# MindStream vs Bento

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bento at every 3 days against MindStream's every 5 weeks. MindStream's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MindStream sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $7.99 per month and Bento sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MindStream ships an update every 5 weeks, Bento every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MindStream | Bento |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Size | 24 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ethan Gostin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888304532) | [Don Kallail](https://appshunter.io/developer/1794854443) |

## What reviewers say

### MindStream

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindstream-smart-second-brain/id6766705272)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MindStream Pro | $7.99 | per month |


### Bento

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bento-personal-library/id6770398950)

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bento Pro | $4.99 | per year |
| Bento Pro Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MindStream free?

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

### Is Bento free?

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

### Do MindStream or Bento have ads?

Neither MindStream nor Bento shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MindStream or Bento?

MindStream ships an update every 5 weeks, and Bento every 3 days. Most recently, MindStream was updated on September 25, 2026 and Bento on September 8, 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.*