# Meditation Studio vs Core Meditation

Meditation Studio and Core Meditation both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 79% of Meditation Studio's written reviews are positive against 61% of Core Meditation's. Meditation Studio also leads on ratings volume (9K vs 1.9K) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Meditation Studio sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Core Meditation sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Meditation Studio against 4.8 for Core Meditation. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9K and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 79% of Meditation Studio's written reviews are positive against 61% of Core Meditation's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Meditation Studio | Core Meditation |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meditation-studio/id1066018502/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-meditation/id1490644270/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **9K** | 1.9K |
| Positive reviews | **79.1% of reviews** | 61.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [InteraXon](https://appshunter.io/developer/849841173) | [Hyper Ice, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1529321255) |

## What reviewers say

### Meditation Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meditation-studio/id1066018502)

Reduce stress, ease anxiety, and improve sleep with guided meditations on various topics. Explore collections tailored for specific needs like health, happiness, and kindness, or create your own unguided sessions. Features expert teachers and progress tracking.

**Highlights:** Guided meditations on diverse topics, Customizable unguided meditations, Collections for specific life areas, Courses for deeper practice, Expert meditation teachers, Progress tracking and scheduling, Offline access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Meditation Studio Monthly | $3.99 | per month |
| Meditation Studio Monthly | $7.99 | per month |
| Meditation Studio Quarterly | $17.99 | per 3 months |
| Meditation Studio Yearly | $23.99 | per year |
| Meditation Studio - Yearly | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Variety of meditation options
- 🕰️ Short meditations for busy schedules
- 🎨 Customizable background sounds
- 💻 Offline access to meditations
- 🧘‍♀️ Helpful for anxiety, sleep, and relaxation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes or freezes
- 🔒 Locked content after subscription change
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🔍 Lack of search/sort functionality
- 🔊 Meditations too fast-paced

**Reported bugs**

- Meditations not playing after download
- Inability to access content on multiple devices
- Incompatibility issues with iPad landscape mode

**Requested features**

- Playlist feature to play multiple meditations in a row
- More long-form (30+ minute) meditation options
- Ability to customize meditations (e.g. add own background music)
- Integration with fitness trackers or Apple Health
- Dark mode or night theme


### Core Meditation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-meditation/id1490644270)

Experience immersive meditation with guided vibrations, audio, and lighting. Track your progress with stress-level measurements and biometric data. Access a library of classes and personalized feedback to build inner strength.

**Highlights:** Guided meditation with dynamic vibrations, Breath training techniques, Stress-level and biometric tracking, Progress measurement (Calm, Focus, Training), Meditation library with expert instructors, Ambient and musical soundscapes, Integration with Apple HealthKit

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Core Subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Annual Core Subscription | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧘‍♀️ Helps with meditation and focus
- 📊 Provides useful biofeedback and data
- 🎯 Effective for beginners and experienced users
- 🤖 High-quality guided meditations
- 🔋 Consistent and reliable performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔌 Connectivity and network issues
- 💰 Expensive device and subscription
- 🤖 Inconsistent or limited app functionality
- 🔍 Lack of search and customization options
- 🕰️ Occasional performance problems or freezes

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to cancel subscription
- Trouble with device pairing and connectivity
- Inaccurate or unreliable biometric tracking

**Requested features**

- Offline meditation content availability
- Apple Watch app integration
- Expanded search and filtering options
- Longer meditation session durations
- More personalization and customization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Meditation Studio free?

Meditation Studio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Core Meditation free?

Core Meditation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Meditation Studio or Core Meditation?

Core Meditation is rated higher. Meditation Studio averages 4.8 out of 5 from 9K ratings, while Core Meditation averages 4.8 from 1.9K ratings.

### Do Meditation Studio or Core Meditation have ads?

Neither Meditation Studio nor Core Meditation shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Meditation Studio or Core Meditation?

Meditation Studio ships an update monthly, and Core Meditation monthly. Most recently, Meditation Studio was updated on November 3, 2026 and Core Meditation on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*