Comparison

ACT Coach vs IFS Guide

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

Head to head
About

ACT Coach

This app helps users practice Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to manage difficult thoughts and feelings. It provides exercises, tools, and tracking logs to support living a value-driven life. Developed in consultation with therapists, it's designed for individuals undergoing ACT.

Highlights
  • ACT exercises
  • Tools for managing thoughts
  • Commitment to values
  • Tracking logs
  • Information on ACT
Features
Read full description

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) aims to help you live with unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and impulses without avoiding them or being controlled by them. In ACT, you are encouraged to commit to actions so that you can live your life by your values, even in the face of these unpleasant experiences. This app was developed for Veterans, Service members, and other people who are in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in consultation with a therapist. It offers exercises, tools, information, and tracking logs so you can practice what you’re learning in your daily life. ACT Coach was created by VA’s National Center for PTSD.

About

IFS Guide

This app offers guided sessions based on Internal Family Systems (IFS) protocols. It features an AI practitioner named Sunny that provides step-by-step guidance through text, audio, or direct speech in any language, assisting with inner child and shadow work. It also includes guided meditations and tools for journaling and tracking your inner parts.

Highlights
  • AI-powered IFS practitioner (Sunny)
  • Step-by-step guidance
  • Text, audio, and direct speech interaction
  • Inner child and shadow work assistance
  • Guided meditations
  • Part journaling and profiling
  • Reminders for self-care
Features
Read full description

Internal Family Systems (IFS Therapy) is the fastest growing therapy model because of it’s root-cause effectiveness. And our goal is to make it affordable and accessible for all! The IFS Guide app gives you step-by-step guidance based on Internal Family Systems protocols so that you have a safe space to take care of your Parts anytime, anywhere. Our AI-powered IFS Practitioner, called Sunny, acts like a real IFS practitioner and enables you to speak directly or chat with it anytime, anywhere, and in ANY LANGUAGE. Sunny will be with you every step of the way, so you never wander off or feel lost in the process. There are text, audio, and direct speaking guides in your native language that will help you through inner child work and shadow work, so you understand your parts better and create deeper relationships with them. In addition to AI-powered guidance, the app also provides smart guided meditations in audio, for those who prefer no AI included in their guidance. The feature to chat with your parts on your own, allows you the freedom and creativity you need to connect with your different sides (parts) at your own pace. You can also log your conversations with your parts and reflect on them later. Create a profile for each Part of your Internal Family System and log its traits, behavior, and relationships with other parts. Schedule reminders to ensure your Parts get the care and attention they need from you. IFS GUIDE APP FEATURES AI-Powered Guidance: AI-powered Sunny, acting like a real IFS practitioner, helps you navigate through your sessions. The ability to text or talk to Sunny, just like a real IFS session. Ability to chat or talk in your own words and language. Step-by-step Internal Family Systems guidance designed by Certified Level-3 IFS Practitioners: Understand your Parts better and create deeper relationships with them. "On-Call" assistance will help you stay in your process and not wander off. Chat with Your Parts On Your Own: Create a safe space to stay present and communicate with your parts at your own pace. Log your conversations and reflect on them at a later time. Chat with multiple parts at the same time. Get Help to Unblend: Never Lose Track of Your Parts: Add notes about what you have learned from them and their relationships with each other. Journal your healing process. Access your previous conversations and talk with your parts quickly and easily. Create profiles for each Part. Create parts maps on your own, or Sunny will do it for you automatically after each session. Stay Focused on Your Inner World: Get through each step smoothly and confidently without getting lost in the process. Gentle and soothing audio guidance helps reduce anxiety and overwhelm. Stay focused on your parts without having to worry about the next steps. Strengthen Your Relationship with Your Parts: Set reminders to check in with your parts regularly and explore different topics. Give your parts the care and attention they need. Daily check-ins to stay connected with your parts every day. And many more features.... Download IFS Guide today and experience the future of personalized IFS therapy! Standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

ACT Coach4 screens
IFS Guide4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ACT Coach at none against IFS Guide's 14. ACT Coach also leads on device support (3 vs 1). IFS Guide's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 14 months) and ratings volume (814 vs 14). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. IFS Guide sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. ACT Coach asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

IFS Guide holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: IFS Guide has 814 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of ACT Coach's written reviews are positive against 74% of IFS Guide's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ACT Coach ships an update every 14 months, IFS Guide fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
ACT Coach versus IFS Guide: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterACT CoachIFS Guide
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (14 ratings)4.8 (814 ratings) — better
Positive reviews62.5% of reviews74.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14814 — better
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB94 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperUS Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)Internal Family Systems - IFS Guide

Customer experience

ACT Coach

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%

IFS Guide

All ratings814 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral0.9%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews158 reviews
Positive74.1%
Neutral3.8%
Negative22.2%

Bugs and requests

ACT Coach

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

IFS Guide

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App crashes on launch for some users
  • Subscription issues and inability to upgrade
  • Reminders and notifications not working properly

Requested features

4 requests
  • Bring back old audio guided sessions
  • Improve accessibility for screen readers
  • Allow more customization of parts
  • Fix issues with parts mapping and editing

In-app purchases

None

ACT Coach

No in-app purchases

12 purchases

IFS Guide

Subscriptions11
  • Basic Plan1 Month trial$11.991 Month
  • Premium Plan7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • Monthly Platinum Plan7 Days trial$19.991 Month
Show 8 more
  • Platinum Plan Monthly7 Days trial2 variants$29.991 Month
  • Platinum Plan7 Days trial$29.991 Month
  • Basic Plan1 Month trial$95.991 Year
  • Premium Plan14 Days trial$95.991 Year
  • Platinum Annual1 Year trial$99.991 Year
  • Platinum Plan14 Days trial$99.991 Year
  • Platinum Plan Annual14 Days trial$129.991 Year
  • Platinum Plan14 Days trial2 variants$159.991 Year
One-time1
  • 50% Exclusive OFF$49.99

Questions

Is ACT Coach free?
ACT Coach is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is IFS Guide free?
IFS Guide is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ACT Coach or IFS Guide?
IFS Guide is rated higher. ACT Coach averages 4.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while IFS Guide averages 4.8 from 814 ratings.
Do ACT Coach or IFS Guide have ads?
Neither ACT Coach nor IFS Guide shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ACT Coach or IFS Guide?
ACT Coach ships an update every 14 months, and IFS Guide fortnightly. Most recently, ACT Coach was updated on October 17, 2026 and IFS Guide on October 19, 2026.

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