# Optimal HRV vs Paced Breathing

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Paced Breathing at 84% against Optimal HRV's 17%. Paced Breathing also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.0) and ratings volume (241 vs 24). Optimal HRV's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Optimal HRV sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Paced Breathing sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Paced Breathing holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Paced Breathing has 241 ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 17% of Optimal HRV's written reviews are positive against 84% of Paced Breathing's.

Optimal HRV ships an update fortnightly, Paced Breathing every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Optimal HRV | Paced Breathing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimal-hrv-biofeedback/id1501292206/reviews) | **[4.9 (241 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paced-breathing/id6447217781/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **241** |
| Positive reviews | 16.7% of reviews | **84.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 57 MB | 82 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Optimal, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1501292205) | [Paced Breathing LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1729092070) |

## What reviewers say

### Optimal HRV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optimal-hrv-biofeedback/id1501292206)

This app uses heart rate variability (HRV) and biofeedback to help you manage stress and improve your body's ability to calm down. It offers guided sessions, personalized breathing rhythms, and real-time feedback to train your nervous system for better stress resilience.

**Highlights:** Real-time HRV data and biofeedback, Personalized breathing rhythm identification, Guided mindfulness sessions, Daily check-ins and progress tracking, External sensor integration for accuracy, Multi-language support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 month | $9.99 | per month |
| 6 Month | $47.99 | per 6 months |
| One Year | $59.99 | per year |


### Paced Breathing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paced-breathing/id6447217781)

This app guides users through breathing exercises using visual, audio, and haptic cues. It helps with stress relief, meditation, lung strengthening, and falling asleep. Join thousands of users who find daily calm and improved well-being.

**Highlights:** Adjustable inhale, hold, exhale timing, Visual, audio, and haptic cues, Heart monitoring (heart rate, HRV, coherence), Ramp mode for gradual timing changes, Session tracking and streaks, Background playback

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PacedBreathing+ (1 month) | $1.99 | per month |
| PacedBreathing+ (1 month) | $3.99 | per month |
| PacedBreathing+ (1 year) | $9.99 | per year |
| PacedBreathing+ (1 year) | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Optimal HRV free?

Optimal HRV is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Paced Breathing free?

Paced Breathing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Optimal HRV or Paced Breathing?

Paced Breathing is rated higher. Optimal HRV averages 3.0 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Paced Breathing averages 4.9 from 241 ratings.

### Do Optimal HRV or Paced Breathing have ads?

Paced Breathing shows ads; Optimal HRV does not.

### Which is updated more often, Optimal HRV or Paced Breathing?

Optimal HRV ships an update fortnightly, and Paced Breathing every 2 weeks. Most recently, Optimal HRV was updated on November 3, 2026 and Paced Breathing on November 3, 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.*