We make Gentle, so weigh everything here with that in mind. We've tried to be fair: I am is one of the most popular affirmation apps on the App Store for good reasons, and for some people it's the better choice. Here's how the two differ, and how to tell which one fits you.
I am is the big, established app: a huge library, a very large user base, iPhone and Android, and an upbeat tone built around affirming your dreams and ambitions. Gentle is smaller and quieter: realistic lines for the days you're hard on yourself, Lock Screen widgets, guided 4-7-8 breathing and no account. If bold statements lift you, try I am. If they make your mind argue back, try Gentle.
Side by Side
| Gentle | I am | |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Realistic and gentle: "I can doubt myself and still show up" | Upbeat and ambitious: affirming your dreams and what you're capable of |
| Best for | Hard days, self-doubt, people who find big statements hard to believe | Motivation, goals, people who like bold positive statements |
| Breathing exercise | Guided 4-7-8 breathing with haptics | Not a focus of its App Store listing |
| Platforms | iPhone (iOS 18 or later) | iPhone and Android |
| Price | Free to download, optional Premium | Free to download, optional Premium (monthly, yearly or lifetime) |
| Track record | New; renamed from Not Alone in 2026 | Long-established, with hundreds of thousands of App Store ratings |
I am's details come from its own App Store and Google Play listings; apps change, so check them for the latest.
When I am Is the Better Choice
- You're on Android, or switch between devices. Gentle is iPhone-only for now.
- Bold statements work for you. If "I am confident" gives you a lift rather than an argument, I am's style suits you.
- You want the biggest library and an app with a long track record and a large community.
When Gentle Is the Better Choice
- Big affirmations feel like lying. Gentle's lines leave room for the hard part, so your mind has less to argue with.
- You want a calm breath, not just words. Gentle includes guided 4-7-8 breathing you can follow with your eyes closed.
- You'd rather not make an account. Gentle works without one, and your name and answers stay on your iPhone.
- You want a kind line on your Lock Screen. Gentle's widgets come in every Lock Screen and Home Screen size.
Why the Tone Matters More Than the Feature List
Most affirmation apps can send you a line at 9 a.m. The real difference is what the line says. In a well-known study, people with low self-esteem felt worse after repeating "I'm a lovable person", while people with high self-esteem felt slightly better (Wood et al., 2009). So the "best" app depends on you: if bold lines land, they help; if they don't, smaller ones do. Our guide to affirmations for low self-esteem goes into this, and our gentle affirmations show the kind of lines Gentle uses.
Not sure? Read "I am unstoppable" and "I can doubt myself and still show up" out loud. Whichever one you believe more is your answer.
Try the quieter one
If big positive statements feel like lying on hard days, Gentle's lines are written for you:
"I don't have to earn rest."
"This feeling is loud, but it isn't permanent."
Gentle is a free iPhone app that sends short, kind affirmations like these at the hours you choose and keeps one on your Lock Screen. No account needed; an optional Premium subscription unlocks all themes, topic choice and unlimited breathing.
Get Gentle on the App StoreFor iPhone with iOS 18 or later.
- Gentle affirmations for hard days — Kind lines for bad days, mistakes and tired evenings, and how to write your own.
- Affirmations for low self-esteem — Why "I am confident" can backfire, and lines you can actually believe.
- Affirmations on your iPhone Lock Screen — Three ways to keep a kind word in view, with step-by-step iOS instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gentle like the I am app?
Both are iPhone affirmation apps that send lines through the day. I am leans towards bold, ambitious statements and has a much larger library and user base. Gentle is smaller and quieter, with realistic lines for hard days, Lock Screen widgets and guided 4-7-8 breathing.
Is Gentle on Android?
Not yet. Gentle is for iPhone and needs iOS 18 or later. I am is available on both iPhone and Android.
Can I use both apps?
Yes. Both are free to download, so the easiest way to choose is to try each for a few days and keep the one whose lines you actually believe.
Which app is better for low self-esteem?
It depends on how you react to big statements. If "I am unstoppable" lifts you, I am is a good fit. If it makes your mind argue back, research suggests smaller, believable lines work better, and that's what Gentle is built around.
Sources
- Monkey Taps. I am – Daily Affirmations (App Store listing) and Google Play listing.
- Wood, J. V., Perunovic, W. Q. E., & Lee, J. W. (2009). Positive self-statements: Power for some, peril for others. Psychological Science, 20(7), 860–866.