Comparison

12 Steps vs Sober Thoughts

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

Head to head
About

12 Steps

Access essential 12-step literature, audio resources, and a supportive community for recovery. Track your sobriety, find meetings, and connect with others on their journey.

Highlights
  • Complete 12-step literature and audio
  • Daily reflections and prayers
  • Sobriety tracker with milestones
  • Live meeting finder (phone, Zoom)
  • Active sober community support
  • Speaker talks and podcasts
Features
Read full description

Carry essential resources and an active, supportive community wherever you go! Join the most active sober community on any app, and have every resource you could need in one place. Over 100,000+ individuals trust it to provide them with the support they need on their journey, one day at a time. Unlock the complete text and audio of foundational material, reflections for each day, resources to help you stay sober, and much more! Foundational Material - Immerse yourself in the content spread across 164 pages, including prayers, personal stories, and insights into the steps and traditions. - Includes the full Big Book text, 12 Steps and 12 Traditions (12 and 12), As Bill Sees it, Daily Reflections, Prayers, Living Sober, the Joe and Charlie Audio Tapes, and much more! - Easily navigate through pages and chapters with search and highlight features, ensuring a smooth reading experience. - Customize your reading with adjustable font sizes and Light and Dark Mode options for comfortable reading anytime, anywhere. - Have the cornerstone material always at hand, offering constant guidance and support in your journey towards sobriety and personal development. Podcasts and Audiobooks - Explore a variety of podcasts and audiobooks from individuals sharing their journey to recovery. - Discover new content contributed by community members or share your own story with others. - Listen to audio versions of foundational material, making it easier to absorb its wisdom wherever you are. Speaker Talks - Gain motivation and insights by listening to speaker talks from meetings worldwide. - Stay updated with new content added regularly, offering a continuous flow of inspiration. Tracker for Sobriety - Monitor your sobriety by recording your sobriety date and tracking your progress in days, weeks, months, and years. - Celebrate milestones with digital tokens, marking each step of your journey. - Embrace the practice of tracking and celebrating your sobriety, one day at a time. Meeting Finder - Connect with the community by attending live meetings at any time, accessible via phone, Zoom, and other services. - Access meetings directly from various sources, with real-time updates and options tailored to your preferences. - Filter meetings based on type, format, language, and accessibility. Community Support - Engage with an active, moderated community offering support, understanding, and camaraderie. - Connect with individuals sharing the common goal of staying sober, one day at a time. - Find strength and insight from daily reflections, shared stories, and lessons learned. - Enhance your journey and minimize the risk of relapse with the support of a like-minded community. - Share your story in a safe, supportive space with community guidelines. Objectionable content and abusive behavior are not tolerated: every member can report posts and block other users at any time. From foundational material to community support, this app is your companion on the path to sobriety. Join our community and experience the difference it can make. Download the app today and take the first step towards a brighter, sober future. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Sober Thoughts

Read full description

Sober Thoughts is a recovery companion for your home screen. No streaks. No shame. No ads. No tracking. Just one thoughtful quote a day, on the screen you already look at every minute. THREE PATHS. YOU CHOOSE. Recovery isn't one-size-fits-all. Pick the voice that actually speaks to you: • Faith & Program — AA, NA, and spiritual recovery traditions • Mindful & Open — Secular mindfulness and personal reflection • Science & Self — Evidence-based cognitive behavioral approaches Change it any time. Mix them if you want. We don't assume a default. WIDGET-FIRST, NOT APP-FIRST. Open your phone. See a quote. Keep going. Sober Thoughts was built around iOS Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets because we believe the best recovery tool is the one that meets you where you already are — not another app fighting for your attention. Pin a quote to any widget size. It rotates gently throughout the day. ONE DAY AT A TIME PROGRAMS Short guided programs with one task and one reflection a day. First 30 Days is free for everyone. Gratitude Reset, Rebuilding Trust, and Serenity are included with Pro. Self-paced, no streaks, nothing to catch up on. CURATED. HONEST. EDITORIAL. Over 1,700 quotes reviewed and organized by emotional state — Hope, Strength, Grief & Loss, Letting Go, and more. Every source is honored. Nothing AI-generated. Nothing recycled from a cheap quote database. MADE TO BE YOURS. Dozens of wallpapers. Theme and font controls. Customize your widget until it feels like something you actually want to see. PRIVACY THAT MEANS SOMETHING. • No analytics or tracking • No ads, ever • No account or login required • Your sobriety date stays on your iPhone • No iCloud sync in V1 — your choice We don't know who you are. We don't want to. That's the point. WHAT'S INSIDE • 1,770+ curated quotes across three modes • Daily rotating home screen and lock screen widgets • Explore by emotional state or topic • Four guided One Day At A Time programs (First 30 Days is free) • Day counter (optional — turn it off whenever) • Dozens of nature-inspired wallpapers • Share any quote as a card to Instagram, iMessage, or Stories • Offline-first. Works without signal. WHO IT'S FOR People in early recovery. People with years under their belt. People who've never touched a program but want a quieter, more honest mental health tool. Anyone who wants a daily moment of reflection without being gamified into it. A NOTE ON SUBSCRIPTIONS Sober Thoughts offers an optional Pro subscription that unlocks the full quote library, additional wallpapers, and theme customization. The core daily widget experience is free and will stay free. You'll never see an ad — paid or otherwise. Recovery deserves better than a streak counter. Progress, not perfection. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://soberthoughts.org/privacy-policy

Screenshots

12 Steps4 screens
Sober Thoughts4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Sober Thoughts at none against 12 Steps's shown. 12 Steps's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support 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. 12 Steps sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Sober Thoughts sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

12 Steps ships an update every 5 days, Sober Thoughts every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
12 Steps versus Sober Thoughts: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameter12 StepsSober Thoughts
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (15K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews79.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings15K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 days — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size61 MB114 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperProduct Growth LLCFacundo Rodriguez

Bugs and requests

12 Steps

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login/signup issues
  • Sobriety date calculator not working
  • Page formatting and scrolling problems
  • Frequent crashes and app instability

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add 12 Steps and 12 Traditions text
  • Implement bookmarking and highlighting
  • Introduce a dark mode option
  • Add daily meditations and reflections
  • Implement push notifications for reminders

Sober Thoughts

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

14 purchases

12 Steps

Subscriptions13
  • Weekly Subscription$0.997 Days
  • Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
  • Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
Show 10 more
  • Monthly Subscription$3.991 Month
  • One Year Ad-free3 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$9.991 Year
  • Annual Subscription$9.991 Year
  • One Year Ad-free3 Days trial$14.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$17.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription$24.991 Year
  • Yearly Subscription3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$19.99
2 purchases

Sober Thoughts

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Pro Annual (Save 40%)$19.991 Year

Questions

Is 12 Steps free?
12 Steps is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sober Thoughts free?
Sober Thoughts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do 12 Steps or Sober Thoughts have ads?
12 Steps shows ads; Sober Thoughts does not.
Which is updated more often, 12 Steps or Sober Thoughts?
12 Steps ships an update every 5 days, and Sober Thoughts every 5 weeks. Most recently, 12 Steps was updated on October 31, 2026 and Sober Thoughts on October 18, 2026.

Other comparisons