Both are AI chatbots for mental health. But they take very different approaches. Here's an honest look at how they compare.
Woebot launched in 2017 and was one of the first AI chatbots specifically designed for mental health. It was created by clinical psychologists at Stanford and is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
The app delivers CBT-based interventions through conversational exercises. It tracks your mood, teaches you about cognitive distortions, and guides you through techniques like thought challenging and behavioral activation.
Woebot has published peer-reviewed research showing effectiveness for reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. It's a legitimate therapeutic tool with real clinical backing.
ILTY takes a different approach. Instead of structured lessons, it offers genuine conversation with AI companions who respond to what you're actually saying.
ILTY has multiple distinct companions with different personalities: some offer gentle validation, others provide more direct feedback. You choose who to talk to based on what you need in that moment.
Rather than following a curriculum, conversations flow naturally and end with actionable next steps—something concrete you can do, not just vague advice.
Woebot
Structured, lesson-based. Follows predetermined conversation paths with CBT exercises.
ILTY
Natural, responsive. Follows where the conversation goes based on what you say.
Better for: ILTY for natural conversation, Woebot for structured learning
Woebot
CBT-focused with evidence-based techniques. Teaches concepts through interactive exercises.
ILTY
Multiple approaches depending on companion chosen. Focuses on processing and clarity.
Better for: Woebot for pure CBT, ILTY for varied approaches
Woebot
Limited. Conversations feel similar regardless of your specific situation.
ILTY
High. Different companions for different needs. Responses adapt to what you share.
Better for: ILTY
Woebot
Supportive but can feel surface-level. May redirect to exercises when you want to talk.
ILTY
Designed for deeper emotional processing without rushing to solutions.
Better for: ILTY
Woebot
Excellent. Clear explanations of concepts like cognitive distortions and behavioral activation.
ILTY
Uses CBT techniques but doesn't explicitly teach them as a curriculum.
Better for: Woebot
Woebot
Provides crisis resources and safety information when needed.
ILTY
Provides crisis resources and can help you work through difficult moments.
Better for: Similar—both direct to professional help for true crises
Woebot
24/7 via app
ILTY
24/7 via app (web also during beta)
Better for: Similar
Woebot
Free core features
ILTY
Free during beta
Better for: Similar
Woebot is a well-designed CBT delivery system. If your goal is to learn and practice CBT techniques, Woebot does that effectively. The research backing is real, and the approach is clinically sound.
The limitation is that it can feel scripted. When you're in the middle of something emotional and you just want to talk, being routed through a lesson can feel frustrating. Woebot is built to teach, not necessarily to listen.
ILTY is built for those moments when you need to process something and want a conversation, not a lesson. It's less structured but more responsive. It doesn't teach CBT explicitly, but it helps you think through what you're feeling.
They're genuinely different tools. Some people use both—Woebot for learning techniques, ILTY for real-time emotional processing.
Woebot excels at teaching structured CBT techniques for anxiety through its lesson-based approach. ILTY is better for in-the-moment anxiety conversations where you need to talk through what's happening rather than complete an exercise. Many people benefit from using both.
Yes, Woebot's core features are free. ILTY is also free during beta. Both apps have optional premium features.
Neither Woebot nor ILTY should replace therapy for serious mental health conditions. They're best used as supplements to professional treatment or for everyday emotional support that doesn't require clinical intervention.
Both take privacy seriously. Woebot states they don't sell data and use industry-standard security. ILTY doesn't sell data, doesn't show ads, and doesn't use conversations to train models. Check each app's privacy policy for details.
The best way to know if ILTY is right for you is to try it. We're in beta and completely free.