Ironbark
Research-informed · Compassion-first

Your growth
doesn't reset.

The recovery app for compulsive porn use that doesn't punish you for a hard day.

Setbacks are part of the journey. We built Ironbark so they don't undo what you've built.

Most apps for unwanted compulsive patterns are built around counters that snap back to zero. The research is clear: that snap-back amplifies the catastrophic thinking that turns one hard day into a full setback. Ironbark takes the opposite stance — growth is preserved, not punished. Built for adults working through an unwanted compulsive pattern — including compulsive porn use.

Not ready to download? Take the 2-minute private self-assessment — nothing leaves your device.

Free core, no ads, no tracking. Optional Pro for walking partners and deeper insights. A compassion-first resilience system — not a medical device. If you're in a mental-health crisis, please reach out to a licensed professional or 988.

Ironbark dashboard showing the current journey, resilience score, and a populated history
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Four choices made
differently.

Driven by the research on behavioral change, not the gamification playbook.

Growth is preserved

A setback doesn't zero your progress. Your Resilience Score is floored at half of its all-time peak — a bad week can't undo what you've earned.

Mutual care, not surveillance

The buddy system is bidirectional and private. No browsing-history sharing. SOS signals "I need support" — not "here's what they did."

60-second core value

Every meaningful action — check-in, SOS tools, identity log — fits in under a minute. The app is there for you; it doesn't demand you be there for it.

Identity over outcome

"I am someone who…" outlasts "I want to quit X." Ironbark is built around the kind of person you're becoming, not the behavior you're trying to avoid.

The Post-Setback Protocol
“A setback is not a reset.
Every day you showed up
still counts.”

— The message the app returns when someone reports a setback. No shame. No reset. No starting over.

The difference, in one table

Reset-to-zero apps vs Ironbark.

Reset-to-zero apps
  • One number. One bad night erases it.
  • A slip means a reset screen — shame does the rest.
  • Scare tactics, countdown discounts, day counters.
  • Your progress lives on their terms.
Ironbark
  • Five dimensions of real work, floored at half your all-time peak — a setback cannot zero it.
  • A slip opens a two-minute compassion protocol with your real preserved numbers.
  • No scare tactics that shame you into paying. No countdown timer. No shame words — ever.
  • Your journal is encrypted so thoroughly, even we can't read it.

Wondering how the alternatives compare in detail? Read our honest comparison — including where other apps are genuinely strong.

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How it works
in four pieces.

01

Identity Log, in your own words

A quick daily check-in feeds your Resilience Score. When something needs more than a tap, the Identity Log holds it — searchable, encrypted at rest, only ever yours. The optional Pro plan turns those entries into weekly pattern insights.

Identity Log — write what happened in your own words, search past entries
SOS toolkit with breathing, grounding, urge timer, and redirect activities
02

SOS tools, offline-ready

Breathing, 5-4-3-2-1 grounding, urge-surfing — all work without internet, all under two minutes. Not a library of techniques; a well-timed hand when the wave hits.

03

Compassion-first setback protocol

If a setback happens, the app doesn't shame you. It walks you through self-kindness, common humanity, real preserved-growth numbers pulled from your own history, and one small next step. The keystone interaction in the whole app.

Setback Protocol preserved-growth screen showing real journey numbers
Pseudonymous community feed with cohort posts and accountability pairing
04

Pseudonymous buddy + cohort

Pair with one person at your stage. Join a small cohort. Username and avatar only — no real names, no leaderboards, no sharing of your private activity with anyone.

Download Ironbark on the App Store Get Ironbark on Google Play
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Free where it
matters most.

Everything you need in a hard moment is free, forever. Pro is for going deeper — never a paywall in front of the tools that carry you through.

Core
Free forever

Daily check-ins, Resilience Score, SOS tools, the setback protocol, identity work, your buddy, and your cohort. No ads, no tracking.

Get the free app
Pro · 7-day free trial
$9.99 /month · or $59.99/year

Everything in Core, plus walking partners, long-form lessons, and weekly pattern insights. Try either plan free for 7 days.

Start your 7-day free trial
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The questions
people actually ask.

Who is this for?

Anyone working through an unwanted compulsive pattern who's tired of being shamed for being human. Ironbark is not for acute medical conditions or crisis intervention — if that's where you are right now, please reach for professional help first. This is a companion for the long, daily work that comes before, during, and after.

Is Ironbark a medical app?

No. Ironbark is a compassion-first resilience system for self-directed recovery. It is not a medical device, therapeutic service, or healthcare product. It's informed by published research on behavioral change and self-compassion, but it doesn't diagnose, treat, or replace professional care. If you're in crisis, please reach out to a licensed professional or 988.

Is my data private?

Yes. Your journal, check-ins, and setback reflections are yours — never sold, never shared with third parties, never used for ads (Ironbark has no ads). Your buddy sees only what you choose to share with them; your cohort sees only what you post. You can export everything as JSON and delete your account with a single tap — your account is deactivated immediately and fully purged within 90 days. Details in our privacy policy.

What does it cost?

The core is free, with no ads and no tracking — daily check-ins, Resilience Score, SOS tools, the setback protocol, identity work, your buddy, and your cohort. Nothing you need in a hard moment is behind a paywall. An optional Pro plan adds walking-partner pairings, long-form lessons, and richer weekly pattern reports for people who want to go deeper. Pro is $9.99/month or $59.99/year, and both plans start with a 7-day free trial.

What happens when I have a setback?

The app shows you real numbers from your own history — days on the journey, check-ins completed, coping tools used. Nothing zeros out. Nothing starts over. You walk through a five-step protocol rooted in self-compassion research (Neff's triad) and land on one small next step. Your Resilience Score stays floored at half of its all-time peak.

Ready when
you are.

About a minute of onboarding. Your first check-in comes next. The rest unfolds at your pace.

Download Ironbark on the App Store Get Ironbark on Google Play