Wind Down vs ARC Community
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Wind Down
This app uses a pulsing light projected onto your ceiling to guide your breathing and help you fall asleep faster. It's designed to be used in a darkened room, with adjustable settings for breathing rate and color.
- Pulsing light projection
- Adjustable breathing frequency
- Sunset color lighting
- Adjustable timer
- Separate settings for men and women
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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.
ARC Community
Easily browse and purchase class packs or memberships. View the schedule and filter classes by type to find the perfect fit for your routine. Manage your reservations and stay organized with your fitness goals.
- Purchase class packs and memberships
- Browse class schedules
- Filter classes by type
- Manage class reservations
- Track upcoming classes
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Features: -Purchase Class Packs and Memberships Easily browse and purchase our class packs or membership options -View our schedule Filter classes by type to find the perfect fit for your routine. -Manage your reservations Book your class reservations with ease. Keep track of your upcoming classes and manage your schedule to stay organized and committed to your fitness goals.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: ARC Community at Free against Wind Down's $8.99. ARC Community also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Wind Down's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#186 vs unranked). On update cadence and iOS requirement 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
ARC Community is free to download; Wind Down costs $8.99 up front. Wind Down sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. ARC Community asks for nothing beyond the download.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Wind Down | ARC Community |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 33.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | — | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Ad-supported — better |
| Best chart rank | #186 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 16.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 34 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Actnow GmbH | WRP Wellness CW Ltd |
Customer experience
Wind Down
ARC Community
In-app purchases
Wind Down
- zzz Pro$6.99
ARC Community
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Wind Down free?
Is ARC Community free?
Do Wind Down or ARC Community have ads?
Which is updated more often, Wind Down or ARC Community?
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