# A Simple Pause vs IAJS Retreat

The clearest difference is update cadence: IAJS Retreat at every 9 days against A Simple Pause's monthly. A Simple Pause's advantage is ratings volume (21 vs 4). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for A Simple Pause against 5.0 for IAJS Retreat. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: A Simple Pause has 21 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

A Simple Pause ships an update monthly, IAJS Retreat every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | A Simple Pause | IAJS Retreat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-simple-pause/id1554173624/reviews) | [5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iajs-retreat/id6737352210/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **21** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 56 MB | 56 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Spiritual Formation Society of Arizona](https://appshunter.io/developer/1829769917) | [Boston College](https://appshunter.io/developer/457546789) |

## What reviewers say

### A Simple Pause

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/a-simple-pause/id1554173624)

Engage in short, guided spiritual practices for about five minutes to connect with God. Explore scripture, imagery, and silence to deepen your faith and relationship with the divine.

**Highlights:** Six guided spiritual practices, Lectio Divina scripture study, Imaginative prayer, Visio Divina image reflection, Audio Divina with sacred listening, Simple silence meditation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### IAJS Retreat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iajs-retreat/id6737352210)

This app offers a 12-week digital prayer experience based on the Spiritual Exercises. It guides users through reflection and weekly reviews to foster a deeper connection with God. It's suitable for faith communities and individuals seeking spiritual growth.

**Highlights:** 12-week digital prayer experience, Spiritual Exercises framework, Reflection questions and prompts, Weekly prayer review guidelines, Exploration of Christ's love, Suitable for groups and individuals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is A Simple Pause free?

A Simple Pause is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is IAJS Retreat free?

IAJS Retreat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, A Simple Pause or IAJS Retreat?

A Simple Pause and IAJS Retreat are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 21 and 4 ratings respectively.

### Do A Simple Pause or IAJS Retreat have ads?

Neither A Simple Pause nor IAJS Retreat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, A Simple Pause or IAJS Retreat?

A Simple Pause ships an update monthly, and IAJS Retreat every 9 days. Most recently, A Simple Pause was updated on November 3, 2026 and IAJS Retreat on November 4, 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.*