Comparison
Looking for a Rootd alternative?
Rootd is a focused panic-attack app: one large button that opens a guided walkthrough. relif is broader — 20+ relief techniques, guided breathing, journals, mood tracking and an AI companion — free to download on iOS and Android in eight languages.
Last reviewed:
20+ techniques in one library
Grounding, breathing, body-based and thought-based techniques, each with a plain-language explanation and a timer.
Disclosure
relif is our app. Details were checked on 3 September 2026 and pricing changes, so check Rootd’s own site and your store before deciding. Neither app treats panic disorder; both are wellness apps.
The short answer
If discrete panic episodes are the whole of your problem, Rootd’s narrowness is its advantage: one button, one path, nothing to decide while your heart is pounding. If panic sits inside a broader picture — ongoing worry, sleep, rumination, wanting to talk it through afterwards — relif covers more ground, at the cost of a home screen with more on it.
Side by side
| Feature | Rootd | relifour app |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Panic attacks, deliberately narrow | Anxious moments broadly: panic, worry, night, work, social |
| In the moment | One large button into a guided walkthrough | Centre Relief button, plus one-tap breathing that works offline |
| AI companion | None | Liam — an AI, not a therapist, with cross-session memory |
| Technique library | Panic-focused exercises and lessons | 20+ techniques across 6 categories, plus 4 breathing presets |
| Journaling | Limited | Three journals: gratitude, achievements, free flow |
| Mood tracking | Basic | Mood 1–5, stress 1–10, 0–100 wellness score, trends |
| Structured programme | Lesson series | Three 21-day audio journeys, 10–15 min a day (Premium) |
| Languages | Several | 8, including Hebrew and Arabic with full right-to-left layout |
| Price | Free core tool; subscription — check the store | Free to download; Premium from $14.99/month or $107.99/year (US list) |
| Maturity | Established in its niche | New, with a smaller user base |
Table scrolls sideways on small screens.
What Rootd does better
- Zero decisions under load. A single dominant button is genuinely better interaction design for a panicking person than a grid of options. relif’s centre Relief button is the same idea, but the home screen around it offers more.
- A clear identity. Everyone knows what Rootd is for in one sentence, which also means it does not have to be explained to you mid-episode.
- A longer track record in this specific use case, and more users than relif.
What relif adds
- Something to talk to afterwards. Liam is an AI companion — not a therapist — that remembers your triggers between conversations, so the fifth episode does not start from scratch.
- Offline breathing. Four presets and custom patterns, unlimited on every tier, with vibration synced to each phase so you can follow it with the phone face-down.
- The wider picture. Mood and stress tracking with a 0–100 wellness score, three journals, and a 21-day journey for panic and health worry.
- Language coverage. Eight languages, Hebrew and Arabic included, right-to-left from the start.
Who should pick which
- Pick Rootd if panic attacks are the specific, isolated problem and you want the simplest possible path into help.
- Pick relif if panic is one part of a wider anxiety picture, or you want a companion and a record alongside the in-the-moment tool.
- Either way, read what people actually do during a panic attack — the techniques are free and app-independent.
Common questions
Does relif have a panic button?
relif has a centre “Relief” button in the navigation bar that opens the technique picker. We do not call it a panic button, and it is not a monitoring or emergency service — crisis resources are separate and always available.
Which is better value?
Both are free to download with paid tiers. relif’s free tier includes unlimited breathing, three relief techniques and five AI messages a day; details on the pricing page.
Can I use both?
Yes, and plenty of people do — a dedicated in-the-moment tool plus a broader app is a reasonable combination. Neither replaces professional care if panic attacks are recurring.
Keep reading
- Panic attacks: what people do in the momentGrounding, paced breathing and when to get medical help.
- Best anxiety apps comparedSeven apps side by side, including where relif loses.
- Guided breathing in relifFour presets, custom patterns, haptic pacing, offline.
- relif vs DAREThe other single-method panic comparison.
Get relif free
Free to download on iOS and Android
Wellness Disclaimer: relif is a wellness and self-care companion designed to support your emotional wellbeing. It is not a medical device, does not provide medical advice, and is not a substitute for professional healthcare, therapy, or counseling. If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please contact your local emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately.
Editorial policy: Written by the relif team from primary sources — the product itself, store listings and peer-reviewed or official publications. Not medical advice. Read our editorial policy and sources.
