# 5Rhythms vs Expand

The clearest difference is price: Expand at Free against 5Rhythms's $1.99. Expand also leads on ratings volume (302 vs 8). 5Rhythms's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). On update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Expand is free to download; 5Rhythms costs $1.99 up front. 5Rhythms sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Expand sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

5Rhythms holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Expand has 302 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of 5Rhythms's written reviews are positive against 50% of Expand's.

5Rhythms ships an update every 2 months, Expand monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 5Rhythms | Expand |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.4 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5rhythms/id1080655616/reviews)** | [4.0 (302 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expand-beyond-meditation/id1552705313/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **302** |
| Positive reviews | **60.0% of reviews** | 49.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Paid** | Subscription |
| Size | 19 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [5Rhythms Global Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1126140996) | [THE MONROE INSTITUTE](https://appshunter.io/developer/1552705315) |

## What reviewers say

### 5Rhythms

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/5rhythms/id1080655616)

Discover and book movement classes and workshops globally. Access exclusive in-home practice sessions and music. Track your progress and connect with teachers and the community.

**Highlights:** Find and book classes worldwide, Access exclusive mini-waves for home practice, Listen to music collection, Watch community perspectives, Student logging for progress tracking, In-app messaging with teachers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Beating Drums | $2.99 | one-time |
| Nemah Wave | $2.99 | one-time |
| ReUnion | $2.99 | one-time |
| Peaceful waves | $2.99 | one-time |


### Expand

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expand-beyond-meditation/id1552705313)

Access profound states of expanded awareness with guided meditations and proprietary sound science. Explore topics like relaxation, joy, insight, and sleep to foster meaning, relieve stress, and release unwanted patterns. Discover inner wisdom and joy through active imagination and perception.

**Highlights:** 100+ guided meditations, Monroe Sound Science audio technology, Multi-day mini-courses, Guided reflection and journaling, Custom-generated soundscapes, Focus on active imagination and perception

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Expand Plus Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Expand Plus Yearly | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful meditation tool
- 👍 Lovely and helpful
- 👍 Great way to practice
- 👍 Transformative
- 👍 First class app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Money maker
- 🔒 How do you get a premium subscription?
- 🐛 Cuts off sometimes?
- 🔍 Where's the guidance?
- 🐛 Annoyed

**Reported bugs**

- Paid but no play
- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Sound shuts off when the iphone goes to sleep

**Requested features**

- Longer guided meditations
- What's new section for meditations
- Ability to turn off background music
- Monthly charge option


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 5Rhythms free?

5Rhythms costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Expand free?

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

### Which has better reviews, 5Rhythms or Expand?

5Rhythms is rated higher. 5Rhythms averages 4.4 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Expand averages 4.0 from 302 ratings.

### Do 5Rhythms or Expand have ads?

Expand shows ads; 5Rhythms does not.

### Which is updated more often, 5Rhythms or Expand?

5Rhythms ships an update every 2 months, and Expand monthly. Most recently, 5Rhythms was updated on October 26, 2026 and Expand on October 27, 2026.

---

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