# Needs Bars vs Calm Space

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Needs Bars at none against Calm Space's 2. Needs Bars also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Calm Space sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Needs Bars asks for nothing beyond the download.

Needs Bars ships an update every 3 weeks, Calm Space every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Needs Bars | Calm Space |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/needs-bars/id1615760627/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 1 MB | 94 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Fergal Armstrong](https://appshunter.io/developer/1615760629) | [Anastasiia Gulenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1831103821) |

## What reviewers say

### Needs Bars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/needs-bars/id1615760627)

This app provides a visual cue for activities you need to do regularly but don't fit into traditional to-do lists or calendars. It acts like a 'hunger bar' for any habit, reminding you when too much time has passed without completing a task. Useful for self-care, staying connected, or practicing skills.

**Highlights:** Visual cue for regular tasks, Syncing between devices, Dark mode, Home and lock screen widgets, Customizable reminders for self-care

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Calm Space

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calm-space-take-a-break/id6749553028)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Needs Bars free?

Needs Bars is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Calm Space free?

Calm Space is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Needs Bars or Calm Space have ads?

Neither Needs Bars nor Calm Space shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Needs Bars or Calm Space?

Needs Bars ships an update every 3 weeks, and Calm Space every 5 months. Most recently, Needs Bars was updated on October 3, 2026 and Calm Space on October 11, 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.*