While vs Assasa
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Focused meditation timer
- Clean interface
- Customizable features
- Distraction-free sessions
- For experienced meditators
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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.
Assasa
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Assasa is your companion for breathwork with breath holds – on iPhone and Apple Watch. Breathe in rhythm, hold your breath and see how your body responds. GUIDED BREATHING SESSIONS • Cyclic breathing, breath holds (retention) and recovery breaths in as many rounds as you like • Voice guidance, gong and vibration – even with the silent switch on and the screen locked; music from other apps keeps playing • Calibration finds your personal breathing rhythm • Practise with your eyes closed: vibration guides you through every phase • Soundscapes for focus or relaxation • After the last round, simply add 1 or 3 more rounds APPLE WATCH • Standalone sessions right on your wrist – the watch keeps vibrating with your arm lowered • Or as a remote: the watch mirrors your iPhone session and vibrates along • Advance the phase with a tap, double tap or the Digital Crown • Set rhythm and rounds right on the watch • Watch sessions appear automatically in your iPhone history HEART RATE ANALYSIS & APPLE HEALTH – NEW • Heart rate curve for every session with range (min–max) and average • Dive reflex analysis per round: heart rate drop during the hold, peak after the recovery breath and recovery time • Saves sessions as a Mind & Body workout (counts in Apple Fitness) and/or as mindful minutes • Trends: hold times over 12 weeks, practice calendar, plus HRV and resting heart rate from Apple Health • Your health data stays on your device and in Apple Health PROGRESS • History with every round, heart rate and personal best • Streaks, badges and milestones • Optional account to sync your history across devices DESIGN & PRIVACY • Deep black, OLED-optimised design • No subscription, no ads, no tracking • English and German Live heart rate requires an Apple Watch (standalone session or mirroring) and the Health mode “Workout” or “Both”. SAFETY Never practise breath holds in water, while driving or anywhere a loss of consciousness could be dangerous – always sit or lie down. Assasa is for relaxation and is not a medical device; heart rate values are for information only and not a medical diagnosis. If you have health concerns, talk to your doctor.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Assasa at none against While's 3. Assasa also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 16 months). On price, ads, device support and 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
Both are free to download. While sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month. Assasa asks for nothing beyond the download.
While ships an update every 16 months, Assasa every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | While | Assasa |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.2 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 54 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mike LaVigne | Jan Moller |
In-app purchases
While
- Monthly Subscription$2.001 Month
- Yearly Subscription$10.001 Year
- Lifetime Access$3.99
Assasa
No in-app purchases








