Maia alternatives: 6 couples apps compared
Maia coaches you through conversations. Some alternatives coach in a different style, and some do another job: they look at one fight and tell you who is right.
Updated October 9, 2026. Prices, ratings and update dates are from the US App Store on that day.
Maia and six alternatives side by side
| App | What it does | Who takes part | Price (US App Store) | Rating, last update |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maia: 24/7 Couples Support | AI chat by text or voice: guided conversations, conflict help, quizzes and shared goals. | Built as a shared space for both partners. | Premium $24.99 or $200 (period not shown on the store) | 4.8 (379 ratings), Aug 20, 2026 |
| CoupleWork: AI Couples Coach | AI coach by voice or text on communication, intimacy, conflict and infidelity. The developer says a therapist built it. | Alone or together. | $24.95/month, $64.90/3 months or $249/year | 4.7 (34 ratings), Aug 27, 2026 |
| Gottman Card Decks | Conversation prompts on cards from the Gottman Institute. No AI. | Both of you, talking face to face. | Free | 4.8 (1,670 ratings), Jun 15, 2026 |
| Lasting: Marriage & Couples | Guided sessions on conflict, repair and trust. Each partner reflects, then you discuss. | Both partners; one Premium covers two users. | Free starter series; Premium from $11.99 | 4.7 (24,978 ratings), Feb 19, 2025 |
| Mendus | Looks at one specific fight and gives a percentage split of who is right, plus next steps. Can read screenshots. iPhone and web. | Alone, or each partner writes separately through a link. | 1 free analysis a day; Premium $4.99/week, $9.99/month or $29.99/year | No US ratings yet, Sep 28, 2026 |
| Paired | Daily 5-minute questions, quizzes and games; Premium adds guided journeys. | Both partners; your answer unlocks theirs. | Free; Premium $9.99 to $74.99 depending on plan | 4.7 (208,666 ratings), Oct 7, 2026 |
| Resolv: AI Couples Coach | Live sessions where an AI mediator keeps the conversation balanced, using Gottman, EFT and nonviolent communication methods. | Both partners together. | Free download; prices not shown on the store | 5.0 (6 ratings), Feb 13, 2026 |
We make Mendus, so read that row with the same care you would give any vendor's list. Facts about the other apps come from their App Store pages and websites on October 9, 2026. Prices change.
Why people look for a Maia alternative
Maia works best as a habit. You and your partner talk to it over weeks, and its own listing says its suggestions improve the more you both use it. That suits couples who want steady support. It suits you less if your partner won't install another app, if you want a short answer about one argument, or if Premium costs more than you want to spend. The alternatives below fall into three groups: daily exercises, AI coaching, and a verdict on a single fight.
Daily exercises: Paired, Lasting, Gottman Card Decks
Paired has by far the most ratings in this list. It gives you a question or a quiz each day, and your partner's answer unlocks when you add yours. Lasting offers guided sessions on conflict and repair, and its free series covers the basics; the App Store shows its last update in February 2025. Gottman Card Decks is free and has no AI at all: it gives you prompts from the Gottman Institute to read together. All three build habits over weeks. None of them looks at a specific argument and rules on it.
AI coaching: CoupleWork and Resolv
CoupleWork is the closest to Maia in format. You talk to an AI coach by voice or text, alone or with your partner, and the developer says a therapist with over 25 years of experience built it. It is also the most expensive app here, at $24.95 a month. Resolv runs a live session with both partners and an AI mediator that keeps turns balanced. It is newer, with six ratings on the US App Store and no prices shown on its store page as of October 2026.
A verdict on one fight: Mendus
Mendus does a narrower job. You describe one argument, upload screenshots, or send your partner a link so each of you writes a version separately. It returns a percentage split of who is right, scores for communication and empathy, and next steps. It does not track your relationship over time or give daily exercises, so it works alongside a coaching app more than it replaces one. One analysis a day is free. We make Mendus, so weigh this paragraph accordingly.
Is there a free alternative to Maia?
Gottman Card Decks is free with no in-app purchases listed. Paired and Lasting have free tiers with paid Premium. Mendus gives one free analysis a day.
Which Maia alternative works if my partner won't join?
CoupleWork lets you talk to its coach alone. Mendus has a solo mode where you describe the fight yourself, and it can read screenshots of your conversation. Apps built around both partners, such as Paired and Lasting, work best when both of you use them.
Can an AI couples app replace therapy?
No. These apps help with ordinary conflicts and habits. If a conflict involves fear, control or repeated cruelty, talk to a qualified counsellor or a local support line.