# Zone 2 vs PulsePacer

The clearest difference is update cadence: Zone 2 at weekly against PulsePacer's every 2 months. Zone 2 also leads on ratings volume (243 vs 2). PulsePacer's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 74%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Zone 2 sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and PulsePacer sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PulsePacer holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zone 2 has 243 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Zone 2's written reviews are positive against 100% of PulsePacer's.

Zone 2 ships an update weekly, PulsePacer every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Zone 2 | PulsePacer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (243 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zone-2-heart-rate-training/id6444690892/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsepacer/id6737455301/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **243** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 74.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 15 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Shannon Bolick](https://appshunter.io/developer/976434392) | [Andreas Scherman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1557514574) |

## 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


### PulsePacer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pulsepacer/id6737455301)

This running companion helps you stay in your target heart rate zones during workouts. It connects to Bluetooth heart rate monitors and provides audio cues when you drift out of zone, keeping you focused on your pace without distractions.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth heart rate monitor integration, Audio cues for heart rate zones, Focus on pace and rhythm, Simple setup process, On-device data processing, Privacy-focused design

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PulsePacer Premium | $9.99 | per year |
| PulsePacer Plus | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Zone 2 free?

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

### Is PulsePacer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Zone 2 or PulsePacer?

PulsePacer is rated higher. Zone 2 averages 4.6 out of 5 from 243 ratings, while PulsePacer averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Zone 2 or PulsePacer have ads?

Neither Zone 2 nor PulsePacer shows ads.

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

Zone 2 ships an update weekly, and PulsePacer every 2 months. Most recently, Zone 2 was updated on November 3, 2026 and PulsePacer on October 30, 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.*