ILTY vs Rootd
Rootd is built specifically for panic attacks. ILTY is built for mental health conversations. Here's when each one helps.
Quick Summary
Rootd is best if:
- ✓You experience panic attacks and need in-the-moment tools
- ✓You want a panic button with guided breathing
- ✓You want to track and understand your panic patterns
- ✓You need something that works during acute panic
ILTY is best if:
- ✓You need to process anxiety, not just manage panic symptoms
- ✓You want to understand why you're anxious, not just cope
- ✓You need support for mental health beyond panic attacks
- ✓You want to talk through anxious thoughts and situations
About Rootd
Rootd is designed specifically for panic attacks and anxiety. It features a panic button that guides you through acute panic episodes with breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and calming content.
The app also includes an anxiety tracker, educational content about panic, and tools for building long-term anxiety management skills. It's focused and does one thing well.
Created by someone who experienced panic attacks personally, Rootd has a genuine understanding of what panic feels like and what helps in the moment.
About ILTY
ILTY provides conversational support for a broad range of mental health needs, including anxiety and panic. It's not specialized for panic attacks specifically, but it can help you process anxiety and understand your triggers.
When panic subsides and you need to understand what triggered it, ILTY offers the kind of deeper conversation that a panic button can't provide.
ILTY's companions help you work through the broader anxiety patterns that often underlie panic attacks.
Detailed Comparison
Panic Attacks
Rootd
Purpose-built. Panic button with guided breathing and grounding. Excellent in-the-moment.
ILTY
Can help but not specialized. Better for processing after than during acute panic.
Better for: Rootd for acute panic
Broader Anxiety Support
Rootd
Some anxiety tools but primarily focused on panic.
ILTY
Full conversational support for all types of anxiety.
Better for: ILTY for broader anxiety
Understanding Triggers
Rootd
Anxiety tracker helps identify patterns over time.
ILTY
Conversation helps you explore and understand what triggers your anxiety.
Better for: ILTY for in-depth exploration
In-the-Moment Help
Rootd
Excellent. Designed for the acute moment of panic.
ILTY
Good for talking through anxiety. Less suited for acute panic episodes.
Better for: Rootd
Scope
Rootd
Panic attacks and anxiety. Narrow but deep.
ILTY
All mental health conversations. Broad but with depth.
Better for: Rootd for panic; ILTY for everything else
Cost
Rootd
Free basic features. Premium ~$10/month.
ILTY
$12.99/mo or $99.99/yr (7-day trial).
Better for: Similar
Who wrote this: ILTY publishes this comparison, and ILTY is one of the two apps in it. We rank ourselves below competitors where they genuinely win — you’ll see several of those calls below. Read it with the bias in mind and check the other side’s claims too.
Our Honest Take
Rootd is excellent at its specific job: helping you get through panic attacks. The panic button and guided exercises can be genuinely lifesaving during acute episodes.
But panic attacks are usually symptoms of broader anxiety patterns. Rootd helps you survive the attack; ILTY helps you understand and address what's driving the anxiety.
If you experience panic attacks, having Rootd is smart—it's like a first-aid kit for panic. ILTY is more like ongoing support for the underlying anxiety.
Many people benefit from both: Rootd when panic hits, ILTY for processing afterward and working on the bigger picture.
The research behind this
Rankings on this page draw on The 2026 State of AI Mental Health Apps, our own study of 15 apps across 8 criteria. Crisis handling was tested by hand: the same four escalating messages typed into every app, screenshots kept. Four of them never produced a crisis number. Every score is published with the reasoning behind it, including ILTY’s, and the rubric is CC-BY if you would rather score apps yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use Rootd during a panic attack instead of ILTY?
Yes. Rootd is specifically designed for acute panic and its guided exercises work well in the moment. ILTY is better for processing afterward—understanding what triggered it and working on longer-term anxiety management.
Can ILTY help with panic attacks?
ILTY can help you process panic-related anxiety and understand triggers, but it's not designed for acute panic episodes. For in-the-moment panic help, a dedicated tool like Rootd or professional guidance is more appropriate.
Are panic attacks and anxiety the same thing?
Not exactly. Panic attacks are acute episodes of intense fear with physical symptoms. Anxiety is a broader, ongoing experience. They're related—anxiety can trigger panic attacks. Rootd focuses on the acute episodes; ILTY helps with the broader anxiety.
See for Yourself
The best way to know if ILTY is right for you is to try it. Free to download, with a one-week free trial.