# Zone 2 vs Zone 2 Buddy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Zone 2 Buddy at none against Zone 2's 2. Zone 2's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Zone 2 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Zone 2 Buddy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Zone 2 ships an update weekly, Zone 2 Buddy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zone 2 | Zone 2 Buddy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (244 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zone-2-heart-rate-training/id6444690892/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **244** | — |
| Positive reviews | 74.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 15 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shannon Bolick](https://appshunter.io/developer/976434392) | [Quiver Beacon LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1437574217) |

## What reviewers say

### Zone 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zone-2-heart-rate-training/id6444690892)

This app tracks your weekly workout time spent in Zone 2 heart rate, optimizing endurance and fat-burning. It connects with various Bluetooth heart rate monitors and Apple Watch for live feedback and integrates with existing workout data.

**Highlights:** Weekly, monthly, daily zone tracking, Strava connectivity, Home and Lock Screen widgets, Bluetooth HR monitor compatibility, Apple Watch app with live tracking, Heart rate zone calculator, Live activities on Dynamic Island/Lock Screen

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Unlock All - Yearly | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive user interface
- ⏱️ Accurate real-time zone tracking during workouts
- 📊 Comprehensive cumulative time tracking by zone
- 🎯 Customizable heart rate zones and weekly goals
- 🔗 Seamless integration with Apple Health and HR monitors

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent Bluetooth disconnections from HR monitors
- 🐛 App crashes and freezes mid-workout
- 🐛 Tracking stops randomly during workouts
- 📵 Portrait-only orientation (doesn't support landscape properly)
- 💳 Pricing confusion and unexpected charges

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 16 with latest iOS
- Watch disconnects constantly during workouts
- Tracking stops mid-workout without saving data
- Bluetooth connectivity issues with Polar and other HR monitors
- App freezes at various points during exercise

**Requested features**

- Calorie burn tracking and display
- Landscape orientation support for treadmills and rowers
- More specific workout categories beyond provided options
- Music control integration (play, pause, skip)
- Step tracking during workouts


### Zone 2 Buddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zone-2-buddy/id6581480369)

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zone 2 free?

Zone 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Zone 2 Buddy free?

Zone 2 Buddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Zone 2 or Zone 2 Buddy have ads?

Neither Zone 2 nor Zone 2 Buddy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Zone 2 or Zone 2 Buddy?

Zone 2 ships an update weekly, and Zone 2 Buddy every 2 months. Most recently, Zone 2 was updated on November 7, 2026 and Zone 2 Buddy on October 5, 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.*