# Portal - Escape Into Nature — user reviews > 587 indexed App Store user reviews of Portal by Portal Labs Ltd, rated 4.80/5 from 10,142 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/portal-escape-into-nature/id1436994560/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/portal-escape-into-nature/id1436994560.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 8,769 · 4★ 855 · 3★ 283 · 2★ 96 · 1★ 139 ## What do users think of Portal? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🌟 Stunning visuals and audio quality - 🧘‍♀️ Helps with focus, relaxation, and sleep - 🤖 Seamless integration with smart home devices - 👍 Excellent customer service and responsiveness - 💻 Consistent experience across devices (iOS, Mac) **Cons** - 💰 Subscription model considered too expensive by some - 🔒 Limited free content, most features require subscription - 🔇 Volume level sometimes too low to hear over other audio - 🔁 Noticeable looping in some soundscapes **Commonly reported bugs** - Occasional issues with Hue light integration and connectivity - Reported problems with app crashing or freezing on some devices **Most requested features** - More diverse soundscape options (e.g., urban, city environments) - Ability to adjust volume of Portal independently from other audio - Support for casting/streaming to TVs and larger displays - Longer duration soundscapes without obvious looping ## Newest reviews (20 of 587) ### 3/5 — En anglais seulement *2026-07-27, version 1.8.1* Très ennuyeux que ce soit en anglais seulement, je n’achète pas ### 5/5 — Fantastic for the workday and home life *2026-07-17, version 3.8.3* My family and I love this app! It’s a great focus aid during work, and I especially love the moving desktop option on Mac (it’s a productivity feature I used via other apps more than 10y ago and never thought I’d find it again!) Portal has also been a great rest / sleep aid for both the kids and adults in our family, too. A great all around app. ### 5/5 — $99 For Lifetime is a great value *2026-07-14, version 3.8.3* I’ll be honest, the original $300 price was a little steep for me. But at $99 this is one of the best soundscape apps you can get. And lifetime access means one less subscription. This app and Odysound have the highest quality soundscapes I’ve tried on any app. ### 5/5 — Great meditation app *2026-07-10, version 3.8.3* One of the best app for relaxing and enjoying an afternoon meditation. Use it at nights to fall asleep. The Interactive interface is sooo beautiful. Thank you Portal you guys are the best ### 5/5 — Awesome App No real complaints *2026-07-07, version 3.8.3* This app is perfect! Especially when I can play music of my choice. This app made go buy Apple AirPods in 2023 so I could listen to dynamic sounds ### 5/5 — Amazing!! *2026-07-04, version 3.8.3* This app is absolutely amazing! There are NO ads, and every single “portal” takes you into a whole new world. What I love is that you can go off the app and the music still plays! You can also mix it with the other apps audio. Definitely download this if you are a nature lover like me!!! ❤️ ### 5/5 — I purchased the lifetime version after using it for just 30 minutes, and I hope you can add Chinese *2026-07-04, version 1.8.0* I really love this app. I bought the lifetime license just 30 minutes after trying it, and all the friends I recommended it to also purchased the lifetime version. Could you please add Chinese language support? It would be much friendlier for Chinese users. Both the UI and white noise experience are excellent. I’ve noticed this is the only app your team has released, which suggests you’re a small team, yet I didn’t hesitate to grab the lifetime license. I hope this app will keep receiving long-term updates and development. Judging by its reviews and ratings, it’s well-liked by many users. I suggest your team focus on polishing and expanding this single app. I’m looking forward to better features and experiences in future updates. Please do add Chinese localization as well as multi-language support down the line. ### 5/5 — Use it every day *2026-07-03, version 3.8.3* This app is essential. I use it every night to help me drift off to sleep and every day to help me focus. The developers are exceptionally polite, quick to respond and very helpful too! ### 5/5 — Thank you to the Team *2026-07-01, version 3.8.3* To be honest, when I was looking for my first ambient app (because I love nature and greenery but I live in a desert environment in Saudi and wanted an escape), right when I saw they reduced their pricing significantly to make it more accessible for us customers and the high quality in recording, I immediately bought the lifetime subscription and wow the variety and quality in the sound is amazing And the fact that they actually fly out and record their sounds instead of stock looped sounds I truly appreciate the team for their hard work, thank you for your service ❤️ ### 5/5 — amazing to work and relax *2026-06-29, version 1.7.5* Perfect to help me stay focused and work. every now and then i will look at the visuals and they help me be less tense. it's such a perfect app. Love that i can have this on my tv also. helps me feel connected to nature and relaxed. ### 5/5 — Actually Good Free Tier!! *2026-06-29, version 1.7.5* I’ve tried a number of other live wallpaper apps for Mac before and none of their free tiers were as polished and enjoyable to use as this. It made me consider buying the lifetime access. Although I do wish there were more free wallpapers, that’s only because the ones that are available are so good :) ### 5/5 — A Beautiful Experience with Huge Potential *2026-06-26, version 1.7.5* I’m enjoying Portal a lot. It’s relaxing, immersive, and very useful while working, reading, or unwinding. As someone who enjoys photography and uses a Nikon Z7 II, I also appreciate how difficult it would be to capture scenes like this myself. You would need the right location, timing, composition, high-resolution video, natural sound, stabilization, and careful editing. Portal brings that whole atmosphere instantly to the Mac. That said, I think the next big step would be adding more depth and true 3D environments. After some time, it becomes clear that some scenes are repeated video loops. A more dynamic environment, with subtle 3D movement and non-repeating details, would make it feel much more alive. I’d also love to see an iPad version. Many heavy Mac users — developers, designers, and professionals — also use iPads or MacBooks. Imagine Portal extending one continuous scene across multiple Apple screens, creating a panoramic workspace environment. That would be a fantastic use of the Apple ecosystem. Overall, this is already an excellent app, and I’m excited to see where it goes next. Five stars. ### 5/5 — Simply a Great App! *2026-06-23, version 1.7.5* I have the Portal app on all the time, rotating scenes automatically every hour. The scenery is beautiful and the sounds immersive and calming. I even have one desktop space set up with no apps in it so I can go there, hide my menu bar and dock with a single shortcut, and simply enjoy the sights and sounds – it becomes a window to nature. I suppose one can put together screensavers with sounds or YouTube videos to produce a similar effect for one location. But I don't think it would be nearly as easy to manage all of the locations and switch from one to the other with the ease Portal provides. It has a beautiful interface with lots of options. And then there's the settings panel with even more customization available. Given the subscription fee (or the one-time lifetime membership cost), I think this is one of the best additions to my Mac, and I recommend it to all of my friends. And if you have any questions, Portal’s support team is quick to respond and provides very personal and thorough assistance. An enthusiastic thumbs-up for the app and the company! ### 4/5 — Glad The Devs Woke Up *2026-06-21, version 1.7.5* I love this app and have been using it for years. I don’t think I’ve ever found any other app with comparable audio quality and ofc the visuals are second to none. Youtube does offer mixes of similar quality, but those are prepackaged and often repeated ad nauseum until you’re sick of the same ‘crashing waves asmr’ sound. These mixes help me sleep, help me work and help me feel better broadly. I’ve spent MANY a busy work shift with these playing in my ear and without it I’m sure I’d only be half as useful to my team lol. With all that said, only in the last month have I actually paid for a subscription. Previously the full app was like, 300 dollars for a lifetime account and the annual was 100-200 dollars or some other ludicrous number. Even the monthly was 50-90 dollars or something, and for all the love I had from this app I could never in good faith pay for that. I was tempted on multiple occasions to pay the whatever the hell and be done, but it actually felt sacrilegious to give 3 digits to a asmr machine when Youtube was (terrible) free. It seems the Dev team has come to see reason and changed their price with the new subscription price being 100 for a lifetime account and 30 for an annual subscription. If they’d caught me even a week earlier with my new paycheck sitting in my account, I’d have gotten the lifetime account. They didn’t so I only have the annual account for now (a safe choice, if I decide to suddenly stop using it almost 8 years in lol) but I love getting to listen to more then 4 mixes. It’s honestly been a bit overwhelming hahaha. Anyway, I love the app! Only thing keeping me from giving a full 5 stars is just that the selection is a bit repetitive (each perfect, but repetitive) and I’d like a bit of variety in the sounds offered (underwater mix, crowd mix, farm mix, horses on a road etc etc). I hope the team can travel and take in more locations and countries, I’d personally request one that’s on the outskirts of a city or something, hearing the life of the people in whatever little European village but not actually drenched in noise. But, digressing. If you read all this, get the app. ### 4/5 — Good *2026-06-15, version 3.8.3* I like the app so much, I bought lifetime. But…. It’s been at least a year since any update. I’d like to see more environments done. I know this takes time, but an additional few places would be great!! ### 5/5 — Magic *2026-06-15, version 1.7.5* Thank you Stu and team for the gorgeous experience you have created with Portal. You have managed to bring the joy of the outdoors into the indoors, visually and acoustically. ### 5/5 — Please Apple TV Ver *2026-06-14* I’m very satisfied with the current app and use it every day. If possible, please consider adding an Apple TV version so I can enjoy the same great experience in my living room. **Developer response:** 👋 Hey Haravetica, We are so happy to hear that you're a Portal fan and that it's become a companion to your day, We hope it's making a positive difference in your life - bringing in nature's magic when it's not possible to get out into the real thing. Turning to your Apple 📺 request, the really exciting news is over the past 24 months or so we've been quietly building our native Apple TV app. If you'd like to help us beta test it and get an early sneak peek as well as contribute feedback that will help shape Portal for Apple TV then please drop us a line at hello@portal.app We'd love to have you onboard and see it in your living room :) Thank you again for sharing your wonderful feedback. Stu, Alex, Andy & Nick - Team Portal. ### 5/5 — Amazing *2026-06-11, version 1.7.5* Amazing app - I love it. I love how they offer a free option to ensure that people can access it ### 5/5 — Perfect. *2026-06-10, version 1.7.5* If you want to know what it’s like to use this app, read the name of the app. ### 5/5 — Your spaces make you *2026-06-10, version 1.7.5* If I could spend all my time on a paddleboard out on a mountain lake or hiking through the forest at golden hour I would! Portal helps transform your environment when you can’t be outdoors, inspiring you to get outside and live with connected with reality even in everyday settings. I was an early subscriber when it launched and it remains one of my most used apps. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Subscription *2026-03-27, version 1.7.5* As much as I love the visuals the subscription is too much. The ability to choose 3 - 4 options which can be downloaded and played at any time would be much more welcome. ### 1/5 — This is the most amazing app but unfortunately it’s so expensive you can’t use it *2026-02-26, version 1.7.5* I loved the free trial. I’m so sad. 300 dollars for lifetime membership for a productivity app? That’s insane. The monthly membership is also oddly high, more expensive than Netflix. :(((((( ### 1/5 — Video Disappears *2026-02-17, version 3.8.3* I purchased this app to see the videos. They disappear. the sounds can be found for free. I cancelled within 24 hours and I want a refund. ### 1/5 — Terrible subscription. *2025-10-17, version 1.7.1* A good app ruined by a subscription plan for access. In this economy? Ridiculous. I’d pay 20 bucks upfront but refuse to opt into another pointless subscription service. I hate this timeline. ### 1/5 — No free *2025-08-24, version 1.6.2* Trash, everything just need to pay for it ### 1/5 — $350 for a lifetime license — the greed is off the charts *2025-08-15, version 3.8.3* Charging $350 so you don’t spend an infinite amount of money on a subscription is criminal. If Apple forced app developers to price their apps at one-time purchase prices do you think this app would be more than $3.50 or even $35.00? Absolutely not. $350 is literally insane. Pass. Ridiculous greed! ### 1/5 — Too expensive *2025-08-14, version 1.6.1* I’m posting this review because I think some people might accidentally purchase this expensive $300 app. On top of that, if you subscribe, it costs $7–13 per month. But you can simply go to YouTube and search for “nature sounds” you’ll find countless free videos. Create a playlist to play them continuously, or combine different ones for an even better experience. For example, you could mix the sound of rain with water, forest, and wind noises, then play them together in the background all without paying for a $300 app. You can even download the videos to enjoy them offline. ### 1/5 — It’s a sound machine *2025-07-08, version 3.8.3* Get a YouTube premium subscription. The nerve to charge people for something they can a better value on. Save your time and money. I use YouTube all the time for this and sleep. They want us to sub to a sound machine current year is crazy ### 1/5 — Love it but too expensive *2025-05-27, version 1.5.3* I understand it’s Worth paying for such a beautiful art work software. But seriously it’s so expensive and not only you buy it for life or you just own it, no. it’s every year annual payment. No I can’t ### 1/5 — Awful pricing system *2025-03-30, version 3.8.3* App isn’t bad but the monthly/yearly subscription is a total rip off and nowhere near worth it ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Incredible App *2026-08-31, version 1.8.1* Wonderful app, I use it every day! I just wish there was an Apple TV port so I could use these instead of YouTube videos. ### 5/5 — 我最喜欢的软件 *2026-08-24, version 1.8.1* "I've been using it since 2024 and still love it. I really like the pure, clean and minimalist interface — it’s perfect for meditation and relaxation. I previously bought a one-year subscription, and now I’ve purchased the lifetime version. It would be great if there was an HDR toggle option so the videos could have HDR effects, but it’s fine if there isn’t one, haha." ### 5/5 — No forced purchases *2026-08-17, version 3.8.3* I love it when apps have in app purchases but they are worth it and not forced and the app it’s self is so realistic it’s like I’m actually there Thanks for responding, Best relaxation app ### 5/5 — When your workspace lacks windows, and your soul is starved for birdsong… *2026-08-14, version 1.8.1* Portal is the nature balm for my sunlight starved soul. I use the circadian flow option at work -- particularly when I need uninterrupted time to research and write. My office is windowless, so the nature sounds and sights provide calm and necessary focus. I use Portal at night to wind down for sleep -- particularly when there's a TV show playing in another room of the home. Portal isn’t a substitute for a walk in nature, but I find it a necessary balm for my spirit. ### 5/5 — This is a amazing app that has made focusing so much easier for me *2026-08-07, version 3.8.3* I’ve always had trouble focusing as a student on work and this has changed my whole path.. for the best!! I love the beautiful scenery on the sounds, I love how real the sounds are it’s as if I’m right there! So cool and so incredibly beautiful. The most beautiful app I’ve ever owned!!! I would absolutely love for there to be more free options of sounds for the people that cannot buy the premium version. Thank you for helping me relax and focus more. - Me ### 5/5 — Love it!! *2026-07-27, version 3.8.3* I use Portal for everything they give. Focus, sleep, and escape. The sounds suit me, but I want a ocean sound. The “pay once use forever” should be more affordable. But other than that love it! ### 5/5 — An app that wants to go at your pace *2026-07-27, version 1.8.1* This is one of those apps that inserts itself into your life in such a way that you want to support. I love the mission here and I love your approach to accessibility. If you allow yourself to really immerse, the backgrounds fade into a gentle white noise and helps you focus. As soon as I am able, I will purchase lifetime access. Great job all around and thank you! ### 5/5 — So pumped!! *2026-07-25, version 1.8.1* I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to get the news that not only were they lowering the subscription cost, but that they have also come out with a lifetime purchase option. Hallelujah!!!! Have always loved this app and the high quality sound and visuals they have provided. I immediately signed up once I saw the change. Thank you all for listening to your customers. Here’s to many more years of better focus, better sleep, and more relaxation. ### 5/5 — Obsessed!! *2026-07-23, version 1.8.1* I have been looking for this for so long! I used to use calm, and then YouTube “ambience” but all they are is AI slop with cartoonish elements… this is amazing with the actual real video clip with the natural audio. Cannot rave about this enough! ### 5/5 — Good *2026-07-22, version 3.8.3* Hi this app is good and I recommend it.But if the graphics are better, it will be more complete, and please increase the features of the free version. --- *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 2026-09-05.*