068/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **9** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 44 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Renee Roncone](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888019303) | [Engin Aytekin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896277039) |

## What reviewers say

### Innermost Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/innermost-journal/id6761146483)

This journal app provides a daily, personalized question to guide your reflections. Its AI analyzes your responses to reveal patterns and insights, offering a private space for self-discovery and deeper understanding.

**Highlights:** Daily personalized question, AI analysis of responses, Pattern and mood tracking, Private journaling space, Insightful self-reflection, Data privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Innermost Pro Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Innermost Coach Monthly | $5.99 | per month |


### Shadow Work

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadow-work-shadow-forge/id6772528068)

This app offers a structured journaling experience based on Jungian psychology to explore hidden aspects of yourself. It guides you through stages of self-discovery, integration, and self-actualization with written prompts and body awareness exercises. All your entries are stored privately on your device.

**Highlights:** 25 structured sessions across 3 stages, Shadow Archetype and Exile reveal, Trigger & Glimmer tracker, The Mirror reflection tool, Grounding breathwork and body check-ins, Private, device-only journaling, Progress tracking and daily streaks

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Innermost Journal free?

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

### Is Shadow Work free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Innermost Journal or Shadow Work?

Innermost Journal is rated higher. Innermost Journal averages 5.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Shadow Work averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Innermost Journal or Shadow Work have ads?

Neither Innermost Journal nor Shadow Work shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Innermost Journal or Shadow Work?

Innermost Journal ships an update monthly, and Shadow Work every 2 weeks. Most recently, Innermost Journal was updated on October 13, 2026 and Shadow Work on October 31, 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.*