# While vs Core1

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Core1 at none against While's 3. Core1 also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 16 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. While sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.00 per month. Core1 asks for nothing beyond the download.

While ships an update every 16 months, Core1 every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on August 16, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | While | Core1 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Size | 54 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.2 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Mike LaVigne](https://appshunter.io/developer/1718075779) | [Heather Kim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1877817879) |

## What reviewers say

### While

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/while-the-meditation-timer/id6472903857)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.00 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $10.00 | per year |
| Lifetime Access | $3.99 | one-time |


### Core1

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core1/id6759274693)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is While free?

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

### Is Core1 free?

Core1 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do While or Core1 have ads?

Neither While nor Core1 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, While or Core1?

While ships an update every 16 months, and Core1 every 3 days. Most recently, While was updated on August 16, 2026 and Core1 on September 10, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*