How We Feel vs Sanity & Self (2026): which should you pick?

Pick How We Feel if

• Fits if you want a mood journal with no subscription and no in-app purchases
• Works for therapy clients who want to note feelings between sessions

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want to journal on a tablet or computer, as it's phones only
• Not for you if you need another language, as it's in English and Spanish only
• Too light for anyone after a long-form diary, since every entry starts from a mood check-in
• Watch out: the iPhone app needs iOS 17 or later, and the vendor says it's no replacement for therapy

Pick Sanity & Self if

• Fits if you want guided audio sessions for stress, sleep and self-esteem
• Works for women who want a community tab alongside the sessions

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a diary for your own entries, since journaling here is guided sessions
• Tight if you stay free, because most of the library is Premium
• Skip it if you need a price list first, as none could be read
• Watch out: Chat 1:1 is a separate payment and runs on iOS only
• Watch out: the vendor's FAQ is the only pricing page

How We Feel

• Phone only: the App Store listing says it is only for iPhone, alongside the Android app; no iPad, Mac or web version is listed.
• The App Store listing gives English and Spanish as the only languages.
• The iPhone app requires iOS 17.0 or later.
• The vendor describes it as a wellbeing journal, not a replacement for therapy or professional care.

Sanity & Self

• Pricing could not be read: the FAQ only says the annual plan averages $5 per month and no price list or App Store listing was found.
• It is mostly an audio self-care library; journaling is one session type, not a diary tool with entries of your own.
• Chat 1:1 is a separate payment from Premium and runs on iOS only.
• Most of the library needs a paid Premium membership.

How We Feel

Mood Meter check-ins

Each check-in starts with choosing a word for how you feel from a color-coded grid of emotions split into quadrants, which is meant to build a more precise emotional vocabulary.

Tags, journal notes and photos

A check-in can carry tags, a written journal entry, photos and a body sensation map, so the situation around a feeling is kept with it.

Pattern analysis

An Analyze tab and a weekly review chart check-ins over time. On iPhone the app reads sleep, exercise and other health trends through HealthKit to set beside them.

Video regulation strategies

Step-by-step videos, some as short as a minute, are grouped under four themes: Change Your Thinking, Move Your Body, Be Mindful and Reach Out.

Sharing with friends

The Friends feature shares how you feel in real time with people you choose. Check-ins stay private unless you decide to share them.

On-device data

Data stays on the device unless you opt in to send an anonymized copy of your check-ins for research. The iOS app can sync to iCloud, and no account is required.

Sanity & Self

Guided audio sessions

Over 900 sessions of 2 to 45 minutes in series, on mindfulness, healing, relationships, sleep, breathing and more.

Reflective journaling sessions

The FAQ lists journaling and morning or evening rituals among the session types; some need materials noted on the session page.

Community tab

An in-app community where members ask for advice and share support.

Chat 1:1

A separate service to text or video chat with coaches and licensed therapists; it is paid separately and available on iOS only.

Offline downloads

Premium subscribers can download sessions to listen to without a connection.

How We Feel

• Free$0

  Every feature: emotion check-ins, journal notes and photos, pattern charts, video strategies and sharing with friends.

Sanity & Self

Pricing could not be confirmed. See sanityandself.com.