Compare the best breathing apps for iPhone

Which breathing or relaxation app fits your day?

A breathing app helps you follow a breathing rhythm. A broader relaxation app may also offer meditation courses, narrated stories, and music. Start with the activity you want to repeat, then compare guidance and cost.

Our shortlist brings together direct breathing tools, meditation programs, and sleep libraries. It compares Breathable with 11 alternatives selected for different everyday needs, rather than claiming an exhaustive market-share ranking. Each app name below links to its official U.S. App Store listing.

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Prices are USD examples from U.S. listings, not quotes for every user. Free download does not necessarily include breathing sessions or full library access. Offers, taxes, trials, and included features can vary; confirm the purchase screen.

Why we recommend Breathable for everyday breathing breaks

Breathable is the best fit in this comparison when your priorities are a feeling-based starting point, an animated breathing companion, and a small monthly commitment. That recommendation follows from the product design and listed price; it does not mean Breathable produces better health outcomes than another app.

Breathable vs. the leading relaxation and breathing alternatives

Read a detailed comparison for the app you are considering. Each guide covers features, payment commitments, practical examples, and situations where the alternative fits better.

Breathable vs. Calm: a breathing companion or a sleep library?

Calm offers Sleep Stories, meditations, music, sounds, and breathing exercises. Choose Calm when narrated bedtime content is the main reason you are downloading an app. Choose Breathable when you want a guided breathing pause with a companion before returning to your day. Our recommendation for that narrower use is Breathable; a larger audio library is not the deciding feature.

Breathable vs. Headspace: a short pause or meditation learning?

Headspace includes guided meditations, mindfulness programs, breathing exercises, and sleepcasts. It is a better fit when you want to learn meditation through recurring lessons. We recommend Breathable when you mainly want to choose a feeling and follow a breathing rhythm. Headspace’s wider services, including coaching and therapy, have separate availability and pricing; they are not equivalent to a breathing subscription.

Breathable vs. Breathwrk: companions or exercise variety?

Breathwrk offers breathing exercises, classes, coaches, customizable sensory guidance, and programs. Choose it when exploring different breathwork sessions is the appeal. Its listing also includes access for eligible Peloton All Access, Guide, and App+ members, so check existing benefits first. Breathable is our pick if you would rather return to a familiar companion and a suggested session than explore classes.

Breathable vs. Othership: adjustable guidance or music-led sessions?

Othership centers on music-driven, guided breathwork, including energizing and wind-down sessions. Choose Othership if the music and facilitator are what you want to follow. We favor Breathable for a visual companion and adjustable voice, ambient sound, and haptics during an everyday pause. Both offer guidance; the meaningful difference is which format you want to return to.

Breathable vs. iBreathe: a suggested rhythm or custom intervals?

iBreathe offers preset and fully customizable breathing exercises, reminders, Apple Health integration, and an Apple Watch app. Choose it if custom timing or breathing from your wrist matters most. Choose Breathable if the combination of a feeling-based suggestion, companion, and personal check-in is more useful to you. iBreathe’s free download and optional unlocks also deserve a look if recurring cost is your main constraint.

Breathable vs. Insight Timer: a focused breathing session or a free meditation library?

Insight Timer lists a free meditation timer, guided meditations, music, and ambient sounds, with an optional paid subscription for additional features. Choose it if free meditation content and a choice of teachers are your priorities. Breathable is our recommendation if you want a breathing companion and a suggested rhythm tied to how you feel. Insight Timer is the stronger choice here when a free library is essential.

Breathable vs. Balance: a suggested breathing pause or personalized lessons?

Balance offers personalized meditation and structured Plans. Choose it when you want your preferences to shape ongoing instruction. We recommend Breathable when you mainly want a feeling-based breathing suggestion and a familiar character. Both offer sensory guidance, so personalization alone is not the deciding feature.

Breathable vs. Breethe: a breathing companion or a broader audio library?

Breethe combines meditation, sleep content, and personalized audio. Its Bree guide helps users find content. Breathable’s companions guide the breathing session itself. Choose Breathable for that focused experience; choose Breethe if exploring several kinds of listening content is part of your routine.

Breathable vs. Waking Up: a brief pause or meditation study?

Waking Up includes meditation instruction, theory, and conversations. We recommend it when learning about the practice is central to your goal. Breathable is our pick for a companion-led breathing pause. Check Waking Up’s purchase channel and scholarship options before comparing its cost with a breathing subscription.

Breathable vs. Medito: a companion experience or free meditation?

Medito Foundation’s app offers meditation and breathing content, and the Foundation documents free access without a premium tier or ads. Choose Medito if zero-cost access is essential. We recommend Breathable when you specifically want its characters and suggested breathing sessions, not as a cheaper alternative to a free library.

Breathable vs. Breathe+: a character or configurable breathing visualization?

Breathe+ offers a visual breathing timer with adjustable phases. Choose it if configuring the pattern matters most. We favor Breathable for a feeling-based start and an animated companion. Compare the exact paid offer: Breathe+’s listed annual subscription costs less than twelve monthly renewals of Breathable Complete.

How much do these iPhone breathing apps cost?

Breathable Premium has the lowest explicitly stated monthly subscription price among the monthly offers quoted here. That is a comparison of recurring paid offers, not a claim that Breathable is the cheapest way to practice: free apps such as Medito, free content, optional unlocks, and benefits you already have can cost less.

• Breathable: Premium $0.99/month; Complete $5/month. No free trial. Official listing.
• Headspace: $12.99/month or $69.99/year in its U.S. description, with a trial offered. Official listing.
• Othership: the U.S. listing includes $17.99/month and $129.99/year, plus other offers. Eligibility is confirmed at checkout. Listed purchases.
• Calm: some content is free; full access requires a subscription. Its pricing guidance directs users to their current regional offer and renewal price, so we do not assign one universal price.
• Breathwrk: the App Store shows several purchase offers without consistently identifying duration. We do not treat them as a single standard rate. Check the app and any included Peloton access. Official listing.
• iBreathe: the U.S. listing shows advertising and optional purchases including Remove Ads at $2.99 and Unlock Premium at $3.99. Check what each unlock includes in the app. Listed purchases.
• Insight Timer: a free library and timer, with an optional subscription listed at $9.99/month or $59.99/year in its U.S. description. Official listing.
• Balance: $11.99/month or $69.99/year in its U.S. description. Confirm the current trial and renewal terms. Official listing.
• Breethe: free selection, with U.S. Premium examples of $14.99/month or $89.99/year. Official plan guide.
• Waking Up: web checkout shows $19.99/month or $129.99/year; the U.S. iPhone listing includes $149.99 annually. Full or partial scholarships are available for people who cannot afford the standard price.
• Medito: free, with no premium tier according to Medito Foundation.
• Breathe+: the U.S. listing includes $9.99/month, $29.99/year, and separate unlocks. Confirm offer eligibility and inclusions. Listed purchases.

Choose by the next session you want to take

Our decision rule is simple: compare the next session, not the longest feature list. These are illustrative situations, not results from user testing.

1. “I want a quiet pause between meetings.” Start with Breathable if you want a suggested rhythm and a companion. If your priority is entering exact intervals yourself, consider iBreathe.
2. “I want something to listen to at bedtime.” Calm’s stories or Headspace’s sleepcasts may fit better. If you specifically want a breathing session as part of winding down, Breathable remains our pick for companion-led guidance.
3. “I want breathing to become a regular practice.” Choose Breathable for a familiar companion and on-device progress. Choose Breathwrk for exercise variety or Othership for a music-led format.

If you want to try a pause before paying for an app, our free one-minute breathing exercise includes a website timer. Our beginner breathing guide also offers a screen-free starting point.

Questions before choosing a breathing app

Can I use Breathable without a subscription?

You can download Breathable and complete onboarding for free, but breathing sessions and progress require Premium or Complete. There is no free trial. Choose an app with free access, or use our website exercise, if you need an option without a subscription.

Do I need an account to use Breathable?

No Breathable app account is required. Sessions, check-ins, and preferences stay on your device. Paid subscriptions use your Apple Account, and purchases can be restored with that same account.

Is there proof that one app relieves stress better than the others?

This comparison does not establish which app reduces stress most. It compares documented features, prices, and fit for everyday routines, not treatment effectiveness. Breathable is a wellness tool and does not replace professional medical or mental-health care.

Does Breathable work on Apple Watch or Android?

The verified Breathable listing is for iPhone and iPad; we do not claim Apple Watch or Android support. If using a watch is essential, iBreathe’s listed Apple Watch app makes it a more suitable option from this shortlist.

How we compared the apps and checked the sources

We reviewed the official U.S. App Store information for all 12 apps linked in the table on October 14, 2026, alongside the linked developer and support pages for pricing, free access, and purchase terms. Each dedicated comparison includes its own source list. Product facts are the developers’ descriptions, not independently measured performance.

The same criteria apply throughout: the session’s purpose, style of guidance, personalization, and payment commitment. We prioritize short breathing breaks with companions and local progress, which is why we recommend Breathable. Readers who prioritize meditation learning, stories, music-led sessions, custom intervals, or watch support may reasonably choose another app.

We did not install every app, measure time to start a session, audit competitors’ privacy practices, or test health outcomes. We do not infer that an unmentioned feature is absent. We have not verified a head-to-head clinical study supporting superiority. App Store descriptions and offers can change. Read about Breathable and our editorial approach or contact support about a correction.