# Astral Dreams vs Mandala

The clearest difference is price: Mandala at Free against Astral Dreams's $4.99. Mandala also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). Astral Dreams's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 16.0). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Mandala is free to download; Astral Dreams costs $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Astral Dreams ships an update every 5 months, Mandala every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Astral Dreams | Mandala |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.2 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astral-dreams/id352196637/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **23** | — |
| Positive reviews | 88.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Size | 55 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brian Zeleniak](https://appshunter.io/developer/345848084) | [Chen-Hai Teng](https://appshunter.io/developer/1720135301) |

## What reviewers say

### Astral Dreams

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/astral-dreams/id352196637)

This app utilizes advanced TBSW technology to guide users into astral projection and lucid dreaming states. It offers specialized frequency sets, including Shamanic and sleep-inducing tones, to help achieve altered states of consciousness. Users can customize their experience with various background sounds and session timers.

**Highlights:** Astral Projection frequency sets, Lucid Dreaming frequency sets, Shamanic frequencies, Sleep frequency sets, TBSW presets, Background sound options, Selectable session times

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 😴 Effective for sleep and relaxation
- 🎯 Helps induce lucid dreams successfully
- 🌊 High-quality background sound options
- ⏱️ Useful timer functionality
- 👍 User-friendly and easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 Background sound loops are too short and noticeable
- ⏹️ Abrupt ending when timer stops (jarring)
- 🎵 Inconsistent binaural beat quality at loop points
- ⏸️ Stops playing when device is locked (older versions)
- 🎚️ Volume controls don't work properly

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iOS 5
- Won't install on iPod with latest software
- Set Level dial and volume slider don't function
- Stops playing when device is locked
- Inconsistent binaural beat at loop points

**Requested features**

- Gradual fade-out when timer ends
- Longer background sound loops or seamless looping
- More background sound options
- Preset saving functionality for custom combinations
- 15-minute timer increments for short naps


### Mandala

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mandala-visualizing/id6473900723)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Astral Dreams free?

Astral Dreams costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mandala free?

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

### Do Astral Dreams or Mandala have ads?

Neither Astral Dreams nor Mandala shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Astral Dreams or Mandala?

Astral Dreams ships an update every 5 months, and Mandala every 3 weeks. Most recently, Astral Dreams was updated on October 26, 2026 and Mandala on October 20, 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.*