# Environments vs UCLA Mindful

The clearest difference is price: UCLA Mindful at Free against Environments's $2.99. Environments's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and chart position (#162 vs unranked). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

UCLA Mindful is free to download; Environments costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Environments holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 229 and 172 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Environments's written reviews are positive against 77% of UCLA Mindful's.

Environments ships an update every 2 months, UCLA Mindful every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Environments | UCLA Mindful |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (229 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/environments/id1294132065/reviews)** | [4.5 (172 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ucla-mindful/id1459128935/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **229** | 172 |
| Positive reviews | **81.8% of reviews** | 76.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#162** | — |
| Size | 579 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [The Numero Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/1294132064) | [UCLA Health](https://appshunter.io/developer/646973492) |

## What reviewers say

### Environments

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/environments/id1294132065)

**Currently charting:** #162 Top Paid · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

Experience long-form nature recordings from the 1960s and 70s, remastered for modern use. This app offers a unique collection of ambient sounds designed to aid work, meditation, sleep, and focus, all without requiring an internet connection.

**Highlights:** Long-form analog recordings, No internet connection required, Ad-free experience, Playlist creation, Focus and stress reduction, Historic nature sounds

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 Authentic analog field recordings with exceptional audio quality
- 😴 Highly effective for sleep, meditation, and relaxation
- 🎧 Long-form tracks (30+ minutes) without repetitive looping
- 📚 Rich historical context about Irv Teibel and the Environments series
- 💰 Excellent value at low price point for entire collection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App crashes on certain iOS versions (iOS 16, older versions)
- 📐 UI not optimized for iPad or landscape mode
- 🔊 Audio output levels set too high, difficult to play quietly
- 🖼️ Cannot zoom in on album cover artwork
- 📍 Navigation could be simplified and improved

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes immediately after pressing play on iOS 16
- App removed from App Store after purchase, preventing re-download
- Dynamic Island spacing issues on iPhone 14 Pro
- Infinite loop button doesn't function properly
- Audio doesn't resume after phone calls or text notifications

**Requested features**

- Speed adjustment controls (16 rpm, 33 rpm, 78 rpm options)
- Chromecast and Google Cast support
- Alarm clock functionality using app sounds
- Landscape mode support for iPad
- Zoom capability for album cover artwork


### UCLA Mindful

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ucla-mindful/id1459128935)

Practice mindfulness meditation with guided sessions and educational content from UCLA Health. Learn to manage stress, reduce anxiety, and cultivate positive emotions through regular practice. Explore various meditation types, informative videos, and weekly recordings to enhance your well-being.

**Highlights:** Guided basic meditations, Wellness meditations for health conditions, Informative videos on mindfulness, Weekly live/virtual meditation recordings, Talks on mindfulness topics, Customizable meditation timer

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🙏 Free and accessible resource
- 🧘‍♀️ High-quality guided meditations
- 🗣️ Calming and comforting narrator voices (Diana Winston)
- 👍 Simple, easy to use, and navigate
- 🌍 Multiple languages offered

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🗣️ Presenter talks too much during meditations
- 🔌 Requires a good internet connection (streaming)
- 🔄 No offline access
- 📱 App doesn't rotate on iPad in landscape mode
- 🔊 Loud ding at the end of some tracks

**Reported bugs**

- 🐛 Loop repeat did not replay when screen is locked
- 🐛 Audio stops when iPhone screen locks/turns off
- 🐛 Back button disappears on search podcast tab
- 🐛 Search in previous podcast is slow to respond
- 🐛 Custom timer doesn't work as intended

**Requested features**

- Offline access/downloadable sessions
- More voice diversity (ethnicity and gender)
- Add to Apple Health for tracking mindful minutes
- Improve pausing points for Vietnamese meditations
- Remove the ding at the end of tracks


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Environments free?

Environments costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is UCLA Mindful free?

UCLA Mindful is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Environments or UCLA Mindful?

Environments is rated higher. Environments averages 4.8 out of 5 from 229 ratings, while UCLA Mindful averages 4.5 from 172 ratings.

### Do Environments or UCLA Mindful have ads?

Neither Environments nor UCLA Mindful shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Environments or UCLA Mindful?

Environments ships an update every 2 months, and UCLA Mindful every 3 months. Most recently, Environments was updated on October 15, 2026 and UCLA Mindful on October 12, 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.*