# ReliefLink vs Virtual Hope Box (new)

The clearest difference is rating: Virtual Hope Box (new) at 4.4 against ReliefLink's 3.8. Virtual Hope Box (new) also leads on update cadence (every 4 months vs every 13 months). ReliefLink's advantage is iOS requirement (10.0 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Virtual Hope Box (new) holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of ReliefLink's written reviews are positive against 71% of Virtual Hope Box (new)'s.

ReliefLink ships an update every 13 months, Virtual Hope Box (new) every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ReliefLink | Virtual Hope Box (new) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relieflink/id721474553/reviews) | **[4.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-hope-box-new/id6477622019/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **10** |
| Positive reviews | 70.0% of reviews | **71.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 53 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Emory University](https://appshunter.io/developer/387102326) | [Defense Health Agency](https://appshunter.io/developer/1264687017) |

## What reviewers say

### ReliefLink

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/relieflink/id721474553)

This app offers confidential mental health support, including personalized profiles, mood tracking, safety planning, and coping exercises. It also features a map locator for mental health facilities and emergency contact options.

**Highlights:** Personalized mental health profile, Mood and thought tracking, Safety plan creation, Coping methods and relaxation exercises, Map locator for mental health facilities, Emergency contact options

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Virtual Hope Box (new)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-hope-box-new/id6477622019)

This app provides tools to help users cope with difficult emotions, relax, and engage in positive thinking. It allows for personalized content creation with loved ones and therapists, offering distraction techniques and guided exercises.

**Highlights:** Multimedia content storage, Personalized coping cards, Positive activity planning, Distraction tools, Guided relaxation exercises, Controlled breathing techniques

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ReliefLink free?

ReliefLink is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Virtual Hope Box (new) free?

Virtual Hope Box (new) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, ReliefLink or Virtual Hope Box (new)?

Virtual Hope Box (new) is rated higher. ReliefLink averages 3.8 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Virtual Hope Box (new) averages 4.4 from 10 ratings.

### Do ReliefLink or Virtual Hope Box (new) have ads?

Neither ReliefLink nor Virtual Hope Box (new) shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ReliefLink or Virtual Hope Box (new)?

ReliefLink ships an update every 13 months, and Virtual Hope Box (new) every 4 months. Most recently, ReliefLink was updated on October 21, 2026 and Virtual Hope Box (new) on October 2, 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.*