VO2 Max vs Slow Wave
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VO2 Max
Track your body's oxygen absorption at peak effort with detailed insights and performance estimates for running and cycling. Visualize trends, compare personal bests, and understand your cardio fitness level with a redesigned dashboard and Apple Watch integration.
- VO2 max estimation for running and cycling
- Performance estimates (W/kg, FTP)
- Redesigned dashboard with trends and personal bests
- Interactive charts with customizable date ranges
- Apple Watch complications and iPhone widgets
- Cardio fitness level comparison by age and sex
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VO₂ Max shows how much oxygen your body can absorb at peak effort. The redesigned dashboard puts the latest measurement, rolling averages, and your personal best in one view so you immediately see how training affects cardio fitness. ESTIMATES FOR RUN & BIKE - New tab turns VO₂ max + weight + power into W/kg and FTP estimates for running and cycling. - Compare modeled race times and power against your actual HealthKit FTP/power. NEW DASHBOARD - Trend cards highlight the 7-day average, any selected range, and your best value with percentage deltas. - The interactive chart responds to 1W, 2W, 1M, 3M, 1Y, or All filters and animates every new HealthKit reading. - Entry tiles list the test type, source, and timestamp so you can compare prediction and max-exercise tests. INSIGHTS & GUIDANCE - The info sheet matches your value with the correct age and sex bracket to explain whether it is poor, good, or superior. - Manual refresh, HealthKit warnings, and empty states keep permissions and sync issues obvious. - Trial countdown and subscription access stay a tap away. APPLE WATCH + WIDGETS - All complication families are supported, so your latest VO₂ max is available on every watch face. - iPhone Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets follow the dashboard range you selected. - The Widget Showcase walks you through pinning widgets or complications and previewing layouts. HOW VO₂ MAX IS CAPTURED 1. Wear Apple Watch for at least 24 hours, then record several Outdoor Walk, Outdoor Run, or Hiking workouts with heart rate and GPS. 2. Apple may need several qualifying workouts and passive measurements before the first VO₂ max estimate appears. 3. Give this app read access to Cardio Fitness (VO₂ Max) in Apple Health so the dashboard, widgets, and complications can display the data. Requires Apple Watch Series 3 or later. VO₂ Max makes it easy to see if your cardio fitness plan is working today, over the last weeks, and all time. Terms and conditions: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Slow Wave
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Slow Wave is a focused audio app for winding down before bed. Starting a session plays a sound rhythm that repeats slowly at 0.8Hz. Add a gentle background sound only when you want it, then adjust each layer separately to a comfortable level. Features - A base audio rhythm repeating at 0.8Hz - Three optional background sounds - Separate level controls for rhythm and background - Automatic stop after 1, 2, 4, or 8 hours - A one-time local wake-up alarm - Audio that continues with the screen off - Korean and English interfaces All audio is included in the app, so Slow Wave works without an account or network connection. Slow Wave does not measure sleep or diagnose or treat any medical condition.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Slow Wave at none against VO2 Max's 3. Slow Wave also leads on iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). VO2 Max's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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
Both are free to download. VO2 Max sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Slow Wave asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | VO2 Max | Slow Wave |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.8 (129 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 26.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 129 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 40 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Bernhard Hering | jisu an |
In-app purchases
VO2 Max
- Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
- Yearly Subscription$22.991 Year
- Lifetime Access$79.99
Slow Wave
No in-app purchases









