Our verdict: Forth is the better pick if you want something that works when the urge actually hits. A 100-day program is great on a good day, but in the moment you need something to do. Forth gives you a short visual game, a plan, built-in blocking and no account. Brainbuddy suits you better if a day-by-day course with lessons is what keeps you going.
We make Forth, so we’re biased, but every fact about Brainbuddy here comes from its own App Store listing and website. If something is out of date, tell us and we’ll fix it.
Why Forth comes out ahead
It helps in the moment, not just after
When an urge hits, Forth gives you something to do right then: a short visual game where you fit shapes, match patterns or rebuild a painting. The idea comes from craving research: in a 2015 study, three minutes of Tetris made cravings about 14 points weaker on a 0–100 scale, including cravings for sex.
A slip doesn’t wipe you out
Finished Resets grow a world you keep, and a setback doesn’t take any of it away. Streak counters, by design, start over at zero.
No account, and your data stays on your phone
You don’t sign up for anything. Your plan, reflections, progress and blocker choices stay on your iPhone.
Blocking is built in
Forth can block the apps and sites you choose through Apple’s Screen Time, with night schedules and 30-minute breaks, as part of the same subscription.
Forth and Brainbuddy side by side
| Feature | Forth | Brainbuddy |
|---|---|---|
| Price (US, as of October 2026) | $39.99 a year in the US. Eligible new subscribers get a 3-day free trial. | Paid Premium after onboarding. App Store “Full Access” purchases are listed from $2.99 to $99.99, without billing periods shown. |
| Platforms | iPhone (iOS 16 or later) | iPhone, Android |
| Main idea | A short visual game to open when an urge hits | A 100-day program with daily check-ups and lessons |
| Blocking | Included, through Apple Screen Time: apps and sites you choose, night schedules, 30-minute breaks | Yes, a blocker and web filter |
| Community | The Room: anonymous, moderated text posts for adults 18+ | Yes, with team challenges |
| Account and data | No account. Your plan and progress stay on your phone. | Account-based |
| Faith | Not religious | Not religious |
| App Store rating (US) | 5.0 from 6 ratings (launched September 2026) | 4.7 from 25,998 ratings |
Checked October 20, 2026 against each app’s US App Store listing and website. Prices change and vary by country; the price on each app’s paywall is the one that counts.
When Brainbuddy might suit you better
You want a structured 100-day program with daily check-ups and lessons, or you use Android.
How Forth works
When an urge hits, you open a Reset: a short, timed visual game where you fit shapes, match patterns, or rebuild a painting. There are no scores and no failing. Here’s the research behind it, and what else helps when an urge hits.
A quick assessment builds your plan. Forth can block the apps and sites you choose through Apple’s Screen Time, and it keeps your plan and progress on your phone. There’s no account.
Sources
- Brainbuddy: Brainbuddy: Quit PMO on the App Store and www.brainbuddyapp.com
- Forth: Forth: Quit Adult Content on the App Store
- Skorka-Brown, Andrade, Whalley and May, “Playing Tetris decreases drug and other cravings in real world settings,” Addictive Behaviors, 2015.
Questions
Why choose Forth over Brainbuddy?
Brainbuddy is a 100-day program you follow every day. Forth is built for the moment an urge hits: you open a short visual game and give yourself a few minutes before you decide what to do. It also includes Screen Time blocking and needs no account.
Does Brainbuddy have a free version?
Brainbuddy’s App Store listing says all features need a paid Premium subscription after onboarding (as of October 2026). Forth is free to download, with a 3-day free trial for eligible new subscribers.