How It Felt vs
How It Felt vs Ate (AteMate).
Ate is now presented as AteMate. Its current product and help pages describe a photo-led journal with wider daily context and an optional AI Coach. How It Felt is a quieter reflection journal: no account and no assigned target. Entries are stored on your device, but selected parts of each entry—meal type, emotion, hunger level, photo presence and note length—are sent to Firebase, along with identifiers and approximate region. The free tier also uses AdMob, and RevenueCat processes subscription status. The useful difference is what each service asks you to notice.
What each app optimises for
AteMate (Ate)
A photo-led record with broader daily context, an optional AI Coach, and structured feedback features described in current AteMate materials.
How It Felt
One meal or moment at a time, with space to notice how eating felt and no automated interpretation. Entries are stored on the device, while selected entry details and service telemetry are sent to Firebase; the free tier uses AdMob and RevenueCat processes subscription status.
Side-by-side
| Feature | AteMate (Ate) | How It Felt |
|---|---|---|
| Journal format | AteMate (Ate) Photo-led journaling with broader daily context | How It Felt Reflection prompts with optional notes or photos |
| Guidance | AteMate (Ate) Optional AI Coach described in current product materials | How It Felt No coach or automated interpretation |
| What you can notice | AteMate (Ate) Food and other daily context, depending on the current service | How It Felt How eating felt, including hunger, fullness and emotion |
| Account / data location | AteMate (Ate) Account-based service. Its policy says AI Coach messages and journal context may be processed by Anthropic; meal photos, journal entries, pattern analysis and weekly reviews may be processed by OpenAI; service data is stored through Firebase | How It Felt No account; entries are stored on the device, but selected entry details—meal type, emotion, hunger level, photo presence and note length—are sent to Firebase, alongside identifiers and approximate region. The free tier uses AdMob, and RevenueCat processes subscription status |
| Structure and feedback | AteMate (Ate) Current materials describe structured feedback, labels, prompts and food recognition; check whether that level of structure suits you | How It Felt No coach, assigned programme or automated feedback |
When to pick which
Pick AteMate (Ate) if…
- You want a photo-led journal with more context than the meal itself.
- An optional AI Coach sounds useful and comfortable for you.
- You have considered whether a more structured journal with prompts and automated feedback would suit you.
- You prefer a service that can bring patterns or context back into view.
- You have read its current privacy details, including the Anthropic, OpenAI and Firebase processing it describes, and are comfortable with an account-based service.
Pick How It Felt if…
- You want a meal-focused place to reflect without a coach or programme.
- You would rather keep interpretation in your own hands.
- You want entries stored on the device, and have read the privacy policy's explanation of the selected entry details sent to Firebase, plus AdMob and RevenueCat processing.
- You want to pause, write briefly, or leave an entry blank without falling behind.
Verdict
AteMate is the broader, photo-led service, with an optional AI Coach and structured feedback described in its current materials. Its privacy policy also describes processing by Anthropic, OpenAI and Firebase. How It Felt is the quieter option: entries are stored on the device, while selected entry details and service telemetry are sent to Firebase; the free tier uses AdMob and RevenueCat processes subscription status. It has no account or automated interpretation. Choose the one that leaves you with more room to notice what you experienced.
Frequently asked
What is the relationship between Ate and AteMate?
AteMate's current product materials present it as the service formerly known as Ate. Check the current product page and help centre for the features and access available to you.
Does AteMate have an AI Coach?
Yes, an optional AI Coach is described in AteMate's current product materials. Availability and the way it works can change, so check the official product and help pages.
How do the journals differ?
AteMate centres photo-led journaling and broader daily context, with structured feedback described in its current materials. How It Felt centres reflection on how eating felt, with optional notes or photos and no automated interpretation.
Where is my journal data kept?
How It Felt's privacy policy says entries are stored on the device, but selected details about each entry—such as meal type, emotion, hunger level, photo presence and note length—are sent to Firebase, along with identifiers and approximate region. The free tier also uses AdMob, and RevenueCat processes subscription status. AteMate's policy says AI Coach messages and journal context may be processed by Anthropic; meal photos, journal entries, pattern analysis and weekly reviews may be processed by OpenAI; service data is stored through Firebase. Read both current policies before recording sensitive information.
Can either app replace professional care?
No. These are journaling tools, not diagnosis or treatment. If eating, hunger or fullness is causing distress, consider talking with a doctor, therapist or registered dietitian.
Sources and review date
Official product, help and privacy pages are the source of truth for current features and data handling. Details can change by plan, platform or region.
- How It Felt product page
- AteMate (Ate) official site
- AteMate product page
- AteMate help centre
- AteMate privacy policy
- How It Felt privacy policy
- AteMate product page: AteMate
- AteMate help centre: Getting started with AteMate
- AteMate privacy policy: Privacy policy
- How It Felt privacy policy: Privacy policy
- AteMate's product page describes its current photo-led journal and optional AI Coach; confirm current availability on the official page. [AteMate product page]
- The help centre is the current source for getting-started and feature details; these can vary by plan or platform. [AteMate help centre]
- AteMate's policy describes Anthropic processing for AI Coach messages and journal context, OpenAI processing for photos, journal entries, pattern analysis and weekly reviews, and Firebase storage for service data. [AteMate privacy policy]
- How It Felt's policy describes entries stored on-device, selected entry details and telemetry sent to Firebase, AdMob on the free tier, and RevenueCat subscription processing. [How It Felt privacy policy]
Last reviewed: September 20, 2026.
Learn the concepts
Plain-language explainers behind the comparison.
Try How It Felt
A calmer way to be with food.
Free, no account; entries stay on your device, while selected entry details and service telemetry may be sent to Firebase. The free tier uses AdMob and subscriptions use RevenueCat, as described in the privacy policy.