Comparison

Ananda vs Elsewhere Dream Journal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Ananda

This app offers guided meditation and relaxation sessions using progressive binaural tones and ambient sounds. It provides various programs to enhance focus, promote relaxation, aid meditation, and improve sleep quality. Each session features a unique blend of nature sounds and peaceful elements.

Highlights
  • Binaural beat programs
  • Ambient soundscapes
  • Focus and concentration modes
  • Relaxation and sleep aids
  • Customizable sound mixes
  • Brainwave information
Currently charting
Read full description

Ananda mixes ambient soundscapes and nature sounds with gradually changing binaural beats for meditation, focus, and relaxation. Set a session length, choose a program, and listen with headphones. It started as an independent passion project, built around the sounds and listening sessions I personally enjoy. Explore binaural beat programs Choose from 13 binaural beat programs for different listening moments throughout the day. Each program uses gradually changing binaural beats as part of the audio mix. Short descriptions explain how the beats change over time. Discover a varied sound mix Each session combines nature sounds, chants, and sound effects with binaural beats. Sounds are selected automatically so the mix can vary from one session to another. Start a sound session Use Ananda in a safe setting and choose a sound program that fits your listening preferences. Main Features • 14 sound programs, including 13 binaural beat programs and one ambient-only program: • Reflective Listening • Focus • Attention • Study • Creativity • Momentum • Extended Meditation • Dreamscape • Slow Drift • Relaxation • Quiet Rest • Short Rest • Morning • Short descriptions for each program • Nature and ambient sounds, including rain, ocean, forest, and wind • Choose and customize the sounds you prefer • A varied sound mix across sessions • Session timer, with separate volumes for binaural beats, ambiance, and effects • Simple, minimalist design • General-interest information on frequency ranges and binaural beats Disclaimer: Ananda is not a medical app. It is a recreational listening app with ambient sounds and binaural beats, for entertainment and relaxation only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. It is not a substitute for therapy, treatment, medication, or professional care. Effects are not guaranteed and individual experiences may vary. Do not use this app while driving, operating machinery, or in any situation where reduced attention could create a safety risk. Stop using the app if you experience discomfort. If you have medical concerns, consult a qualified healthcare professional. Download Ananda and explore varied ambient soundscapes and binaural beat programs.

About

Elsewhere Dream Journal

This app helps you explore your subconscious by journaling your dreams. It automatically generates images from your dreams, identifies recurring symbols, and provides insights into their meaning. Track your dream patterns over time and discover your personal mythology.

Highlights
  • Automatic dream image generation
  • Symbol and theme insights
  • Personal mythology discovery
  • Dream charting and search
  • Expert symbol interpretations
Features
Read full description

Elsewhere is a beautiful dream journaling app that helps you learn the language of your subconscious. The patterns in your dreams can help you find your center - what is meaningful for you, what is beautiful for you, what is terrifying for you, and why. Features: * Automatic dream image generation * Insights - If you dream about a character, setting or symbol multiple times, you'll get an insight about it * My Symbols - As you dream, Elsewhere will detect symbols in your dreams help you discover your personal mythology * Symbol interpretations by David Fontana, and thematic insights by Kelly Bulkeley * Automatic tagging of characters, settings, themes and more * Charts - See what you're dreaming about by year, month or week * Dream search Terms of use: https://elsewhere.to/terms

Screenshots

Ananda4 screens
Elsewhere Dream Journal4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Elsewhere Dream Journal at Free against Ananda's $2.99. Elsewhere Dream Journal also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Ananda's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and chart position (#161 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Elsewhere Dream Journal is free to download; Ananda costs $2.99 up front. Elsewhere Dream Journal sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Ananda asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Elsewhere Dream Journal holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ananda has 653 ratings behind it against 108, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 89% of Ananda's written reviews are positive against 83% of Elsewhere Dream Journal's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ananda ships an update every 2 months, Elsewhere Dream Journal every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Ananda versus Elsewhere Dream Journal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAnandaElsewhere Dream Journal
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (653 ratings)4.9 (108 ratings) — better
Positive reviews89.1% of reviews — better82.5% of reviews
Number of ratings653 — better108
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#161 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.013.0.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB133 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperManuel LoigeretELSEWHERE.TO LTD

Customer experience

Ananda

All ratings652 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral2.8%
Negative5.7%
Written reviews192 reviews
Positive89.1%
Neutral1.6%
Negative9.4%

Elsewhere Dream Journal

All ratings107 ratings
Positive99.1%
Neutral0.9%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews40 reviews
Positive82.5%
Neutral7.5%
Negative10.0%

User reviews

Ananda

From 653 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Helpful and effective
  • 💤 Aids sleep and relaxation
  • 🧠 Improves focus and concentration
  • 🧘‍♀️ Enhances meditation experience

Room to improve

  • 🔋 Battery drain issues
  • 🎨 Difficult to read due to color scheme
  • 🔇 Sound issues (cutting out, high-pitched noises)

Elsewhere Dream Journal

From 108 App Store ratings

What we love

  • ✨ Insightful dream charts
  • 🎨 AI-generated dream art
  • 🤔 Multiple interpretation styles
  • 💡 Pulls out themes across dreams
  • 📚 Keeps dreams safe and accessible

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bug: Cannot add locations to dreams
  • 🐛 Bug: Supporter option endlessly loading
  • 🐛 Bug: Magic code not sent for signup
  • 🐛 Bug: App crashes on typing/editing dreams
  • 🐛 Bug: App freezes on loading screen

Bugs and requests

Ananda

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App not working on certain iOS versions
  • Play button disappearing

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to save custom sound mixes
  • More sound options and customization
  • Auto-orientation support for iPad
  • Gamma binaural beat programs

Elsewhere Dream Journal

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Cannot add locations to dreams
  • Supporter option endlessly loading
  • Magic code not sent for signup
  • App crashes when typing up a dream
  • App gets stuck on a white screen
Show 3 more
  • Editing a dream sits on the loading screen
  • App freezes when exporting data
  • App crashes when closing and reopening after export issues

Requested features

11 requests
  • Fix bug: Add locations to dreams
  • Fix bug: Supporter option not working
  • Fix bug: Magic code not being sent
  • Add feature: Calendar view for dreams
  • Add feature: More compact list view for dreams
Show 6 more
  • Add feature: Table of contents for dream titles
  • Add feature: Edit tags
  • Add feature: 7-Day trial version
  • Add feature: Ability to create own art prompts
  • Add feature: Nicer way to share results to socials (graphics and interpretation)
  • Add feature: Search function for symbol icons (with synonyms)

In-app purchases

None

Ananda

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Elsewhere Dream Journal

Subscriptions4
  • Elsewhere Premium1 Month trial$4.991 Month
  • Elsewhere Supporter$9.991 Month
  • Elsewhere Premium$49.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Elsewhere Supporter$99.991 Year
One-time3
  • 15 Credits$2.99
  • 30 Credits$4.99
  • 75 Credits$9.99

Questions

Is Ananda free?
Ananda costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Elsewhere Dream Journal free?
Elsewhere Dream Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ananda or Elsewhere Dream Journal?
Elsewhere Dream Journal is rated higher. Ananda averages 4.6 out of 5 from 653 ratings, while Elsewhere Dream Journal averages 4.9 from 108 ratings.
Do Ananda or Elsewhere Dream Journal have ads?
Neither Ananda nor Elsewhere Dream Journal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ananda or Elsewhere Dream Journal?
Ananda ships an update every 2 months, and Elsewhere Dream Journal every 2 weeks. Most recently, Ananda was updated on October 29, 2026 and Elsewhere Dream Journal on October 27, 2026.

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