# Mindfulness Coach vs Virtual Hope Box (new)

The clearest difference is rating: Mindfulness Coach at 4.8 against Virtual Hope Box (new)'s 4.1. Mindfulness Coach also leads on ratings volume (11K vs 16) and review sentiment (93% vs 71%). Virtual Hope Box (new)'s advantage is update cadence (every 4 months vs every 9 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

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

Mindfulness Coach holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mindfulness Coach has 11K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Mindfulness Coach's written reviews are positive against 71% of Virtual Hope Box (new)'s.

Mindfulness Coach ships an update every 9 months, Virtual Hope Box (new) every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mindfulness Coach | Virtual Hope Box (new) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindfulness-coach/id804284729/reviews)** | [4.1 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtual-hope-box-new/id6477622019/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | **92.6% of reviews** | 71.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 4 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 131 MB | 64 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)](https://appshunter.io/developer/430646305) | [Defense Health Agency](https://appshunter.io/developer/1264687017) |

## What reviewers say

### Mindfulness Coach

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindfulness-coach/id804284729)

Learn and practice mindfulness with a guided training program. Access audio exercises, informational resources, and progress tracking tools to reduce stress and improve emotional balance. This app is free and respects your privacy.

**Highlights:** Self-guided mindfulness training, Audio-guided mindfulness exercises, Information library on mindfulness, Goal setting and progress tracking, Mindfulness mastery assessment, Customizable reminders, Access to support resources

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 User-friendly
- 🚀 Helpful for mental health
- 🚀 Effective for mindfulness and relaxation
- 🚀 Great for beginners
- 🚀 Comprehensive content

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs with timers and tracking
- 🐛 Difficulty navigating and finding specific content
- 🐛 White screen can be harsh on the eyes
- 🐛 Lack of music or background sounds

**Reported bugs**

- Timer not working properly
- Tracking/progress not saving consistently
- App crashing or freezing

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Better organization and filtering of content
- More variety in session durations
- Ability to import custom music/sounds


### 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 Mindfulness Coach free?

Mindfulness Coach 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, Mindfulness Coach or Virtual Hope Box (new)?

Mindfulness Coach is rated higher. Mindfulness Coach averages 4.8 out of 5 from 11K ratings, while Virtual Hope Box (new) averages 4.1 from 16 ratings.

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

Neither Mindfulness Coach nor Virtual Hope Box (new) shows ads.

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

Mindfulness Coach ships an update every 9 months, and Virtual Hope Box (new) every 4 months. Most recently, Mindfulness Coach was updated on November 4, 2026 and Virtual Hope Box (new) on November 4, 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.*