Reframe vs Sobermark: a course or a counter?

People search for "Reframe vs Sobermark" expecting two versions of the same thing. They are not. Reframe is a structured programme for changing your relationship with alcohol, built on daily course content and a neuroscience angle. Sobermark is a lightweight, judgment free tracker that counts your days and helps you through cravings. Comparing them is a bit like comparing an evening class with a wall calendar. Both can help, but they do different jobs.

Full disclosure: Sobermark is our app, so we are not neutral. We have tried to keep everything below fair, and we tell you when a rival is the better fit.

And in this comparison, we will say it early: if what you actually want is a guided programme that teaches you why you drink and walks you through changing it, Reframe is the better fit for that. Sobermark does not pretend to be a course. Here is how the two really differ.

What each app is actually for

Reframe is best understood as education plus habit change. It delivers daily readings and exercises drawn from neuroscience and behaviour change research, and it is designed to be worked through day by day, like a curriculum. It supports both cutting back and quitting, and it has a strong presence on iOS as well as Android. It is subscription based, which makes sense for what it is: you are paying for an ongoing programme, not just a utility.

Sobermark is a utility, and proudly so. You pick the habit you are quitting, alcohol or anything else, set your numbers, and the app counts your days, your money saved, your time reclaimed and your units avoided. It marks milestones, gives you two craving SOS tools for the hard minutes, and offers a simple mood journal. Bern, our sun bear mascot, keeps the tone warm. There is no course to fall behind on, which for some people is exactly the point.

Structure vs lightness

The deepest difference is how much the app asks of you. Reframe expects engagement. You get the most from it by showing up daily, reading the content and doing the exercises. If you like structure, that daily rhythm can carry you through the early weeks, and the educational content gives you language for what is happening in your head.

Sobermark asks almost nothing. Open it, see your days, maybe log a mood. When a craving hits, the hold-on breathing exercise and ride-it-out timer are there. That lightness is a feature, not a shortcut: plenty of people abandon heavyweight programmes precisely because a missed week starts to feel like failure. A counter you glance at cannot be fallen behind on, and if you slip, the counter resets without a word of scolding.

Neither approach is objectively better. It depends on whether structure motivates you or suffocates you.

Privacy, platforms and price

Sobermark has no account and no sign up, and your entries stay on your phone. There are no feeds or forums by design. Reframe, being a programme with course content and community features, works around an account. That is normal for its category, but it is a different privacy posture, so read its policy if that matters to you.

On platforms, Reframe covers iOS and Android. Sobermark is Android only for now, which settles the question for iPhone owners on its own.

On price, Reframe is subscription based; we will not quote figures because they change, so check its store listing for current pricing. Sobermark is free for core tracking, with an optional Pro tier at £14.99 a year with a 7 day free trial, £2.99 a week, or £24.99 lifetime as a one-off payment.

	Reframe	Sobermark
Category	Structured behaviour change programme	Lightweight sobriety tracker
Daily commitment	Course content, works best done daily	A glance, plus tools when you need them
Scope	Alcohol, cutting back or quitting	Alcohol, smoking, vaping, weed, gambling, custom
Platforms	iOS and Android	Android only for now
Account needed	Yes	No, data stays on your phone
Price	Subscription based, see store listing	Free core, optional Pro from £14.99 a year

Who should pick what

Pick Reframe if you want to be taught, not just tracked. If you respond well to a daily programme, want the science explained, are still deciding between moderating and quitting, or are on iPhone, Reframe is the honest recommendation here. It is one of the most serious attempts at app-based drinking change, and a plain counter is not a substitute for it.

Pick Sobermark if you have already decided to stop and mainly need the days counted, the cravings survived and the progress made visible. It also covers habits Reframe does not, like smoking, vaping, weed and gambling, and it suits people who want zero accounts and zero homework.

Some people use a programme and a counter together, which is entirely reasonable: learn in one, count in the other.

Common questions

Is Sobermark a programme like Reframe?

No. Sobermark has no course content. It is a tracker with craving tools and milestones. If you want structured daily lessons, Reframe is built for that.

Does Reframe require quitting completely?

Reframe is known for supporting both cutting back and stopping. Sobermark is built around stopping and counting days from a quit date.

Which is cheaper?

Sobermark's core features are free, and Pro starts at £14.99 a year. Reframe is subscription based; check its store listing for current pricing before you commit.

Can I use Sobermark on iPhone?

Not yet. Sobermark is Android only at the moment. Reframe is available on both iOS and Android.