Comparison

Mindfield eSense vs Optimal HRV

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Mindfield eSense

This app provides biofeedback training to help measure, reduce, and relax stress. It works with various sensors to track physiological data and offers customizable exercises with multimedia feedback. Track your progress over time and integrate training into your daily life.

Highlights
  • Biofeedback sensors (skin response, temperature, pulse, respiration, muscle)
  • Customizable breathing guide
  • Multimedia feedback (video, music, sound, vibration)
  • Unlimited measurement storage
  • Detailed data analysis with export
  • Smart bulb integration (Philips Hue)
Features
Read full description

The Mindfield eSense App turns your iPhone and iPad, together with the eSense Biofeedback sensors, into a comprehensive solution for stress measurement, relaxation training and self-awareness - in daily life, in training and coaching settings, and in research. **What is Biofeedback?** Biofeedback makes unconscious body signals such as skin conductance, skin temperature, pulse, breathing or muscle tension visible in real time. With targeted training you learn to influence these signals consciously - a scientifically well-documented approach for stress reduction and overall wellbeing. **Five sensors for precise biofeedback:** 1. **eSense Skin Response**: measures skin conductance (EDA, GSR) as a direct stress indicator. 2. **eSense Temperature**: captures skin temperature for effective hand-warming training. 3. **eSense Pulse**: Bluetooth chest strap for accurate heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) measurement. 4. **eSense Respiration**: breathing-belt add-on for the eSense Skin Response - captures breathing rate, depth and pattern. 5. **eSense Muscle**: measures muscle activity (EMG) for targeted relaxation and activation training. **Comprehensive app features:** - **Customisable breathing pacer** with breathing rate, hold times and resonance breathing - **Multimedia feedback** through video, music, sounds, vibration and Philips Hue Smart Bulbs - **Adjustable training programs (procedures)** for structured multi-step sessions - **Unlimited archive** with ZIP export, CSV/PDF data analysis and per-sensor data wipe for shared devices - **Real-time thresholds** for reactive video feedback (sharpness, brightness, colour) - **14 languages**, continuous updates, intuitive operation **Concrete use cases:** - Stress management and more recovery in everyday life - HRV training and resonance breathing for autonomic balance - Breathing exercises for mindfulness, sports and mental clarity - Hand-warming training to support circulation - Muscle relaxation for desk-bound tension - Focus and performance training **Cloud functions and eSense Web App:** - **Basic Plan**: cloud storage of measurements and access to the eSense Web App (esense.live) - **Premium Plan**: additional cloud storage of procedures, real-time streaming to the Web App and sharing of measurements - **Web App**: simultaneous display of multiple sensors - ideal for group supervision and professional use **OSC and LSL streaming (In-App Purchase, optional):** For researchers and power users: stream your eSense data in real time directly from the app. - **OSC (Open Sound Control)**: to receivers like Max/MSP, Pure Data, TouchDesigner, Processing - **LSL (Lab Streaming Layer)**: to LabRecorder, OpenViBE, MATLAB, BCI2000, pylsl and other LSL-compatible research tools Both protocols are bundled into a single In-App Purchase. **Who is the app for?** - **Individuals** who want to train stress, breathing and relaxation in a focused way - **Trainers and coaches** for structured training sessions, with a multi-user-friendly archive on shared devices - **Researchers and universities** for quantitative data collection with bridges to MATLAB, LabRecorder and custom LSL pipelines **Flexibility and mobility:** - Use at home, in a training or coaching setting, or on the go with iPhone or iPad - Integration into daily life for regular biofeedback training - Free app with continuous updates and fair value for high-precision biofeedback hardware **More information:** - Product overview and tutorials: mindfield-esense.com - Order sensors and accessories: mindfield-shop.com - FAQ & support: help.mindfield.de With precise sensors, a versatile app and cloud functions, biofeedback integrates seamlessly into daily life, training and research.

About

Optimal HRV

Monitor, analyze, and improve your Heart Rate Variability (HRV) scores. This app offers personalized training, biofeedback, and stress-reducing activities to enhance health, reduce stress, and improve mental clarity.

Highlights
  • Real-time HRV monitoring
  • Personalized training plans
  • Guided meditation and breathing exercises
  • Comprehensive data analysis
  • Stress response insights
  • Biofeedback optimization
Features
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Are you feeling stressed, burned out, or just not yourself? Optimal HRV is the guided biofeedback app that teaches your body to calm down — for real. Backed by a Harvard Medical School mindfulness expert and trusted by athletes worldwide. Optimal HRV pairs real HRV data with live biofeedback, so every session trains your nervous system to handle stress better — not just tells you that you're stressed. Why HRV and Biofeedback Training Work Your Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is a window into how well your body handles stress, anxiety, and recovery — and biofeedback is how you train it to improve. Together, they show you what's happening inside your body, then guide you to change it in real time. With Optimal HRV, you can: • See how stressed — or relaxed — your body really is, using real HRV data. • Learn what actually helps you recover, from sleep to workouts to busy workdays. • Use live biofeedback to train your body to relax faster, right as it's happening. • Discover your own personal "perfect breathing rhythm" through guided sessions. Features You'll Actually Use • Daily Check-Ins — take a quick reading each morning, or anytime you want to see how you're doing. • Your Perfect Breathing Rhythm — a simple test finds the exact breathing pace that works best for you. • Live Feedback While You Train — a simple on-screen guide shows you when you're doing it just right. • Calming Mindfulness Sessions — guided practices created with a Harvard Medical School mindfulness expert, covering stress, anxiety, pain management, athletic performance, and more, with calming narrations in your choice of voice. • Easy-to-Read Progress — see your trends over days, weeks, and months, no data expertise needed. • Video Tutorials — learn HRV concepts and techniques at your own pace. • Make It Yours — adjust sounds, pacing, and reminders so training fits your life. • Available in 14 Languages — use Optimal HRV in your native language. • Device Testing — quickly verify if your heart rate monitor works with the app. • Great for Teams Too — employers and coaches can track group wellness together (Dashboard access needed). Why Optimal HRV Works with External Sensors (Not Apple Watch) We choose precision over convenience. Apple Watch is great for daily wellness, but Optimal HRV is built for serious HRV training. That's why we connect directly to an HRV monitor via Bluetooth — they deliver millisecond-accurate R‑R intervals that wrist sensors can't match. What that means for you: • More accurate data – better insights, better decisions. • Real-time streaming – no gaps, no guesswork. • Reliable results – trusted by athletes and coaches worldwide. Love Optimal HRV? Leave a review and help others find their calm. Your feedback helps us improve and reaches more people who need stress relief. Try it free for 30 days and feel the difference for yourself. Download now and start training your nervous system today. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Mindfield eSense4 screens
Optimal HRV4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Mindfield eSense at 5.0 against Optimal HRV's 3.0. Mindfield eSense also leads on review sentiment (46% vs 17%). Optimal HRV's advantage is ratings volume (24 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Mindfield eSense sells 19 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Optimal HRV sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mindfield eSense holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Optimal HRV has 24 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Mindfield eSense's written reviews are positive against 17% of Optimal HRV's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mindfield eSense ships an update monthly, Optimal HRV fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Mindfield eSense versus Optimal HRV: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMindfield eSenseOptimal HRV
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better3.0 (24 ratings)
Positive reviews46.2% of reviews — better16.7% of reviews
Number of ratings124 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size276 MB56 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMindfield Biosystems Ltd.Optimal, LLC

Customer experience

Mindfield eSense

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews39 reviews
Positive46.2%
Neutral10.3%
Negative43.6%

Optimal HRV

All ratings24 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative83.3%

In-app purchases

19 purchases

Mindfield eSense

Subscriptions11
  • Skin Response, Basic,monatlich$3.991 Month
  • eSense Pulse, Basic, monatlich$3.991 Month
  • Temperature, Basic, monatlich$3.991 Month
Show 8 more
  • SkinResponse,Premium,monatlich$6.491 Month
  • all 4 eSense, Basic, monthly$6.491 Month
  • 4 eSense, Premium, monatlich$8.991 Month
  • Skin Response, Basic, jährlich$38.991 Year
  • Respiration,Basic,jährlich$38.991 Year
  • eSense Muscle, Basic, jährlich$38.991 Year
  • Alle 4 eSense,Basic,jährlich$60.991 Year
  • eSense Pulse,Premium,jährlich$60.991 Year
One-time8
  • additional eSense Videos$3.99
  • additional eSense Music$3.99
  • Frequency-Domain HRV Analysis$9.99
Show 5 more
  • OSC data$9.99
  • esense Hue$9.99
  • eSense Cloud$19.90
  • All purchases$47.99
  • esense Polar$129.00
3 purchases

Optimal HRV

Subscriptions3
  • 1 month1 Month trial$9.991 Month
  • 6 Month1 Month trial$47.996 Months
  • One Year1 Month trial$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Mindfield eSense free?
Mindfield eSense is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Optimal HRV free?
Optimal HRV is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mindfield eSense or Optimal HRV?
Mindfield eSense is rated higher. Mindfield eSense averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Optimal HRV averages 3.0 from 24 ratings.
Do Mindfield eSense or Optimal HRV have ads?
Neither Mindfield eSense nor Optimal HRV shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mindfield eSense or Optimal HRV?
Mindfield eSense ships an update monthly, and Optimal HRV fortnightly. Most recently, Mindfield eSense was updated on October 29, 2026 and Optimal HRV on October 25, 2026.

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