# BetterUp vs Thrive Global

The clearest difference is rating: BetterUp at 4.5 against Thrive Global's 3.9. BetterUp also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (436 vs 137). Thrive Global's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

BetterUp holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 436 and 137 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of BetterUp's written reviews are positive against 39% of Thrive Global's.

BetterUp ships an update weekly, Thrive Global every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BetterUp | Thrive Global |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (436 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/betterup/id963755876/reviews)** | [3.9 (137 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thrive-global/id1449069861/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **436** | 137 |
| Positive reviews | **42.4% of reviews** | 39.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 274 MB | 53 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [BetterUp](https://appshunter.io/developer/963755875) | [Thrive Global](https://appshunter.io/developer/1412847892) |

## What reviewers say

### BetterUp

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/betterup/id963755876)

Access personalized coaching and a vast content library for personal and professional development. Improve your career, relationships, resilience, and well-being with expert guidance.

**Highlights:** Personalized coaching experiences, Vast library of growth content, Leadership coach matching, Scientifically proven methods, Develop communication skills, Build resilience, Care for your mind

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👨‍🏫 High-quality coaches and personalized coaching
- 📱 User-friendly app interface and design
- 🎯 Effective goal tracking and accountability features
- 📚 Valuable articles and learning resources
- 🤖 AI tools and insights integration

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔗 Frequent connectivity and session disconnection issues
- 💸 Expensive pricing relative to perceived value
- 🐛 Multiple app crashes and technical glitches
- 📅 Cumbersome and confusing scheduling interface
- 🔄 Auto-renewal and difficult cancellation process

**Reported bugs**

- Session connectivity drops and join failures
- App crashes on launch (iOS)
- Login loop preventing access to home screen
- Scheduling system incorrectly books unavailable coach times
- Exceeds monthly scheduling limit when rescheduling

**Requested features**

- Dark mode with system-level transitions
- Display all available scheduling dates at once
- Calendar integration for session appointments
- Save articles feature in 'Up Next' carousel
- Notes section for article reflection


### Thrive Global

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/thrive-global/id1449069861)

This app acts as a personal coach to help you manage stress, enhance focus, build stronger relationships, and improve your overall well-being. It offers science-backed microsteps, quick stress-reduction tools, and guided journeys for personal growth.

**Highlights:** Science-backed Microsteps for habit building, 60-second Thrive Reset for stress reduction, Guided Journeys (Recharge, Food, Move, Money, Focus, Connect), Inspiring videos, articles, and storytelling, Immersive learning experiences for behavior change

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Inspiring and motivating content
- 💡 Micro steps for healthy habits
- ✨ Life transformation for wellbeing
- 📈 Progress tracking history
- 🧘‍♀️ Stress and burnout reduction

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Hard to navigate UI
- ❓ Irrelevant information displayed
- 🤔 Unclear tracking of productivity/energy
- 🤷‍♀️ Logged data difficult to find
- 🚫 No calendar breakdown of activity

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup
- App shuts down on login attempt
- Cannot log in
- Login link redirects to website, app doesn't refresh
- Entries disappear after manual logging

**Requested features**

- Calendar breakdown of logged activity
- Option to only read from Apple Health
- Simpler navigation
- Enable Touch ID/Face ID login
- More advanced content beyond basics


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BetterUp free?

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

### Is Thrive Global free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BetterUp or Thrive Global?

BetterUp is rated higher. BetterUp averages 4.5 out of 5 from 436 ratings, while Thrive Global averages 3.9 from 137 ratings.

### Do BetterUp or Thrive Global have ads?

Neither BetterUp nor Thrive Global shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BetterUp or Thrive Global?

BetterUp ships an update weekly, and Thrive Global every 5 weeks. Most recently, BetterUp was updated on September 20, 2026 and Thrive Global on September 16, 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.*