Smiling Mind vs Virtual Sandtray App for therapists

Auto-generated from listing data

At a glance

The differences that matter

Side-by-side facts. Rows where the two tools differ meaningfully are highlighted.

Feature	Smiling Mind	Virtual Sandtray App
Pricing fromSame	Not listed	Not listed
Pricing model	free	paid
HIPAASame	Not listed	Not listed
Free trialSame	Not listed	Not listed
Target users	Child and adolescent clinicians School counselors Parents and educators	Play therapists Child and adolescent therapists Trauma-focused clinicians using sandtray Telehealth practitioners doing expressive therapy
Key features	Free mindfulness programs Age-based content (kids, teens, adults) School/classroom programs Guided meditations	Thousands of 3D sandtray models Hand-based touchscreen tray building Sand manipulation (dig, build, paint) Remote access for telehealth sessions
Integrations	iOS and Android Web	Works alongside any telehealth video iPad/iPhone (App Store)

Smiling Mind

Pricing from: Not listed
Pricing model: free
HIPAA: Not listed
Free trial: Not listed
Target users: Child and adolescent clinicians
School counselors
Parents and educators
Key features: Free mindfulness programs
Age-based content (kids, teens, adults)
School/classroom programs
Guided meditations
Integrations: iOS and Android
Web

Virtual Sandtray App

Pricing from: Not listed
Pricing model: paid
HIPAA: Not listed
Free trial: Not listed
Target users: Play therapists
Child and adolescent therapists
Trauma-focused clinicians using sandtray
Telehealth practitioners doing expressive therapy
Key features: Thousands of 3D sandtray models
Hand-based touchscreen tray building
Sand manipulation (dig, build, paint)
Remote access for telehealth sessions
Integrations: Works alongside any telehealth video
iPad/iPhone (App Store)

Pricing

What you actually pay

Starting prices and what they include. The cheaper tool is not always the better value.

Smiling Mind

free

Free

Virtual Sandtray App

paid

Vendor does not publish a starting price.

Contact the vendor for a quote. Hidden pricing is a yellow flag for smaller practices.

Honest assessment

Where each tool wins and loses

Based on hands-on testing. Both tools have real weaknesses worth knowing before you commit.

Smiling Mind

What works well

Completely free (nonprofit)
Strong youth/classroom programs
Age-appropriate content
Evidence-informed

Where it falls short

Wellness tool (not clinical/PHI)
Generic (not therapy-specific)
AU-origin (content broadly applicable)
Supplement, not therapy

Virtual Sandtray App

What works well

Original, expert-backed digital sandtray
Kinesthetic touchscreen experience
One-time purchase (no subscription)
No PHI stored - simpler compliance

Where it falls short

iPad/iPhone only (no desktop)
One-time ~$169 cost per device
Narrow use case (sandtray-specific)
Requires telehealth video alongside for remote sessions

Take it for a spin

Try them

Both tools offer free trials. The fastest way to confirm a fit is to run one real session through each.

Free nonprofit mindfulness app with programs for children and teens.

Try Smiling Mind

Free

Visit Smiling Mind

The original digital sandtray therapy app for in-person and telehealth.

Try Virtual Sandtray App

Visit Virtual Sandtray App

About this comparison

This comparison is auto-generated from verified vendor data. We compile pricing, features, and integrations from each vendor's own documentation. For editorial comparisons with hands-on testing, see our editorially reviewed comparisons.

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