Comparison

Breathe Flow vs SONA VNS

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

Head to head
About

Breathe Flow

This app analyzes your breathing and heart rate using smartwatch ECG data to provide insights into your health. It offers guidance on improving breathing, reducing stress, and understanding how lifestyle factors impact your well-being. The app also introduces data ownership through VAGUS tokens.

Highlights
  • 30-second ECG test for breathing analysis
  • Personalized advice for breathing and stress reduction
  • Smartwatch data ownership with VAGUS tokens
  • VAGUS® ideal breathing curve guidance
  • Analysis of food, drink, and sleep impact on health
  • HRV & Breathing Sync Analytics subscription
Read full description

WHY BREATHE FLOW? • Learn more about your breathing and health with a 30-second ECG test. • The app will give you advice on how to improve breathing, reduce stress and gain a better understanding of how food, drink or sleep is influencing your cardiac/respiratory health. • Receive real ownership of your smartwatch data. • It is free – do as many tests as you want. This is the first ever app to show the breathing-induced flow and the breathing induced pulse variation (HRV) - generated from your smartwatch ECG signal. The test lasts only 30 seconds. Breathe Flow is not a usual breathing advisory app. It shows your real breathing and it teaches you how to do controlled breathing with the 'VAGUS® ideal breathing curve'. **** With this app we also launch the VAGUS® wallet and ownership tokens, which enable data ownership and rewards for the data. *** ON WHICH WATCH CAN I DO BREATHE FLOW TEST? Your smartwatch must have an ECG sensor. These are included in Apple Watch Series 4 and newer (not version SE), Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and newer versions, Withings ECG watches **** INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR 1ST TEST: • Apple Watch: Firstly open the Breathe Flow app and keep it live on your phone. Open 'Choose your device' page and connect with Apple Health, please allow Breathe Flow app access to all listed data. Then open Apple's ECG recording app on Apple Watch and follow its instructions for a good signal. • Withings ECG Watches: Open the Withings "Health Mate" app on the phone. Keep BREATHE FLOW live. Record according to Withings instructions. VAGUS® TEST: • Follow the instructions how to do the ECG recording. Start by inhaling calmly for 5 seconds, then exhale for 5 seconds. Continue this breathing pattern for 30 seconds (3 cycles of controlled breathing). • ECG quality improves when you sit by a table. Hold your hands and elbows on the table. Let your breathing and pulse calm down before doing the test. Follow the smartwatch instructions and test again if the ECG recording is bad. • Swipe down on the Breathe Flow home screen to activate download and analysis. • Wait for about 10 seconds until analysis appears on the Breathe Flow app. Swipe down again to update the Breathe Flow screen. (Time delay is depending on network speed) • Answer the Q&A in English to receive a summary analysis and unlock Breathe Pulse. • We recommend doing at least three BREATHE FLOW tests daily to learn how your actions impact your health and to collect high quality data for your V-NFT. **** DATA OWNERSHIP with VAGUS TOKENS. VAGUS® non fungible tokens (V-NFT) are standardized ring-fenced and anonymized data packages, each consisting of 10 unique days of VAGUS® tests, your Q&A text, other data from your smartwatch, and data generated by VAGUS® analytics. We will automatically register a non-blockchained V-NFT when you have done at least 10 days of testing. You find your ownership- and reward tokens in the VAGUS® Wallet. **** WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT THE VAGUS® ANALYTICS: This is one of the most cutting-edge ways I've ever seen to know how your nervous system is really doing – far more promise than even Heart Rate Variability, which was the gold standard. – Dave Asprey, 'Father of biohacking', Founder of Bulletproof **** MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: The BREATHE FLOW app, its test and the analysis data or advice are not medical diagnostics tools and they should not be used as such. **** For more information visit: www.vagus.co. We strongly recommend reading our blogs and follow the vlogs for further information. If you want to track historical data and get more analytics information from the test; subscribe to the Vagus Nerve Explorer feature through the app's settings

About

SONA VNS

This app guides you through personalized sessions using a wearable earpiece for non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation. Enhance relaxation, sleep, and cognitive function with audio, breathing exercises, and adaptive stimulation. Track your progress and integrate with other wellness devices.

Highlights
  • Personalized journey sessions
  • Daily taVNS for stress recovery
  • Multi-sensory wellness experience
  • Performance analytics (HR, HRV)
  • Progress tracking and streaks
  • Integration with wearable devices
Features
Read full description

Unlock your potential with SONA, the companion app for personalized, non-invasive transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) using the SONA consumer wellness earpiece. Engage in carefully designed journey sessions to support relaxation, improve sleep, and enhance cognitive performance. Each session combines guided audio, breathing exercises, and adaptive taVNS stimulation for a complete wellness experience. Track your progress with detailed analytics, monitor trends in your Heart rate and Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and maintain daily session streaks. For deeper insights, SONA integrates seamlessly with popular wearable devices such as Whoop and Oura. (SONA is not a medical device and is not intended for diagnosing, treating, mitigating, preventing, or curing any disease or medical condition). Key features: * Personalized Journey Sessions: Structured programs designed to address specific user needs. * Daily taVNS: Quick, regular sessions for ongoing stress recovery, improving sleep and cognitive maintenance. * Multi-Sensory Experience: Sessions feature guided audio, breathing instructions, and concurrent taVNS stimulation. * Performance Analytics: View detailed metrics on heart rate, heart rate variability, breathing rate, and other key stats. * Progress Tracking: Track your usage and progress, and unlock advanced features with session completion.

Screenshots

Breathe Flow4 screens
SONA VNS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Breathe Flow at 75% against SONA VNS's 0%. Breathe Flow also leads on rating (3.8 vs 1.5). SONA VNS's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Breathe Flow sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. SONA VNS asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Breathe Flow holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Breathe Flow's written reviews are positive against 0% of SONA VNS's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Breathe Flow ships an update every 3 weeks, SONA VNS every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Breathe Flow versus SONA VNS: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBreathe FlowSONA VNS
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (4 ratings) — better1.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.1 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB133 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperVagus Health LtdMindspire Limited

Customer experience

Breathe Flow

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

SONA VNS

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Breathe Flow

Subscriptions1
  • HRV & Breathing Sync Analytics3 Days trial$4.491 Month
One-time1
  • V-NFT add on$0.99
None

SONA VNS

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Breathe Flow free?
Breathe Flow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SONA VNS free?
SONA VNS is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Breathe Flow or SONA VNS?
Breathe Flow is rated higher. Breathe Flow averages 3.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while SONA VNS averages 1.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Breathe Flow or SONA VNS have ads?
Neither Breathe Flow nor SONA VNS shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Breathe Flow or SONA VNS?
Breathe Flow ships an update every 3 weeks, and SONA VNS every 2 weeks. Most recently, Breathe Flow was updated on November 3, 2026 and SONA VNS on November 5, 2026.

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