# Brainwave Studio vs Breath By Design

The clearest difference is price: Breath By Design at Free against Brainwave Studio's $3.99. Breath By Design also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 84%). Brainwave Studio's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Breath By Design is free to download; Brainwave Studio costs $3.99 up front. Breath By Design sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Brainwave Studio asks for nothing beyond the download.

Brainwave Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, Breath By Design every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainwave Studio | Breath By Design |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.5 (106 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwave-studio/id628372092/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **106** | — |
| Positive reviews | 84.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 376 MB | 92 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RCS LT](https://appshunter.io/developer/524673892) | [Kimberley Kraushar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1678225497) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainwave Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainwave-studio/id628372092)

This app offers a system for relaxation, stress relief, sleep support, meditation, and mind training. It utilizes isochronic tones integrated into ambient music and nature sounds to help users achieve desired mental states. Choose from 40 sessions across 5 categories to find calm and focus.

**Highlights:** 40 brainwave entrainment sessions, Isochronic tone technology, 60 ambient nature sounds, 48 atmospheric music tracks, Customizable sound mixes, Universal app for iOS devices

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎵 High-quality sounds and music variety
- 🧠 Effective brainwave entrainment technology
- 😴 Excellent for sleep and insomnia relief
- 🎚️ Customizable sound mixing and layering
- 🧘 Great for meditation and relaxation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes on newer iOS versions
- ❌ No longer actively maintained by developer
- 📱 Incompatible with iPhone 15 and iOS 16+
- 🔇 App shuts down frequently, requires reinstalls
- 📂 Missing content on newer devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup with iOS 16 and newer
- Content missing on iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Freezes after 30 seconds on newer devices
- App closes when other audio apps are opened
- Crashes when attempting to restore purchases

**Requested features**

- Background playback with phone screen off
- Ability to layer with personal music library
- Multitasking support with other audio apps
- Timer and alarm functionality
- Mac app version


### Breath By Design

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/breath-by-design/id6446514809)

Unlock your body's natural healing and self-regulation abilities through guided breathing exercises. This app offers practices for stress management, improved physical performance, and enhanced overall well-being. Learn to harness your breath for a more resilient and healthy life.

**Highlights:** Guided breathing practices, Stress and anxiety management, Improved physical performance, Enhanced digestion and sleep, Progress tracking, Offline sync

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| BBD Coaching Course | $14.00 | one-time |
| 10 Min AM Practices | $39.00 | one-time |
| 10 Minute AM Practices | $44.99 | one-time |
| 10 Minute PM Practices | $44.99 | one-time |
| Introductory Course | $44.99 | one-time |
| Body By Design | $45.00 | one-time |
| BreathWalk | $59.99 | one-time |
| BBD Movement Classes | $59.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainwave Studio free?

Brainwave Studio costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Breath By Design free?

Breath By Design is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Brainwave Studio or Breath By Design have ads?

Breath By Design shows ads; Brainwave Studio does not.

### Which is updated more often, Brainwave Studio or Breath By Design?

Brainwave Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, and Breath By Design every 2 months. Most recently, Brainwave Studio was updated on October 16, 2026 and Breath By Design on October 1, 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.*