Breathe2Relax vs Coping Coach by VA
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Breathe2Relax
Learn diaphragmatic breathing for stress management. This app offers detailed information on stress's effects and guided exercises to improve mood, control anger, and manage anxiety. It integrates with Apple Watch to track heart rate during sessions.
- Stress management information
- Diaphragmatic breathing exercises
- Mood stabilization
- Anger control
- Anxiety management
- Heart rate tracking with Apple Watch
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Breathe2Relax is a portable stress management tool which provides detailed information on the effects of stress on the body and instructions and practice exercises to help users learn the stress management skill called diaphragmatic breathing.Breathing exercises have been documented to decrease the body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ (stress) response, and help with mood stabilization, anger control, and anxiety management. Breathe2Relax can be used as a stand-alone stress reduction tool, or can be used in tandem with clinical care directed by a healthcare worker. Breathe2Relax now uses HealthKit and your Apple Watch device to measure your heart rate throughout your breathing exercise to help provide an even more complete picture of the relaxation experienced.
Coping Coach by VA
This app offers tools and resources to help users build resilience, manage stress, and improve well-being during challenging times. It provides customized support for coping, staying healthy, and navigating life changes like parenting or working from home. Users can track their mood and access additional help.
- Build resilience
- Manage stress
- Increase well-being
- Coping resources
- Mood tracking
- Progress visualization
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Life can be overwhelming, and we all face moments of stress, uncertainty, and change. Coping Coach is designed to help you build resilience, manage stress, and increase your well-being whenever you need it most. The app is free, secure, and connects you to important resources for coping and adapting through life's challenges. Customized tools are available to help you cope with stress, stay well, and stay connected whether you're navigating daily pressures, caregiving responsibilities, or major life transitions. You can track your mood, visualize your progress, and find resources to seek additional help and support. No account or password is required and user data is not collected. Coping Coach was made by the mobile mental health team of the National Center for PTSD, Dissemination & Training Division.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Coping Coach by VA at 4.8 against Breathe2Relax's 4.2. Coping Coach by VA also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 24 months) and review sentiment (88% vs 78%). On price, ads, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Coping Coach by VA holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 317 and 1.5K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Breathe2Relax's written reviews are positive against 88% of Coping Coach by VA's.
Breathe2Relax ships an update every 24 months, Coping Coach by VA every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Breathe2Relax | Coping Coach by VA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (317 ratings) | 4.8 (1.5K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 77.9% of reviews | 87.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 317 | 1.5K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | Every 2 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 117 MB | 197 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Defense Health Agency | US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) |
Customer experience
Breathe2Relax
Coping Coach by VA
User reviews
Breathe2Relax
From 317 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🌟 Excellent for stress and anxiety relief
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🧘♀️ Helps with breathing and relaxation
- 🤩 Calming and soothing experience
- 💤 Useful for sleep and sleep issues
Room to improve
- 🐛 Connectivity issues, unable to stream videos
- 🔇 Lack of audio/sound options
- ⏱️ Limited breathing cycle duration
- 📱 Compatibility issues with older devices
- 🤖 Monotonous voice instructions
Coping Coach by VA
From 1.5K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🛟 Helpful for mental health
- 💯 Effective coping strategies
- 🆓 Free and ad-free
- 🎯 Tracks progress well
Room to improve
- 🤖 Not compatible with iPhone
- 🌐 Limited offline functionality
Bugs and requests
Breathe2Relax
Reported bugs
3 issues- Videos not playing due to connectivity issues
- App crashing or freezing on some devices
- Inability to connect to Apple Watch
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to set custom breathing cycle duration
- More background music/nature sound options
- Different voice options for guidance
- Integration with Apple Watch/fitness tracking
- Longer breathing sessions beyond 16 cycles
Coping Coach by VA
Reported bugs
1 issue- Login issues on some devices
Requested features
2 requests- COVID-19 screening feature
- More customization options
In-app purchases
Breathe2Relax
No in-app purchases
Coping Coach by VA
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Breathe2Relax free?
Is Coping Coach by VA free?
Which has better reviews, Breathe2Relax or Coping Coach by VA?
Do Breathe2Relax or Coping Coach by VA have ads?
Which is updated more often, Breathe2Relax or Coping Coach by VA?
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