Comparison

State vs Virtusan

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

Head to head
About

State

This app offers guided breathing exercises designed to help you manage stress, improve focus, and enhance overall well-being. It personalizes exercises based on your needs and adapts over time, utilizing neuroscientific principles for effective self-regulation.

Highlights
  • Customizable breathing exercises
  • Visual and auditory guidance
  • Adaptive algorithm
  • Progress tracking
  • Neuroscience-based methods
  • State-shifting exercises
Read full description

Accomplish More. Stress Less. Intuitive breathing exercises to shift your state in record time. State creates custom exercises based on your stress response and continues to evolve dynamically with use. When you change your breath, you can alter not just your state of mind, but your physical and emotional health as well. FEATURES Six exercises designed to create specific, desired physiological states: Feel calm, Feel alert, Be present, Wake up, Recover quickly, Fall asleep. - Breathing exercises supported by visuals and sound to let you focus/defocus efficiently - “Fingerprinting” that primes the exercises to your physical and emotional needs from the first time you use the app - The State algorithm keeps adapting and evolving the exercises the more you use the app - Track progress with key metrics - Helpful reminders to keep you in the state you want - Method based on the latest neuroscientific findings - Created by world-renowned strength and conditioning coach Brian Mackenzie SUBSCRIPTION AND PRICING State offers a subscription with a two weeks free trial. After the two weeks free trial this subscription automatically renews for $3.99 monthly or $34.99 yearly unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the trial period. These prices are for United States customers. Pricing in other countries may vary and actual charges may be converted to your local currency depending on the country of residence. Payment will be charged at subscription automatic renewal. Your subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription. Read more about our terms and conditions and privacy policy here: https://shiftstate.io/terms

About

Virtusan

This app offers science-backed digital tools to improve sleep, manage stress, enhance physical health, and boost cognitive performance. It features guided protocols, meditations, and educational content curated by experts to help users build healthier habits and track their progress.

Highlights
  • Sleep protocols (e.g., Body Scan, NSDR)
  • Stress and anxiety reduction meditations
  • Breathing protocols (e.g., Physiological Sigh)
  • Cognitive enhancement tools (e.g., 40 Hz)
  • Daily hydration tracking
  • Science-backed educational content (200+ pieces)
  • Progress tracking and customizable routines
Features
Read full description

Slept badly? You get NSDR or a body scan. Carrying stress? A physiological sigh. Recovered well? Resistance training. Same app, different answer, every morning — because it reads your night before it decides. WHAT IS IN THE APP REST & SLEEP • NSDR (Non-Sleep Deep Rest) — enter deep relaxation in 10 minutes • Body Scan — relax, let go, and drift off into sleep • Morning Sunlight Viewing — collect sunlight, sleep better at night • Deep Rest Meditation — set worries aside for the night • Caffeine Cutoff — set an earlier caffeine cutoff for better sleep • Warm-Up Wind-Down — build a steady rhythm for better sleep FOCUS • 40 Hz Binaural Beats — listen in to help you focus better • Physiological Sigh — push back on stress when it hits • Cyclic Hyperventilation — get alert in 25 quick breaths MOVEMENT • Functional Fitness — exercises that mimic daily activities • Cardiovascular Training — exercise to make you sweat and burn calories • Resistance Training — build strength, boost endurance, sculpt your body • Compound Exercises — exercises to help you build strength MEDITATION & MINDFULNESS • Mindfulness Meditation — cultivate greater calm, clarity and joy • Morning Meditation — set the tone for a productive day • Loving Kindness Meditation — feel safe and at peace • Self-Compassion Meditation — stay inspired and motivated • Intention, Attention, Attitude — Dr. Shauna Shapiro's three-part framework for change that lasts DAILY RITUALS • Daily Hydration — are you drinking enough every day? THE VIRTUSAN RING (OPTIONAL) Lightweight, no screen, nothing to swipe. Heart rate, HRV, blood oxygen and steps. Check your heart rate on demand any time. You do not need it to start. BIOAGE AND DAILY BLOOM BioAge is a daily read on how your body is ageing, from sleep, HRV, heart rate, stress and activity. Daily Bloom shows where your body is right now in one view — and the protocol that follows from it. THE LIBRARY 200+ sessions from Dr. Andrew Huberman, Dr. Shauna Shapiro, Dr. David Sinclair and Dr. Michael Reid on sleep, stress, focus, recovery and healthy ageing. WHO IT IS FOR People who are tired of tracking. If you check your numbers every morning and still do not know what to do differently, this was built for you. No athletic background assumed. SUBSCRIPTION Free to download. Premium unlocks every protocol. Virtusan is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. It is for general wellness and fitness purposes only. BioAge, Daily Bloom and all scores are wellness estimates, not clinical measurements. Terms of use: https://virtusan.com/inapp-view/terms-and-conditions EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

State4 screens
Virtusan4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Virtusan at 4.7 against State's 3.9. Virtusan also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (every 8 days vs every 8 months). State's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 37%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. State sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Virtusan sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $12.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Virtusan holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 129 and 505 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of State's written reviews are positive against 37% of Virtusan's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

State ships an update every 8 months, Virtusan every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
State versus Virtusan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStateVirtusan
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (129 ratings)4.7 (505 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better37.3% of reviews
Number of ratings129505 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB94 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMy StateVirtusan AG

Customer experience

State

All ratings129 ratings
Positive67.4%
Neutral7.0%
Negative25.6%
Written reviews96 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral11.5%
Negative38.5%

Virtusan

All ratings505 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral1.0%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews83 reviews
Positive37.3%
Neutral10.8%
Negative51.8%

User reviews

State

From 129 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple, intuitive, and clean interface design
  • 🎯 Effective breathing exercises for anxiety and stress management
  • 🔄 Adaptive algorithm that adjusts difficulty based on user improvement
  • ⚡ Quick, short exercises easy to incorporate into daily routine
  • 🎨 Beautiful visuals and immersive audio cues

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription pricing ($30-35/year) compared to competitors
  • 🐛 Audio/sound glitches and synchronization issues
  • 🐛 Subscription recognition failures after payment
  • 🐛 App crashes and requires frequent restarts
  • ⚠️ Limited content (only 6 core breathing exercises)

Virtusan

From 505 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Helps regulate nervous system
  • 👍 Accessible and useful app
  • 🚀 Improves sleep quality
  • 👍 Personalized routines
  • 👍 Provides science-based content

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Constant glitches and bugs
  • 🔒 Content locked behind paywall
  • 🔒 Removed features after update
  • 🐛 Laggy and intermittent exercises
  • 🐛 Crashes and logging out issues

Bugs and requests

State

Reported bugs

14 issues
  • Audio/metronome randomly stops or becomes out of sync with visuals
  • Sound doesn't work without app restart
  • Subscription payment processed but app doesn't recognize access
  • Difficulty adjustment buttons (easier/harder) don't change exercise timing
  • Algorithm doesn't properly adjust exercises based on max exhale test
Show 9 more
  • Free trial not accessible after skipping initial onboarding
  • Date of birth picker won't accept current date or future dates
  • Tips screen text doesn't fit on smaller devices (iPhone SE)
  • Day counter stops tracking at 397 days
  • Password reset emails not received
  • Subscription features not unlocking despite payment confirmation
  • App freezes on payment confirmation screen
  • Sound countdown rhythm changed and now confusing to users
  • Transition sounds between breathing phases unclear

Requested features

10 requests
  • Customizable exercise duration (10-20 minute sessions)
  • Apple Watch compatibility
  • HealthKit/Health app integration for mindful minutes tracking
  • Landscape mode support for iPad
  • Custom breathing pattern creation
Show 5 more
  • Haptic feedback option for silent use
  • Sound effect options/preferences
  • In-app feature request submission tool
  • Apple Health data export
  • Longer meditation sessions for advanced users

Virtusan

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • NSDR recordings no longer available
  • Light exposure tracking not working
  • Editing error in NSDR session
  • Journeys and routines not logging properly

Requested features

5 requests
  • More cardio workouts
  • Better instructions for exercises
  • Ability to backup and restore progress
  • More unique content beyond meditations
  • Improved organization and navigation

In-app purchases

2 purchases

State

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Protocols (Monthly)14 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Premium Protocols (Annual)14 Days trial$34.991 Year
5 purchases

Virtusan

Subscriptions5
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$12.491 Month
  • Student Monthly$12.991 Month
  • Student Yearly$59.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Premium Yearly7 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Premium Yearly1 Year trial$69.991 Year

Questions

Is State free?
State is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Virtusan free?
Virtusan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, State or Virtusan?
Virtusan is rated higher. State averages 3.9 out of 5 from 129 ratings, while Virtusan averages 4.7 from 505 ratings.
Do State or Virtusan have ads?
Neither State nor Virtusan shows ads.
Which is updated more often, State or Virtusan?
State ships an update every 8 months, and Virtusan every 8 days. Most recently, State was updated on September 16, 2026 and Virtusan on September 19, 2026.

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