Comparison

While vs My Zen Place

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

Head to head
About

While

This app provides a focused and distraction-free timer for experienced meditators. It offers a clean interface with customizable features to support your meditation sessions.

Highlights
  • Focused meditation timer
  • Clean interface
  • Customizable features
  • Distraction-free sessions
  • For experienced meditators
Features
Read full description

The While timer is designed for experienced meditators who are seeking a focused tool for their practice. Offering a clean interface and customizable features, While supports your sessions without distractions.

About

My Zen Place

Features
Read full description

In a world that’s getting louder and faster, the small beautiful things are what keep you grounded. My Zen Place is a quiet pocket of calm—where you can slow down, create, and come back to yourself, one gentle moment at a time. Build your calm world: sculpt warm sand, pour shimmering water, place stones, trees, lanterns, cabins, and temples. Watch dusk settle, windows glow, and fireflies appear. Every small touch rewards attention. Breathe. Draw. Let the day loosen its grip. Now, watch stress turn to stillness. Each swipe shapes the sand. Each ripple answers back. Meet the Touch → Ripple → Calm Loop — your shortcut to focus and quiet. No logins. No ads. Works fully offline — even in airplane mode. Need a quick reset? Tap the 96-second Box-Breathing cycle (4-4-4-4) and feel your pulse slow. Want pure drift? Switch on the Meditation Camera — a slow orbit and time-lapse light that breathe with you. Layer your soundscape to match any mood: rain for grounding, piano for softness, wind for distance, birds for life, white noise for focus, and an optional 528 Hz tone for deep calm. Features you’ll feel • Calming sandbox gameplay – draw in responsive sand, paint in water, and nudge objects with satisfying tactile feedback. • Meditation Camera – hands-free orbit with time-lapse lighting; perfect for winding down. • Box-Breathing reset – guided 96 seconds (inhale 4, hold 4, exhale 4, hold 4) to steady nerves fast. • Layered ASMR audio – mix rain, wind, birds, white noise, mellow piano, 528 Hz tone; combine freely. • Day–Night & weather – dawn/day/dusk/night cycles, gentle rain, and subtle atmospheric details. • Object library – rocks, sakura, lanterns, cabins, temples, and more — arrange, rotate, and craft your scene. • Save & revisit – keep multiple gardens with thumbnails; return anytime to refine or relax. • Friendly controls – visual breathing cues, smooth swipes. • Fully offline – ideal for flights, trains, commutes, and spotty connections; no data required. How it fits your day: Morning focus. Midday reset. Night-time unwind. My Zen Place fits wherever calm fits best — at your desk, on a plane, or in bed before sleep. The Touch → Ripple → Calm Loop makes every interaction restorative, not demanding. Start a 96-second reset when stress spikes, or switch to the Meditation Camera and let the world breathe for you. No accounts. No notifications. No pressure. Just sand, ripples, and breath — waiting for your touch.

Screenshots

While3 screens
My Zen Place4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: While at Free against My Zen Place's $5.99. While also leads on ads (none vs shown). My Zen Place's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 16 months). On iOS requirement 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

While is free to download; My Zen Place costs $5.99 up front. While sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month. My Zen Place asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

While ships an update every 16 months, My Zen Place every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
While versus My Zen Place: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhileMy Zen Place
PriceFree — better$5.99
Rating4.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS16.215.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB250 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMike LaVigneOctavian Alexandru Tudor

In-app purchases

3 purchases

While

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$2.001 Month
  • Yearly Subscription$10.001 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$3.99
None

My Zen Place

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is While free?
While is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is My Zen Place free?
My Zen Place costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do While or My Zen Place have ads?
My Zen Place shows ads; While does not.
Which is updated more often, While or My Zen Place?
While ships an update every 16 months, and My Zen Place every 2 weeks. Most recently, While was updated on November 4, 2026 and My Zen Place on October 30, 2026.

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