# SimpleHR vs Beat Watcher

The clearest difference is price: Beat Watcher at Free against SimpleHR's $0.99. Beat Watcher also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 43%) and rating (4.5 vs 3.8). SimpleHR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Beat Watcher is free to download; SimpleHR costs $0.99 up front. Beat Watcher sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $24.00 per year. SimpleHR asks for nothing beyond the download.

Beat Watcher holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Beat Watcher has 87 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of SimpleHR's written reviews are positive against 86% of Beat Watcher's.

SimpleHR ships an update every 4 months, Beat Watcher weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SimpleHR | Beat Watcher |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.8 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplehr/id1423380197/reviews) | **[4.5 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beat-watcher-heart-rate-alert/id1546373421/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **87** |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **86.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Size | 1 MB | 47 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.2** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Aaron Sullivan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1590674637) | [Ganotis Holdings, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/939480375) |

## What reviewers say

### SimpleHR

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simplehr/id1423380197)

Displays your current heart rate in large, easy-to-read text on your Apple Watch. Integrates with Apple HealthKit to provide real-time heart rate data, ideal for activities like running or cycling. Customize target zones and activity settings via the companion iPhone app.

**Highlights:** Large heart rate display, Apple HealthKit integration, Customizable heart rate zones, Activity and location settings, Companion iPhone app

**In-app purchases:** none


### Beat Watcher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beat-watcher-heart-rate-alert/id1546373421)

This app monitors your heart rate and alerts you with sound and vibration when it goes above or below custom thresholds. It integrates with the Health app and offers background monitoring for continuous tracking, useful for stress management, breathing exercises, and conditions like POTS.

**Highlights:** Customizable heart rate thresholds, Audible and haptic alerts, Background monitoring, POTS and ME/CFS symptom tracking, Integration with Health app, Bluetooth chest strap support

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual Access | $24.00 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $50.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SimpleHR free?

SimpleHR costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Beat Watcher free?

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

### Which has better reviews, SimpleHR or Beat Watcher?

Beat Watcher is rated higher. SimpleHR averages 3.8 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Beat Watcher averages 4.5 from 87 ratings.

### Do SimpleHR or Beat Watcher have ads?

Neither SimpleHR nor Beat Watcher shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SimpleHR or Beat Watcher?

SimpleHR ships an update every 4 months, and Beat Watcher weekly. Most recently, SimpleHR was updated on October 21, 2026 and Beat Watcher on October 29, 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.*