Comparison

HeartMath vs (held)

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HeartMath

This app helps you manage stress, improve focus, and achieve optimal performance by aligning your heart, mind, and emotions. It offers guided sessions, immersive journeys, and coherence practices based on over 30 years of research.

Highlights
  • Real-time HRV Coherence Measurement
  • Coherence Training
  • Scientifically Validated Techniques
  • Guided Learning Sessions
  • Progress Tracking
  • Heart-Brain Coherence Benefits
Features
Read full description

Align your heart, mind, and emotions to help you manage stress, improve focus, and perform at your best. Enjoy HeartMath’s free intro experience to access your heart’s natural intelligence and see your heart-brain coherence as real-time feedback. Then start your 7-day free trial to explore a comprehensive collection of guided sessions, immersive journeys, and coherence practices designed to help you experience greater calm, focus, clearer thinking, and a more balanced you. **Inner Balance Coherence Plus sensor owners: Use your sensor to unlock a lifetime subscription.** Built on 30+ years of research on the heart-brain connection and supported by over 500 research studies, HeartMath is used in wellness and resilience programs at organizations including Stanford Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente, as well as in professional sports, the military, law enforcement, leading universities, non-profit organizations, and major corporations. It is used by coaches, trainers, and health professionals for stress education and resilience training. The HeartMath system is more than stress management: it’s a journey to more heart-centered living. This app puts HeartMath’s practical, research-supported tools right at your fingertips. Make mental and emotional well-being an achievable part of your daily life. The HeartMath technology is for stress education and resilience training. It is not a medical device. We encourage you to consult a health professional before making any medical decisions. KEY FEATURES • Real-time HRV coherence feedback: Use your phone’s camera or upgrade to the Inner Balance Coherence Plus sensor for a more precise signal and a free app subscription. • Coherence training: Whether you choose the game or the guided mode, watch your heart-rhythm pattern and coherence change in real time. • Research-Supported: Techniques developed from 30+ years of scientific research to help boost focus, positive feelings, and your ability to manage stress. • Guided learning: Explore guided meditations, courses, and videos led by HeartMath trainers. • Progress tracking: View your progress over time with a variety of chart options. WHAT REGULAR COHERENCE PRACTICE CAN SUPPORT Heart-brain coherence is a balanced, focused state you create yourself through calm breathing and positive focus. Coherence supports the body’s natural ability to shift from tension to calm, helping you manage everyday stress and build inner balance. • SUPPORTS STRESS MANAGEMENT & EMOTIONAL BALANCE • SUPPORTS FOCUS AND MENTAL CLARITY — coherent states are associated with more focus, clarity, and creativity. • SUPPORTS RESILIENCE — regular practice can help you adapt to and recover from challenging situations more quickly. • ENHANCES EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND SELF-AWARENESS — practice can support a greater sense of inner calm and a more mindful relationship with your emotions. Subscription terms: • Subscriptions renew automatically at the end of each year. • You can cancel your subscription at any time in your account settings. • You will not be refunded for any unused portion of a subscription. • Price is subject to change. • Subscriptions are not available in all countries. • Full subscription terms: https://my.heartmath.com/terms If you’d like to purchase an Inner Balance Coherence Plus sensor to unlock complimentary lifetime access to the HeartMath app, please visit the HeartMath website.

About

(held)

This app offers a private, supportive space to help you feel calmer and more grounded using evidence-based practices like breathwork and guided reflection. It uses personalized AI to adapt to your emotional patterns, providing timely and relevant support for in-the-moment emotional regulation and self-reflection.

Highlights
  • In-the-moment emotional support
  • Nervous system regulation
  • Reflective exploration
  • Personalized AI insights
  • Guided breathwork and reflection
  • Private and confidential space
Features
Read full description

(held) — Intelligent Nervous System Support, When You Need It Most (held) is a private, supportive space designed to help you feel calmer, clearer, and more grounded - right when life feels overwhelming. Using evidence-based practices such as breath work, guided reflection, and somatic awareness, (held) helps you gently regulate your nervous system and shift your emotional state in minutes. Whether you’re feeling anxious before a meeting, stuck in racing thoughts at night, or emotionally drained from a long day, (held) meets you where you are and guides you back toward balance. Powered by intelligent, personalized AI, (held) adapts to your emotional patterns over time - learning what works best for you and offering support that feels relevant, timely, and human. What (held) Helps With: In-the-moment emotional support Grounding conversations designed to help you feel supported, understood, and less alone. Nervous system regulation Guided practices that help you slow down, reset, and reconnect with your body. Reflective exploration A safe space to process thoughts, emotions, and experiences without pressure or judgment. Personalized insights Track emotional patterns and discover what helps you feel more balanced over time. Private & confidential Your experience is designed to be secure, private, and respectful of your boundaries. Who (held) Is For • People feeling stressed, anxious, or emotionally overwhelmed • Anyone who wants immediate support in difficult moments • Those seeking a private space to reflect, regulate, and reset • Individuals navigating life transitions, tough days, or emotional fatigue What (held) Is Not (held) is not a replacement for therapy, medical care, or crisis services. It is a supportive wellness tool designed for everyday emotional regulation and self-reflection. What’s included with Premium Subscription • Unlimited access to AI support and guided sessions • Unique breathwork and grounding practices • Personalized insights and pattern tracking Why (held)? Sometimes you don’t need advice. You don’t need fixing. You just need to feel held. Terms of Use: https://held.app/terms_of_use Privacy Policy: https://held.app/privacy-policy

Screenshots

HeartMath4 screens
(held)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: HeartMath at 4.6K against (held)'s 4. (held)'s advantage is iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. HeartMath sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $39.00 per year and (held) sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $22.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for HeartMath against 5.0 for (held). That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HeartMath has 4.6K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
HeartMath versus (held): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHeartMath(held)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (4.6K ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings4.6K — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.018.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size185 MB84 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperHeartMath Inc.WellSet, Inc

Customer experience

HeartMath

All ratings4,564 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral1.8%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews171 reviews
Positive73.1%
Neutral5.3%
Negative21.6%

(held)

All ratings4 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

HeartMath

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Sensor connection issues on newer devices
  • App crashes and freezes on iPhone 16 Pro
  • Inaccurate heart rate and coherence readings
  • Screen sleep behavior disrupting sessions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add dark mode option
  • Allow playing music/sounds during sessions
  • Provide audio feedback on coherence levels
  • Add session history customization and details
  • Improve sensor compatibility with older devices

(held)

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

HeartMath

Subscriptions4
  • HeartMath Premium7 Days trial$39.001 Year
  • HeartMath Premium7 Days trial$59.001 Year
  • HeartMath Premium7 Days trial2 variants$79.001 Year
Show 1 more
  • HeartMath Premium7 Days trial$99.991 Year
2 purchases

(held)

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$22.001 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$200.001 Year

Questions

Is HeartMath free?
HeartMath is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is (held) free?
(held) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, HeartMath or (held)?
(held) is rated higher. HeartMath averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.6K ratings, while (held) averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do HeartMath or (held) have ads?
Neither HeartMath nor (held) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HeartMath or (held)?
HeartMath ships an update every 3 weeks, and (held) every 3 weeks. Most recently, HeartMath was updated on September 22, 2026 and (held) on September 11, 2026.

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