# Freya • Surge Timer — user reviews > 261 indexed App Store user reviews of Freya by The Positive Birth Company Ltd., rated 4.50/5 from 172 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freya-surge-timer/id1447509164/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freya-surge-timer/id1447509164.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 139 · 4★ 11 · 3★ 5 · 2★ 4 · 1★ 13 ## What do users think of Freya? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🙌 Helpful for labor and delivery - 🧘‍♀️ Calming and relaxing audio - 📊 Useful for tracking contractions - 🤰 Great companion for hypnobirthing - 🏆 Contributed to positive birth experiences - 🤖 Like having a virtual doula **Cons** - 🤯 Glitchy and unreliable - 🤔 Confusing user interface - 🙄 Inaccurate contraction tracking - 🤫 Difficult to pause/control audio - 🤷‍♀️ Limited customization options **Commonly reported bugs** - Recorded contractions being deleted unexpectedly - App not properly detecting established labor - Audio continuing to play even after app is closed **Most requested features** - Ability to select specific relaxation tracks - Option to pause/mute audio without stopping the timer - More detailed contraction analysis and patterns - Apple Watch companion app for easier tracking - Ability to edit or delete recorded contractions ## Newest reviews (16 of 261) ### 2/5 — Be cautious *2025-07-17, version 7.0.1* I used the timer during my early labour, and the app kept telling me I was an active labour. However, this was not the case and resulted in unnecessary trips to the hospital. This also gave me false hope. My early labour ended up lasting 70 hours and I believe this app timer giving me false information contributed to the longer lasting labour. ### 5/5 — Two hypno births pain-free and no tearing! *2025-06-14, version 7.0.1* This was my second time birthing while listening to the surge timer and beautiful affirmations and recordings in between surges. Hands down the best app for managing fear and anxiety and letting your body work its magic! Very grateful this is available free of cost and widely accessible. Hope it can translated into multiple languages as well! Thank you!! ### 5/5 — Phenomenal *2025-04-28, version 7.0.1* I downloaded Freya ready for the birth of our second child and the difference it made was phenomenal. The surge counter and guided breathwork kept me going through early and established labour and took away the mental burden of trying to figure out if it was time to call the hospital. The meditations also helped me to relax and focus positively between surges - I particularly liked The Journey. I would recommend Freya to anyone who would like a calm birth experience. Even if you haven’t practiced with it during pregnancy, it will be such a positive influence. Thank you Siobhan! ### 5/5 — Great hyno tracks and daily affirmations as well as surge timer!! *2025-04-18, version 7.0.1* Incredible value for money. Does so much for you as an expecting mum in final weeks. I was a bit hesistant but this has been a top recommendation I give now to friends. Last few weeks of pregnancy and I love their hypno tracks - the breathing counter, and will be a staple on that fateful day! ### 5/5 — Best timer ever *2025-04-13, version 7.0.1* This timer was SO helpful, I had a very quick birth without many supports and having coaching and breath support was life changing helpful ### 5/5 — Absolutely love it! *2025-03-31, version 7.0.1* Amazing app to keep a control of your surges while keeping a positive and peaceful mind during labour❤️ ### 5/5 — Non più senza *2025-03-24, version 7.0.1* Super consigliata. Riesce a farmi rilassare ed addormentare in pochissimo tempo. ### 5/5 — Game changer *2025-03-23, version 7.0.1* This completely changed the trajectory of my labour very very grateful to the midwife that recommended it, wish I’d known about it before day 3 of contractions but got me through the last part amazingly ### 5/5 — The only essential thing you need in labour!! *2025-03-10, version 7.0.1* This app has gotten me through labour twice now. First time in 2022, it really helped as I told my partner to go back to sleep while I sat in the bath waiting to teach established labour. Turns out I got there sooner than I expected, it really helped me focus on my breathing while my birth partner wasn’t there to help me count. But pay attention to when it says to go to hospital, I thought it must be wrong and nearly had an unintentional home birth. Second time just 10 days ago. Contractions started on a walk, I knew I’d be fast so the information was crucial to tell the midwife when I called. The app helped while my partner set up the pool and childcare for our eldest. I used it up until I got in the pool. I recommend it to all my pregnant friends as the only labour essential you need!! ### 5/5 — Great app *2025-03-03, version 7.0.1* This is a perfect app to set you up to a good start to your labour. It helped to keep me calm and in the right state of mind ❤️ ### 5/5 — Best app ever *2025-01-31, version 7.0.1* Couldn’t of done it with out this app ### 5/5 — super intuitive and easy to use! love the meditations. *2025-01-30, version 7.0.1* the freya app made it so, so easy for me to track my contractions and confirm when i was in active labour. the app itself is extremely intuitive and easy-to-use -- no learning curve. i loved the meditations and appreciated how easy it was to turn them on and off depending on how i felt throughout labour. 10/10 recommend. ### 5/5 — A must have app for pregnancy and labour! *2025-01-30, version 7.0.1* I downloaded the app and the hypnobirthing course when pregnant with my third baby after my first 2 births didn’t go to plan. The course and app gave me the confidence to feel in control and I finally had the birth I wanted! The feeling of empowerment giving birth to this baby will never compare to anything else and I am so grateful that I found the positive birth company. ### 5/5 — Helped me labor comfortably at home! *2025-01-10, version 7.0.1* This app was hands down the BEST thing for my labor with my son! The meditations and counting helped me to focus on my breathing throughout labor and really stay relaxed. I ended up going to the hospital after laboring at home and I was fully dilated by the time they checked me for the first time. It was an incredible first time birth experience and can’t wait to use the app again for my second, whenever that comes! ### 5/5 — First baby *2024-12-11, version 7.0.1* I down loaded this after listening to the audiobook, I was really nee to give birth as this is my first baby. My waters went at midnight and I gave birth completely naturally with no pain relief, no gas and air no paracetamol at 7.52am the next morning. Blocking out everyone and just listening to the counting for the breathing was absolutely the one thing that helped me keep calm and let my body do what it needed. My husband was my advocate and knew I didn’t want pain relief, so every-time I was asked if I wanted it he would answer for me and I just concentrated on my breathing and resting as much as I could in this speedy labour!! ### 5/5 — Must have for labour *2024-12-07, version 7.0.1* The breathing reminders, affirmations, and surge timer were so helpful and I used them all. If you’re planning a vaginal birth, definitely recommend this as an essential! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — It wasn’t too helpful *2026-07-06, version 7.2* The options are limited and overall I haven’t used it or felt the need to use it in last 2 yrs. The birth was okay without the help of this app. ### 1/5 — Didn’t work properly *2025-12-16, version 7.2* Didn’t capture properly half the time so couldn’t track gaps. Also told me to go to hospital several times whilst still clearly in latent stage as contractions were not reliably 3 mins apart. Used the contraction timer on my TENS machine instead! ### 1/5 — I want my money back *2025-10-22, version 7.2* It does not stop. I don’t need it to keep talking to me after a contraction when they’re 20 minutes apart, but I can’t stop it. I guess it would be okay for when you’re having contractions very close together at the end (and actually want it to speak to you) but otherwise it’s not really set up for your entire labor. ### 1/5 — Huge UX issues *2025-08-03, version 7.2* Invest in a UI/UX designer. Impossible to known when it’s on or off. ### 1/5 — Support service and useless app *2024-11-18, version 7.0.1* The single star is for the mini audio guides, which provide some relief during contractions. However, the app is poorly designed and overly focused on decorative elements, which detracts from its primary purpose—tracking contractions effectively. Additionally, the lack of a trial period (even 3 days would suffice) forces users to purchase it without fully understanding its functionality. The claim of family sharing is misleading; it doesn’t work as advertised. Attempts to reach support resulted in vague promises to escalate the issue to the developer, with no resolution or follow-up. Very disappointing experience overall. ### 1/5 — Removed guided meditations *2024-10-05, version 7.0.1* I paid $2 or such for this app during my last pregnancy, it’s updated in the meantime and now it seems they’ve removed the feature to use guided meditations? Looks like it only counts surges now, where the meditations used to be us just a link to some “pregnancy package” on their website. Disappointed. ### 1/5 — Used to work great *2024-05-11, version 7.0.1* I loved this app. But then it stopped letting me add my own custom tracks. I reached out to customer support and they emailed me back and forth to get more information about my phone/os system. But then never resolved or followed up with the issue. App is basically unusable for me now. ### 1/5 — No scripts available *2024-04-30, version 7.0.1* Hello! I downloaded the app while reading the Hypobirthing book and it mentioned there would be guided meditation scripts for my birthing partner in the app. There aren’t any. This was the whole reason I purchased the app. ### 1/5 — Love the book. Hate the app. *2023-11-06, version 6.0.1* I loved her book and when I heard they put out an app I was so excited for it but I’m 37 weeks and have been using the app with my Braxton Hicks contractions for practice and if I get any kind of notification during a surge, the app stops counting. Then at random times when my phone isn’t even in my hand the surge timer will start counting. Additionally, at times the meditation will continue even after I have closed the app, not just changed apps but literally closed it. Way too many glitches. Concept is great and if it would work the way it was intended it would be the best app on the market but sadly it is way too glitchy and unreliable. Had to uninstall to get it to stop playing randomly. ### 1/5 — No scripts? *2023-04-04, version 6.0.1* Book and website talk about scripts available In the app for partner to read but there are non available ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Amazing app got me through labour *2026-07-02, version 7.2* This app genuinely got me through a big chunk of my labour. It gave me something to focus on and the background music is so calming. I didn’t really practice beforehand but still managed to follow the breathing techniques. It is also great as a contraction timer - I was already in hospital being induced but it was helpful to see how things were progressing. For £5 it’s so worth it. It was also recommended by my midwives! ### 5/5 — Amazing App! Highly Recommend! *2026-03-21, version 7.2* This app is so incredible! It times your surges and then tells you when you’re on established labour so you know when to go to hospital or contact the midwife. It also counts for you to breathe with the surges which really helps focus your mind. It send positive affirmations via notifications which helped me keep my mindset. I had a home birth and found this app so supportive. ### 5/5 — The best tool *2026-02-22, version 7.2* My hypnobirthing trainer suggested Freya to me… and I’m so grateful she did 😍 I highly recommend this app to every woman preparing to give birth, and also to partners and anyone who will be there during labour and truly wants to help. It makes you feel supported, calm and confident when you need it most. ### 5/5 — Amazing *2026-02-09, version 7.2* Used for both my births and during pregnancy. Found it so helpful. ### 5/5 — Love it *2026-01-31, version 7.2* Used this timer with both deliveries one 4 years ago and the other just a few days ago. It worked perfectly. I only used the timer feature. I also totally forgot you can delete a recorded surge. ### 5/5 — A must-have *2026-01-25, version 7.2* I used the guided breathing tool to practice in the weeks leading up to giving birth. This turned out to be one of the best things I did to prepare for birth, as I used gas and air for pain relief, and was able to regulate my breathing throughout - even when things started getting a little chaotic! The meditations were really helpful for managing anxiety in the weeks before giving birth too. ### 5/5 — This app was my everything *2025-11-03, version 7.2* Wow. Where to start. This app honest was just what I needed. No real pain relief just a both comb the app and a dream 😂 tracked surges with the button and used the breathing counts to support me. I wasn’t calm but this app helped me to focus. Amazing 10/10 get it honestly it’s so very worth it. ### 5/5 — So helpful! *2025-09-29, version 7.2* I purchased the app a few weeks prior to birth and loved the guided meditations in the lead up to birth to help me relax. I ended up being induced and this app genuinely got me through the whole process, I listened to the guided breathing through an AirPod and it was still playing when my baby boy arrived 15 hours later. Will be recommending to everyone! ### 5/5 — Invaluable addition to your birthing team! *2025-09-05, version 7.2* I am so happy to have stumbled upon Freya just days before the birth of our second baby. After a heavily intervened traumatic birth with our first baby, I had been practicing hypnobirthing to prepare for our second birth with the hopes of having a more relaxed and physiological experience. With the help of Freya our dream birth was accomplished! Absolutely zero interventions, not even a cervical check was needed, as I arrived in hospital in active labour ready to go! Baby made their way down guiding me to use breath, and yielding into the surges. Freya was a huge gift in allowing us to stay home until active labour and only needing to be hospital for active labour, and a few hours post birth! I honestly do not think my hypnobirthing work would have been as effective as it was without the wonderful guidance and gentle care of Freya! I really appreciate how intuitive and accessible the app is, especially financially! What a gift, as it can allow more birthing folks to birth with their own bodies and babies as guides! Thank you Freya! ### 5/5 — Positive Birth *2025-07-10, version 7.0.1* I put my positive birth down to Freya completely and recommend it to everyone . Thank you! --- *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.*