Affirmation Apps · Review
shimmer Review
A affirmations app from Anvar Bakirov — rated 4.8 stars by 448 App Store users.
App Store rating
4.8 / 5 (448 ratings)
Starting price
Free (in-app purchases vary)
Free tier
Yes
Platforms
iOS · iPadOS
Developer
Anvar Bakirov
Launched
2025
Our verdict
shimmer holds an exceptional 4.8-star average across 448 App Store ratings and ranks #44 in App Store search results for "affirmations". This is a data-driven review compiled from its store listing, pricing, and user-rating profile — we have not yet completed hands-on testing, and a full editorial review is planned.
Data-driven review: this page is compiled from App Store data — the app’s real rating average and count, pricing, search ranking, and the developer’s published description (quoted, not paraphrased). We have not yet hands-on tested this app; a full editorial review is planned. Our hands-on-tested picks are marked throughout. Unsponsored, no affiliate influence.
Among the hundreds of options in the affirmations app category, shimmer (by Anvar Bakirov) stands at an exceptional 4.8-star average across 448 App Store ratings, making it a smaller app still building its audience.
Its App Store listing describes it this way: “Affirmations that actually fit YOUR life. Tired of generic affirmations that feel fake when you're drowning in debt, heartbroken, or stuck in negative cycles?” As with all listings, that is the developer's own framing — useful for understanding what the app aims to be.
This review is compiled from App Store data — the rating profile, pricing, ranking, and the developer's published description — rather than hands-on testing. We flag that openly: it tells you what the data supports, and our full editorial review will go deeper.
Pros & cons
What we like
- An exceptional 4.8-star average across 448 App Store ratings — real users rate it well.
- Free to download, so trying it costs nothing.
- Ranks #44 in App Store search for "affirmations" — genuine visibility in its category.
- Available since 2025, with an established presence on the store.
What we don’t
- We have not yet hands-on tested this app — this review reflects store data, not editorial experience.
- Like most free wellness apps, expect in-app subscription offers; check current pricing before committing.
- Smaller user base than the category leaders, so the rating sample is limited.
Best for / avoid if
Best for
- →People browsing beyond the big names in the affirmations app category
- →Users who weigh real App Store ratings heavily (4.8 stars, 448 ratings)
- →Anyone who wants to try options at no cost
Avoid if
- →You want a deeply vetted, hands-on-tested pick — see our editorial reviews of I Am, Selfpause, ThinkUp
- →You need clinical or therapeutic support — no consumer app provides that
Pricing
Download
Free
Free to install from the App Store.
In-app purchases
Varies
Many apps in this category offer optional subscriptions — check the App Store listing for current in-app pricing.
What shimmer is
shimmer is a affirmations app for iOS by Anvar Bakirov, first released in 2025.
In the developer's words: “Affirmations that actually fit YOUR life. Tired of generic affirmations that feel fake when you're drowning in debt, heartbroken, or stuck in negative cycles?”
Where shimmer sits in the category
By the numbers: an exceptional 4.8-star average across 448 App Store ratings, ranking #44 in App Store search for "affirmations". That makes it a smaller app still building its audience.
Store ratings are not the whole story — they skew positive across this category — but a large sample at 4.8 stars is a meaningful signal that existing users find it does what it promises.
What the listing emphasizes
“Affirmations that actually fit YOUR life. Tired of generic affirmations that feel fake when you're drowning in debt, heartbroken, or stuck in negative cycles?” — that is the pitch, in the developer's own words.
We quote the listing rather than paraphrase it so you can judge the developer's claims for yourself. Our hands-on editorial review, when published, will test those claims.
Where shimmer falls behind
Editorial vetting. Unlike I Am or Selfpause, we have not yet tested shimmer hands-on.
Transparency of in-app pricing. App Store listings often reveal subscription costs only after download — check the in-app purchases section of the listing.
Brand ecosystem. The category leaders pair their apps with large content teams and published research; smaller apps rarely match that depth.
shimmer vs. the category leaders
The affirmations app category is anchored by I Am, Selfpause, ThinkUp — all of which we have reviewed editorially, hands-on.
shimmer's case rests on its user-rating profile (4.8 stars, 448 ratings) and its free download. The leaders' case rests on vetted content depth and track record.
A sensible approach: read our editorial reviews of the leaders first, and try shimmer for free if its specific angle appeals — App Store ratings this positive usually mean the core experience delivers.
Bottom line
shimmer earns an exceptional 4.8-star average across 448 App Store ratings — real users like it. Until our hands-on review lands, treat this page as an honest data profile: strong signals, store-verified facts, and clearly marked limits.
Want a daily positivity practice in your own voice? Selfpause lets you record personalized affirmations, layer them with calming music, and keep them on your lock screen.
Try Selfpause FreeAlternatives to shimmer
I Am
4.4The widget-first affirmations leader.
Read our review →
Selfpause
4.6Affirmations recorded in your own voice.
Read our review →
ThinkUp
4.3The original own-voice recording app.
Read our review →
Frequently asked questions
Is shimmer free?+
shimmer is free to download. Like most apps in this category it may offer in-app subscriptions — check the in-app purchases section of its App Store listing for current pricing.
How is shimmer rated?+
It holds a 4.8-star average across 448 ratings on the US App Store — a smaller app still building its audience.
Who makes shimmer?+
Anvar Bakirov, who released it in 2025. The App Store listing links to the developer's site and privacy policy.
Is this a hands-on review?+
Not yet — this review is compiled from App Store data: ratings, pricing, search ranking, and the developer's published description. A full editorial review is planned. For hands-on-tested picks in this category, see our reviews of I Am, Selfpause, ThinkUp.
A note on mental health: apps and online services can support wellbeing, but they are not a substitute for professional care. If you are struggling, a licensed professional can help — and if you are in crisis, contact your local emergency number or, in the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
More affirmation apps reviews
Selfpause
4.6Our own app, reviewed with full disclosure — affirmations recorded in your voice, layered with music, kept on your lock screen.
I Am
4.4The widget-first affirmations app that made positive self-talk a glanceable daily habit.
ThinkUp
4.3The affirmations app built on a powerful idea: record positive statements in your own voice and play them back.