# Breath Ball: Breathing & HRV — user reviews > 201 indexed App Store user reviews of Breath Ball by Michael Holl, rated 4.86/5 from 333 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/breath-ball-breathing-and-hrv/id1230172997/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/breath-ball-breathing-and-hrv/id1230172997.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 273 · 4★ 20 · 3★ 5 · 2★ 2 · 1★ 2 ## What do users think of Breath Ball? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Simple and easy to use - 🚀 Customizable breathing exercises - 💡 Helpful for reducing stress and anxiety - 🔒 No ads or in-app purchases required - 👍 Visually appealing and intuitive interface **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional issues with sound/vibration not working - 💡 Desire for more breathing exercise options - 💡 Request for Apple Watch integration **Commonly reported bugs** - Sound and vibration features not functioning properly for some users - Occasional app crashes or freezes **Most requested features** - Add a timer or counter during exercises - Provide more background sounds/music options - Implement a progress tracking feature ## Newest reviews (18 of 201) ### 5/5 — My favorite breathing app, EXCEPT… *2026-02-10, version 7.4.0* I absolutely love Breath Ball, but it’s much too easy to accidentally touch and move the slider at the bottom and thereby change the breathing rate, which I never want to do. PLEASE move it to the top or add an option in the settings to hide it. ### 5/5 — Incredible genius-app *2026-02-01, version 7.4.0* I used to have an app on Android that I think was called ‘Relax’. More than 7 years ago, I thought this app was the best deep breathing app there was. I know now how wrong I was. On iPhone now, learning that that app was only for Android users… I hunted far and wide on the App Store… I signed up for about 6 paid apps free trials, and a few free ones and quickly cancelled. Some of them were expensive and still terrible. With something like this, for a serious user who really wants to reinvent their breath, they just want something very simple without the bells and whistles. This app does it all. Simple auditory and visual queues to tell you when to breathe in or out… easily customizable inspiration, hold, expiration, and hold durations, amount of breaths or time, and so much more in the settings. Don’t let the simplicity and lack of aesthetic look make you look any further past this app. I am so grateful and glad I found this- I would easily pay for it many times over again. Thank you!!! P.s. I would possibly suggest making an option for a different tone for the hold expiration and hold inspiration. I think I could get used to the tones being the same for these modes especially since I make a vibrate only on inspiration to trigger a new breath cycle awareness. But, sometimes when you get really relaxed, even with the vibrate and only using inspiration and expiration, you can even then lose pace- adding the 3rd a 4th phase with same tones makes that more likely. ### 5/5 — Great breathing app *2026-01-31, version 7.4.0* Great app! Helps with keeping track of breathing exercises! ### 5/5 — Simple and Easy *2026-01-21, version 7.4.0* I’m a fan! Started using per my dietitians rec in order to improve my HRV. Love how simple and user-friendly the app is. Only thing I’d like to see is a timer on the screen during an exercise. All the other visual cues are very helpful. **Update: Thanks Michael for the clarification! Got it set now. ### 5/5 — Excellent Breathwork App *2026-01-21, version 7.4.0* Very clean interface with simple exercises to be done daily ### 5/5 — Super Simple but Extremely useful App *2026-01-08, version 7.4.0* Excellent App with minimalistic design and easy user interface! I love practicing pranayama sessions with this App! It would be awesome if Michael can support some yoga background sonds! ### 5/5 — Amazing!! *2026-01-05, version 7.4.0* Came across this app while researching HRV and tried it out - Did not expect the massive change in stress levels, relaxation and improved sleep after using this - I have been using the Cardiac Coherence program twice daily for 28 consecutive days now and I cannot believe the positive impact it has had on my general well being and overall feeling. If you suffer from poor sleep, chronic tension, try this before medication. I have not slept this well in years. ### 5/5 — Comprehensive breathing resources *2026-01-01, version 7.4.0* They let me program my own breathing exercises. They don’t ask me for money every 2 seconds. Solid app. ### 5/5 — Top *2025-12-22, version 7.4.0* Genau so eine App hab ich für meine Übungen gesucht. Einfach und perfekt ### 5/5 — Super *2025-12-18, version 7.4.0* Das Design der App hat mich zuerst überhaupt nicht angesprochen. Es wirkt eher unscheinbar und veraltet. Normalerweise überzeugen mich solche Apps eher weniger (designe selbst Apps und habe daher etwas Ahnung 🙃). Die App wurde mir aber sehr ans Herz gelegt, deshalb hab ich Breath Ball eine Chance gegeben. Jetzt benutze ich sie fast täglich, weil sie das macht, was sie soll. Sanfte, individuelle Begleitung bei verschiedenen Atmenübungen. Ein großer Pluspunkt für mich ist die Tempoanpassung. Ich atme gerne länger als „normal“ und kann so die Pbung individuell ab meine Bedürfnisse abpassen. Top! ### 5/5 — Daily routine *2025-11-28, version 7.3.2* The Dr. Weil exercise had helped me become a better singer. Breath control and singing go hand in hand. I also use the exercise during meditation. ### 5/5 — Cosigliatissima *2025-11-22, version 7.3.2* Sono Francesco Picca campione del mondo di kickboxing, uso queste respirazioni quotidianamente e prima delle gare. Sono veramente un beneficio per mente e corpo ### 5/5 — Just what I was looking for. *2025-11-15, version 7.3.2* No sappy, annoying voices. Just simple, minimalistic with a few choices to make it my own. And free! ### 5/5 — Gute Wahl *2025-11-11, version 7.3.2* Eine super schlichte und einfache App, die alles hat, was man braucht. Mehr braucht es nicht. Leitet gut an er erinnert und dass auf eine unaufdringliche Art und Weise. Der einzige Wunsch, ein paar andere und verschiedene Atemübungen wären noch sinnvoll. Aber sonst sind die fünf Sterne auf jeden Fall wert. ### 5/5 — Top App für Atmung *2025-10-29, version 7.3.0* Die Breath Ball App ist eine wunderbar einfache und zugleich sehr effektive Atemhilfe. Ob für kurze Entspannungspausen, Fokusübungen oder zur Beruhigung vor dem Schlaf – die geführten Atemrhythmen funktionieren erstaunlich gut. Besonders gefällt mir das minimalistische Design, die ruhige Musik und dass man die Atemphasen individuell anpassen kann. Eine kleine App mit großem Effekt – absolut empfehlenswert! ### 5/5 — Just what I need *2025-10-28, version 7.3.0* The moving sine wave is great, helps you time the breath in addition to the ball. Great app! ### 5/5 — Most flexible and powerful app for pranayama *2025-09-06, version 7.2.1* This app is just essential for my pranayama practice. Used it for a 15 days advanced pranayama retreat. It is highly appreciated when you don’t need to count a 40 cycles session and just focus on your practice. The app is ad free which is highly appreciated aswell. Good karma for the developer and big thanks. I can suggest some improvements if needed. ### 5/5 — Using it every day *2025-08-25, version 7.1.2* Great app design ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Terrible after last update *2023-04-20, version 6.0.1* I’ve used this app for several years. It was pleasant, very customizable and easy to use without all the psycho-babble you get so often. The last update completely rewrote the app and it is terrible. It is a lot more rigid and not as customizable. It is like it was designed by someone just getting into programming. You want all the psycho-babble, even forcing you to use a “Diary” than this is the app for you. ### 1/5 — Not for me *2020-12-02, version 5.3.6* It doesn’t work at all for me. Sometimes inhaling and exhaling is not the best Turing to do and I am SOOOOOOPOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO STRESSED RIGHT NOTMOT DOESTN’T WORK AT ALL ZERO STARS RIGHT NOW I CAN’T EVEN BREATH RIGHT ### 2/5 — Please support iPad landscape mode *2023-10-27, version 6.1.0* Those of us with magic keyboards do not use the iPad in portrait mode. Apps that don’t support landscape mode are completely unusable. ### 3/5 — Sound is not working *2021-09-01, version 5.3.10* My volume is turned up on the app and on my phone. ### 3/5 — Why do I have to restore purchase *2020-02-07* Every time I open the app. Even if it’s been 10 seconds. I have to click on the Pro button and select restore purchase and then change my settings. I paid for the pro version. Give me one version that I don’t have to remind constantly that I already gave you money. **Developer response:** Dear Akosko05, Please excuse the troubles. There seems to be something broken. Can you please get in touch at michael@breathball.com Thank you,Michael. ### 4/5 — New user review *2026-03-04, version 7.5.0* New user, and generally very pleased with this app. A suggestion though, would be to have some background rhythmic something one could follow during an exercise. Specifically something for during the longer pauses to help you keep in time with the inhale exhale. ### 4/5 — Simple and Easy *2025-09-30* I’m a fan! Started using per my dietitians rec in order to improve my HRV. Love how simple and user-friendly the app is. Only thing I’d like to see is a timer on the screen during an exercise. All the other visual cues are very helpful. **Developer response:** Dear Lyndsie, Thank you very much for your review. On the settings screen, at the "Breathing exercise settings" card, you'll find a switch labelled "Show duration during exercise". If you enable it, a timer will be shown in the top right-hand corner. I hope this helps. If you have any further questions, please send them to michael@breathball.com or click on the 'Contact support' button on the help screen. Thanks again. All the best, Michael ### 4/5 — Helping my heart *2025-03-30, version 7.0.2* I have COPD after walking your breathing exercise helps me recover. ### 4/5 — Perfect way to start and end your day. *2023-11-07, version 6.2.0* Great way to clear your head and set a good tone for the day. Helps to lower your resting heart rate if you stick with it. ### 4/5 — Breath ball *2022-08-16, version 5.3.10* Very Easy to the follow very helpful ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Daily Tool *2026-06-27, version 7.7.1* This is a wonderful daily tool to use that helps calm your nervous system and gain the benefits of daily breath work. Easy to use, adjustable to your needs and calming. I use it multiple times a day. ### 5/5 — Helped a lot *2026-06-15, version 7.7.1* This has helped me lot considering it’s free too which is a bonus I’ve had encouraged my friends to use it when there stressed, want to thank you the person who made this Big Thank you 🌟 ### 5/5 — Excellent free breathing app *2026-06-09, version 7.7.1* This is the best breathing app out there. Offering for free what others charge monthly for and it’s also far superior. Keep up the great work! ### 5/5 — Excelente appt. *2026-05-23, version 7.7.1* Helps me feel relaxed 🩵 ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2026-05-15, version 7.6.1* Everything I wanted to manage anxiety. No ads. Free. Love it. Thank you ### 5/5 — Great exercises for FREE *2026-04-06, version 7.5.0* This app is ACTUALLY free. There are only 4-5 breathing exercise options but they do the job! I especially love that I have multiple options for the timing… I can breathe in and out with the circle, I can follow the line and breathe, or I can close my eyes and breathe with the soft “ding” tone. That’s my favorite. I’ve challenged myself to 5 minutes of deep breathing per day and this is the app I’m using! ### 5/5 — Excellent app *2026-03-23, version 7.5.0* Does everything it needs to do and it’s free! Perfect. ### 5/5 — Life changing *2026-03-14, version 7.5.0* Keep it simple ### 5/5 — Simple but effective *2026-03-09, version 7.5.0* I have found this really useful as part of my bedtime routine. It helps me focus on my breathing, I like that I can use the sound prompts if I want to close my eyes of if my mind is too busy to focus then following the circle changing size helps me. ### 5/5 — Great practical app *2026-03-09, version 7.5.0* I love how this app is FREE. It’s easy to use and I really like how it tracks your meditation sessions. I highly recommend it for those looking to increase their HRV and MS scores. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*