# Wind Down — Sleep Breathing — Find sleep in 60 seconds

> Breathing guide app using pulsing light to induce sleep. (iPhone/iPad app by Actnow GmbH.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wind-down-sleep-breathing/id1357256845 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Actnow GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1125946325)
- Category: Health & Fitness, Utilities
- Price: $8.99 with in-app purchases
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 5 MB
- Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish
- Released: 2018-03-09
- Data updated: 2026-07-04
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wind-down-sleep-breathing/id1357256845/reviews.md

## What is Wind Down?

zzZ is a calm, ambient breathing light for the end of the day. Free to try. No account. No notifications. Place your iPhone or iPad on the nightstand, follow the glow, and let your breath slow to the rhythm that research has linked to better sleep.

THE METHOD
Slow-paced breathing at around six cycles per minute — a rate known as "resonance breathing" — is associated in published studies with reduced sleep-onset latency, fewer nighttime awakenings, and greater parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) activity (Laborde et al., 2022; Hamasaki, 2020). A longer exhale than inhale is linked to increased vagal tone and heart-rate variability (Laborde et al., 2024; Jerath et al., 2006).

zzZ starts at a comfortable pace (around ten breaths per minute) and gently eases you down to roughly six over two to three minutes — the same descent pattern used in heart-rate-variability biofeedback protocols. You simply follow the breathing orb, or close your eyes and feel the gentle haptic swell on each inhale and exhale.

DESIGNED FOR THE NIGHTSTAND
- Eyes-closed mode — a gentle haptic pulse marks every inhale and exhale, so you can put the phone face-down and let the rhythm do the rest
- Full-screen breath orb — no menus, no chrome, no ads
- Melatonin-friendly Red Night theme (plus Warm Amber, Moonglow, Aurora)
- Optional ambient bed (pink noise, brown noise, soft rain, or silent)
- Optional breath chime cues
- Works beautifully on iPad in landscape — a true bedside breathing lamp

PRESETS
- Sleep Descent — guided 10 → 6 BPM wind-down (default)
- Deep Resonance — steady 5.5 BPM, vagal activation
- 4-7-8 — the Weil technique
- Box — even four-count for calm focus

PRIVACY BY DESIGN
No third-party tracking. No third-party analytics. No ads. No account required. Completed sessions can optionally be written to Apple Health as Mindful Minutes — all other data stays on your device.

ACCESSIBILITY
Supports Dynamic Type, VoiceOver labels on controls, and Reduce Motion.

WORKS WITH
- Apple Health — Mindful Minutes
- Siri & Shortcuts — "Hey Siri, start wind-down"
- Sleep Focus — run zzZ automatically as part of your wind-down routine

SELECTED REFERENCES
Laborde S. et al. (2022) Psychophysiological effects of slow-paced breathing at six cycles per minute. Psychophysiology.
Hamasaki H. (2020) Effects of diaphragmatic breathing on health: a narrative review. Medicines.
Jerath R. et al. (2006) Physiology of long pranayamic breathing. Medical Hypotheses.
Lehrer P. & Gevirtz R. (2014) Heart rate variability biofeedback. Frontiers in Psychology.

zzZ is a wellness tool and does not diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition. If you suffer from chronic insomnia, please consult a sleep specialist.

SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS
Wind Down Pro is available as an auto-renewing monthly subscription or a one-time Lifetime unlock. The monthly plan includes a 7-day free trial; payment is charged to your Apple ID account at the end of the trial and renews monthly unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. The Lifetime unlock is a single payment with no renewal. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings.

Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Privacy Policy: https://www.actnow-gmbh.de/apps/zzz/privacy

Made in Germany by ActNow GmbH.

## Key features

- Pulsing light projection
- Adjustable breathing frequency
- Sunset color lighting
- Adjustable timer
- Separate settings for men and women

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $8.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| zzz Pro | $6.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wind-down-sleep-breathing/id1357256845/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Hilarious

*2020-01-21*

The user interface is so horrible it’s almost entertaining as a comedy app. There is no labeling of function or configuration. I think you have to cycle through the available colors to make a selection? Maybe the gender selection is the white symbol? If you want to see a terrible user interface and are fine with the cost this will give you a good laugh.

### 4/5 — Need sound

*2018-06-08*

Great app. Helps me relax. But when my eyes get tired I can’t follow the frequency of the light. Some sort of sound needs to be incorporated so we can continue without having our eyes open.

**Developer response:** Thank you for the feedback. We added sound now.

### 1/5 — Not helpful

*2018-04-03*

The light flashes way to fast to be soothing. You can not breathe to the rhythm of the light. It is more distracting then soothing because of this.

**Developer response:** We listen to your feedback! We added adjustable speed. In addition we added sound, as other users requested.

## Frequently asked questions about Wind Down

### How does Sleep Aid zzZ help me fall asleep?

Sleep Aid zzZ projects a pulsing light onto your ceiling, guiding your breathing to an optimal rate of 11-14 breaths per minute. This scientifically proven technique helps relax your body and mind, making it easier to fall asleep.

### What is the optimal breathing rate for Sleep Aid zzZ?

The app guides you to a breathing rate between 11 and 14 breaths per minute, with a suggested inhale of two seconds and exhale of three seconds. This is considered the optimum for relaxation and sleep.

### Can I customize the breathing settings in Sleep Aid zzZ?

Yes, Sleep Aid zzZ allows you to set different breathing rates for men and women. You can also adjust the timer and change the color of the pulsing light, though a sunset color is recommended.

### What devices is Sleep Aid zzZ compatible with?

Sleep Aid zzZ is designed for use on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. The display brightness is sufficient to be recognized in a darkened room.

### How often is Sleep Aid zzZ updated?

The latest version of Sleep Aid zzZ is 1.1.4, which was released on April 23, 2021. Information on update frequency beyond this is not provided.

### What is the age rating for Sleep Aid zzZ?

Sleep Aid zzZ has an age rating of 12+. This indicates it is suitable for users aged 12 and older.

### What do users think of Sleep Aid zzZ?

Based on the provided data, Sleep Aid zzZ has a rating of 2.5 stars from 2 ratings. This suggests a mixed or potentially negative user sentiment.

### Does Sleep Aid zzZ have ads?

Sleep Aid zzZ is a paid application and does not contain advertisements. Users purchase the app once to access all its features.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.1.0 — 2026-06-26

Small refinements and stability fixes.

• The app now displays "Wind Down" on your home screen, matching the App Store name
• Polish across in-app wording

### 2.0.3 — 2026-05-17

Small refinements and stability fixes.

• The app now displays "Wind Down" on your home screen, matching the App Store name
• Polish across in-app wording

### 2.0.2 — 2026-04-30

zzZ is reborn.

• Completely rewritten for iOS and iPadOS 17+
• New guided Sleep Descent — slowly eases your breath from 10 to 6 BPM, the rate linked in research to faster sleep onset
• New melatonin-friendly Red Night theme for bedtime use
• New haptic pacer — feel the breath with your eyes closed
• New ambient beds: pink noise, brown noise, soft rain
• New presets: Deep Resonance (5.5 BPM), 4-7-8, Box Breathing
• Apple Health Mindful Minutes integration
• Siri & Shortcuts — "Hey Siri, start wind-down"
• Completely private — no account, no tracking, no subscription

### 1.1.4 — 2021-04-23

- adjustable speed (just swipe left/right)
- audio added
- remembers all settings

### 1.1.3 — 2021-04-16

- Sound option added for audible breathing help
- iOS 14 Update

## Apps similar to Wind Down

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [SleepLantern - Watch and Sleep!](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sleeplantern-watch-and-sleep/id541889195) | 2.5 (2) | $1.99 | Health & Fitness |
| [HeartBreath HRV](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heartbreath-hrv/id1380171851) | 4.7 (52) | $8.99 | Health & Fitness |
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| [Somnee](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/somnee/id6445828473) | 3.7 (71) | Free | Health & Fitness |
| [Breatheee](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/breatheee/id1375329558) | 4.8 (6) | $4.99 | Health & Fitness |
| [Adjustable Sleep](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/adjustable-sleep/id627980399) | — | Free | Health & Fitness |

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*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 2026-07-04.*