Expand vs Coherence
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Expand
Access profound states of expanded awareness with guided meditations and proprietary sound science. Explore topics like relaxation, joy, insight, and sleep to foster meaning, relieve stress, and release unwanted patterns. Discover inner wisdom and joy through active imagination and perception.
- 100+ guided meditations
- Monroe Sound Science audio technology
- Multi-day mini-courses
- Guided reflection and journaling
- Custom-generated soundscapes
- Focus on active imagination and perception
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From the world-renowned Monroe Institute, Expand helps you access deeper states of awareness to reduce stress, improve sleep, and cultivate greater meaning, clarity, and purpose. Powered by Monroe Sound Science, our proprietary audio technology, Expand uses targeted soundwave patterns to support unique states of consciousness and focused inner exploration. Through guided sessions, courses, and immersive sound experiences, you can uncover insight, release unwanted patterns, and reconnect with your inner wisdom. Inside Expand, you’ll find: • 100+ guided meditations and consciousness-expanding exercises • Multi-day mini-courses and structured practice paths • Guided reflection and journaling tools • Custom-generated soundscapes designed for specific brainwave states • Programs for both beginners and experienced practitioners Explore sessions across topics including: • Relaxation & Healing • Joy & Meaning • Insight & Intuition • Sleep & Dreaming • Healthy Relationships • Creativity & Manifestation • Beyond the Physical Unlike typical meditation apps focused only on clearing the mind, Expand encourages active imagination, perception, and intentional practice to help you achieve specific outcomes. About The Monroe Institute The Monroe Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a global leader in the study and practice of expanded consciousness. Founded in the early 1970s as a research and educational organization, Monroe offers transformative learning through the Expand app, virtual programs, and in-person retreats on its 300-acre Virginia campus and in countries worldwide. Subscription Pricing and Terms Expand offers auto-renewing subscription options: • $69.99/year • $11.99/month Payment is charged to your App Store account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged within 24 hours prior to renewal. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Terms of Service: https://info.monroeinstitute.org/expand-app-terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://info.monroeinstitute.org/expand-app-privacy-policy
Coherence
Master your nervous system through guided breathwork. Access over 500 breathing patterns to shift your state, from calm and focus to energy and sleep. Connect with a global community in live sessions and create custom routines.
- Nervous system interface via breath
- Shift states: calm, focus, energy, sleep
- Daily global live breathing sessions
- 500+ research-backed breathing patterns
- Custom breathing sequence creator
- Progress tracking and stats
- Community features and leaderboards
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YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM, ON DEMAND Coherence is a nervous system interface. Using the science of breath, shift into calm, focus, or energy in minutes. Your breath is the only autonomic function you can consciously control - a direct line to your nervous system. Coherence gives you the patterns to use it. SHIFT YOUR STATE - Calm: Activate your parasympathetic system to release stress - Focus: Enter alert relaxation for deep work - Energy: Stimulate your system for peak performance - Sleep: Downregulate for faster, deeper rest BREATHE WITH THE WORLD Join the Daily Sync - a live global session where people worldwide breathe together in perfect unison. Watch participants appear around a real-time 3D Earth. Set an intention. Experience collective coherence. 500+ BREATHING PATTERNS Techniques selected from peer-reviewed research and proven traditions: - Coherence: Heart-brain synchronization (5.5s rhythm) - Box Breath: Used by Navy SEALs for composure under pressure - 4-7-8: Vagal activation for rapid calm - Physiological Sigh: The fastest way to reduce stress - Vortex: Fibonacci-based energizing sequence - Tummo: Traditional Tibetan inner heat practice - Sleep, Focus, Energy patterns and more CREATE YOUR OWN Build custom breathing sequences with our visual editor. Set phase durations, add music from Spotify or Apple Music, record your own voice guidance, and share with the community. TRACK YOUR REGULATION - Streaks and daily practice stats - Session history and insights - Weekly progress visualization - Level progression system COMPETE & CONNECT - Weekly leagues with promotion and demotion - Global leaderboards - User profiles and friends - Invite others to sync sessions DESIGNED FOR FOCUS - Minimalist dark interface - Zen mode fades the UI so nothing distracts you - Beautiful animations guide your breath - Sonic cues keep you on rhythm - Works with screen off - Works in airplane mode SUBSCRIPTION All features require an active subscription: - Monthly: $9.99/month - Annual: $39.99/year (3-day free trial) - Cancel anytime in App Store settings Take control of your nervous system. Terms of Use: https://www.coherencebreath.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.coherencebreath.com/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Coherence at 4.8 against Expand's 4.0. Coherence also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 50%) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Expand sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month and Coherence sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Coherence holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 301 and 652 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Expand's written reviews are positive against 86% of Coherence's.
Expand ships an update monthly, Coherence every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Expand | Coherence |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (301 ratings) | 4.8 (652 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 49.7% of reviews | 85.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 301 | 652 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Subscription |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.1 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 67 MB | 225 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | THE MONROE INSTITUTE | John Sweeney |
Customer experience
Expand
Coherence
User reviews
Expand
From 301 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Powerful meditation tool
- 👍 Lovely and helpful
- 👍 Great way to practice
- 👍 Transformative
- 👍 First class app
Room to improve
- 💰 Money maker
- 🔒 How do you get a premium subscription?
- 🐛 Cuts off sometimes?
- 🔍 Where's the guidance?
- 🐛 Annoyed
Coherence
From 652 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Excellent accessibility and interface
- 🚀 Great integration into daily routine
- 👍 Amazing experience and awesome sequences
- 👍 Breathwork is one of the best things for health
- 👍 Helps cut down on vices, boost vibes, and be a smooth operator
Bugs and requests
Expand
Reported bugs
4 issues- Paid but no play
- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
- Sound shuts off when the iphone goes to sleep
Requested features
4 requests- Longer guided meditations
- What's new section for meditations
- Ability to turn off background music
- Monthly charge option
Coherence
No bugs or feature requests surfaced in reviews.
In-app purchases
Expand
- Expand Plus Monthly$11.991 Month
- Expand Plus Yearly$69.991 Year
Coherence
- Coherence Monthly Membership$14.991 Month
- Coherence Membership3 Days trial$69.991 Year
- Coherence Friend Pass14 Days trial$69.991 Year
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- Coherence Membership$69.991 Year
- Coherence Membership1 Month trial$69.991 Year
- Coherence3 Months trial$69.991 Year







