DS Heart Rate vs Heartthrum
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
DS Heart Rate
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Estimate your pulse with the iPhone camera in about 16 seconds, then follow clear, private heart-rate and BPM trends. DS Heart Rate is a general wellness and fitness tracker. Rest a fingertip over the rear camera and flash; the app analyzes subtle color changes on device and produces an estimated BPM. No account, external sensor, ads, or analytics are required. FREE TO START. LIFETIME PRO. β’ Your first 5 real measurements are free, followed by 1 free measurement every day β’ A one-time Lifetime Pro purchase unlocks unlimited measurements, month/year trends, Apple Health writing, daily reminders, and supported on-device insights β’ No subscription or ads; all saved readings and CSV export always remain available FAST CAMERA ESTIMATES β’ Live signal-quality guidance helps you cover the camera and flash correctly β’ A stable estimate appears after about 16 seconds of usable signal β’ Add context such as resting, before exercise, after exercise, stress, or bedtime UNDERSTAND PERSONAL TRENDS β’ Today overview, latest reading, 7-day average, and measurement streak β’ Weekly trends are free; Lifetime Pro adds month and year charts β’ Add notes, view every saved reading, and export CSV at any time PRIVATE BY DESIGN β’ Camera frames are processed only in memory; no photos or video are saved β’ Readings stay on device and are excluded from this app's iCloud backup β’ No account, advertising, analytics, or developer-operated server β’ Apple Health is optional: the app writes only estimates you choose to save and does not read existing Health data β’ Supported on-device insights use Apple's private model without sending readings to a developer server METHOD AND LIMITATIONS DS Heart Rate uses camera photoplethysmography (PPG) to estimate pulse timing and checks finger coverage and signal quality. Motion, cold fingers, pressure, skin perfusion, ambient light, flash heat, and camera hardware can affect results. IMPORTANT DS Heart Rate is not a medical device and has not been clinically validated against a regulated medical device. Results are for general wellness trends only. Do not use the app for diagnosis, treatment, emergencies, or to delay care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional if you have concerning symptoms or persistently unusual readings.
Heartthrum
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Heartthrum turns your iPhone into a simple pulse monitor. Place your fingertip on the back camera and see your heart rate in about 40 seconds. Completely free. No ads. No subscriptions. No in-app purchases. No account. Your data never leaves your device. MEASURE Place your finger on the camera and flash. Heartthrum reads the tiny color changes in your fingertip caused by your heartbeat and shows your pulse with a live waveform. TRACK YOUR WELL-BEING Save each measurement with an optional context (resting, after activity, morning, evening) and how you feel. Follow your trends by day, week, or month. BREATHE Relax with guided breathing at about six breaths per minute. Choose 1, 3, or 5 minutes. APPLE HEALTH If you want, Heartthrum can save your measured heart rate to Apple Health. This is off by default and fully under your control. PRIVACY FIRST Heartthrum collects no data at all. There are no trackers, no analytics, and no network connection. Everything stays on your iPhone. Important: Heartthrum is not a medical device. Measurements are for wellness and general well-being purposes only and do not replace professional medical advice.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Heartthrum at none against DS Heart Rate's 1. Heartthrum also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 85 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. DS Heart Rate sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Heartthrum asks for nothing beyond the download.
DS Heart Rate ships an update every 85 months, Heartthrum weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DS Heart Rate | Heartthrum |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 85 months | Weekly β better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No β better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 β better | 17.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 3 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | ζθΏͺ ζ | Dachverband Legasthenie Deutschland e.V. |
In-app purchases
DS Heart Rate
- Lifetime Pro$1.99
Heartthrum
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is DS Heart Rate free?
Is Heartthrum free?
Do DS Heart Rate or Heartthrum have ads?
Which is updated more often, DS Heart Rate or Heartthrum?
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