# Brainwave Studio vs Refocus

The clearest difference is price: Refocus at Free against Brainwave Studio's $3.99. Brainwave Studio's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown).

Refocus is free to download; Brainwave Studio costs $3.99 up front. Refocus sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Brainwave Studio asks for nothing beyond the download.

Brainwave Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, Refocus every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainwave Studio | Refocus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 376 MB | 88 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RCS LT](https://appshunter.io/developer/524673892) | [Hue Thai Thi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1754271479) |

## 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- ❌ No longer actively maintained by developer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


### Refocus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refocus-calm-journeys/id6757002744)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Offer | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Access | $29.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $39.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainwave Studio free?

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

### Is Refocus free?

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

### Do Brainwave Studio or Refocus have ads?

Refocus shows ads; Brainwave Studio does not.

### Which is updated more often, Brainwave Studio or Refocus?

Brainwave Studio ships an update every 5 weeks, and Refocus every 5 months. Most recently, Brainwave Studio was updated on October 12, 2026 and Refocus on September 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*