MoodSyncMoodSync vs eMoods: which bipolar mood tracker fits you?
2 min read · Sources last checked: May 2026 · Editorial comparison, not affiliate.
TL;DR
Choose MoodSync if you want clinical-style 0–3 scales, sleep and meds plotted with mood, a clinician PDF report, and logging from your wrist or a widget — with values stored on your device.
Choose eMoods if you have years of history in eMoods and want to stay with a familiar, longer-running tracker.
| Feature | MoodSync | eMoods |
|---|---|---|
| Built for bipolar | ||
| Mood scale0–3 mirrors GAD-7 and PHQ-9; same compact-ordinal tradition as HAM-D, YMRS, ASRM (0–4) | 0–3 clinical-style anchors per axis | Multi-point slider per axis |
| Separate axes | Depression, elevation, irritability, anxiety | Depressed, elevated, anxious, irritable |
| Sleep and meds on the same chart as mood | Logged, displayed differently | |
| Cloud sync | Optional, through your private iCloud | Through eMoods Pro |
| Account required | No MoodSync account | Optional, required for sync |
| Free tier | Free, with an optional Pro tier | Free + eMoods Pro subscription |
| Apple Watch app | ||
| Home & Lock Screen widgets | ||
| Apple Health sleep autofilleMoods' listing does not mention Apple Health; MoodSync auto-fills sleep hours, including past nights | ||
| Clinician PDF reportNew in MoodSync 2.0; eMoods has offered a monthly email PDF for years | Email PDF (Pro) |
Built for bipolar
- MoodSync
- eMoods
Mood scale
0–3 mirrors GAD-7 and PHQ-9; same compact-ordinal tradition as HAM-D, YMRS, ASRM (0–4)
- MoodSync
- 0–3 clinical-style anchors per axis
- eMoods
- Multi-point slider per axis
Separate axes
- MoodSync
- Depression, elevation, irritability, anxiety
- eMoods
- Depressed, elevated, anxious, irritable
Sleep and meds on the same chart as mood
- MoodSync
- eMoods
- Logged, displayed differently
Cloud sync
- MoodSync
- Optional, through your private iCloud
- eMoods
- Through eMoods Pro
Account required
- MoodSync
- No MoodSync account
- eMoods
- Optional, required for sync
Free tier
- MoodSync
- Free, with an optional Pro tier
- eMoods
- Free + eMoods Pro subscription
Apple Watch app
- MoodSync
- eMoods
Home & Lock Screen widgets
- MoodSync
- eMoods
Apple Health sleep autofill
eMoods' listing does not mention Apple Health; MoodSync auto-fills sleep hours, including past nights
- MoodSync
- eMoods
Clinician PDF report
New in MoodSync 2.0; eMoods has offered a monthly email PDF for years
- MoodSync
- eMoods
- Email PDF (Pro)
eMoods has been a steady bipolar tracker on the App Store for years. If you have used it, the scales will feel familiar. The comparison below is for choosing between two apps in the same lane, not for arguing one is universally better.
Where eMoods works well
eMoods was bipolar-focused from the start. It logs depressed and elevated mood, anxiety, and irritability separately. It produces a monthly PDF you can email yourself or your clinician. The Pro tier adds cloud sync and additional fields.
Where MoodSync goes further
Clinical depression rating has used compact ordinal anchors (mostly 0–4) since 19601960; mania has used a similar 0–4/0–8 anchor since 19781978. MoodSync uses a 0–3 self-rating in the same compact-ordinal tradition, which keeps values stable from week to week without re-anchoring.
Sleep hours sit on the same chart as mood by default. Sleep is one of the most consistent prodromes of a mood episode in bipolar disorder2008; in MoodSync the connection shows up without you having to look in two places.
The privacy posture differs too. MoodSync syncs through your own private iCloud, with no MoodSync account or server in the path.
Version 2.0 also closed the gap that used to decide this comparison: MoodSync now produces a clinician PDF report of its own. And it adds surfaces eMoods' App Store listing does not mention at all — an Apple Watch app, Home and Lock Screen widgets, and Apple Health sleep autofill that fills in your sleep hours for you, including past nights you forgot to log.
When eMoods is still the right choice
The monthly PDF used to be the clearest reason to pick eMoods. MoodSync's clinician report removes that edge, but familiarity is a real reason to stay: if you have years of entries in eMoods and its sliders are second nature, switching has a cost. If you want cross-device sync outside the Apple ecosystem, eMoods Pro is still the path. One thing to weigh — as of this check, eMoods' most recent App Store update shipped in December 2025.
Read on
FAQ
Is eMoods designed for bipolar disorder?
Yes. eMoods is one of the longest-running bipolar-specific mood trackers on the App Store. It logs depressed and elevated mood, anxiety, and irritability separately, and it produces a printable monthly report.
What does MoodSync do that eMoods does not?
MoodSync uses 0–3 clinical-style anchors on each mood scale, plots sleep hours and a daily 'meds taken' yes/no on the same chart as mood, and stores your data on your device with optional private iCloud sync. Since version 2.0 it also adds an Apple Watch app, Home and Lock Screen widgets, Apple Health sleep autofill, and a clinician PDF report. eMoods has its own monthly PDF report, but its listing does not mention a Watch app, widgets, or Apple Health.
Sources
- Young RC, Biggs JT, Ziegler VE, Meyer DA (1978). A rating scale for mania: reliability, validity and sensitivity, British Journal of Psychiatry. link
- Hamilton M (1960). A rating scale for depression, Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry. link
- Harvey AG (2008). Sleep and circadian rhythms in bipolar disorder: seeking synchrony, harmony, and regulation, American Journal of Psychiatry. link