Self vs The Waves.
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Self
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Self-Care Space is NOT about forcing positivity or fixing yourself. Itβs about building trust with yourself, practicing self care at your own pace, and gently strengthening a sense of self worth through small, supportive moments. What is Lolo? Lolo is a visual guide for your inner, supportive voice β the part of you that stays kind, steady, and present through everyday ups and downs. In the app, Lolo appears through thoughtfully written affirmations that offer gentle guidance without judgment or pressure. Youβll receive affirmations as notifications throughout the day, so whenever you reach for your phone, youβre met with a moment of support rather than noise. Over time, these affirmations help you build a closer relationship with your inner voice β one that listens, encourages, and responds with care when you need it most. Affirmations for different moments of the day Affirmations in Self-Care Space are organized by tone and intention, supporting different states of mind. Morning β begin the day with presence and gentle clarity Day β supportive reminders to stay focused while being kind to yourself Evening β slow down and reflect without pressure Before Bedtime β calm your mind and let go before sleep Every affirmation is carefully selected to be supportive yet realistic, so it feels natural, grounded, and relevant to real life. A quiet daily practice Self-Care Space is designed to grow with you. What starts as affirmations becomes a steady, comforting practice of self care and healthy self talk β one that respects your pace and your emotions. Get yourself a Lolo. Stay connected to yourself. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://magnetic-tailor-ed0.notion.site/Privacy-Policy-5589464878124275b837ba879bac2d1e
The Waves.
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Every craving follows the same arc: it rises, peaks, and dissolves on its own. Always. In about ninety seconds. Ancient monks called this vedana β the wave nature of desire. Modern neuroscience confirmed it. You don't need willpower. You just need to stay with it a little longer than feels comfortable. The Waves is a single-purpose meditation tool. When a craving hits β for food, your phone, a cigarette, anything β open the app and touch to begin. Ninety seconds of guided awareness. That's it. WHAT HAPPENS IN 90 SECONDS β’ A gentle countdown with body-scan prompts guides your attention β’ Ocean sounds shift as the wave builds and passes β’ A singing bowl marks the beginning and end β’ Subtle haptic feedback anchors you in the moment THE PRACTICE Most of us experience desire as a command. The Waves treats it as data. Commands demand action, but data invites investigation. You cannot remove the craving. You can change your relationship to it. That is the only variable. And it is enough. The wave always passes. You only have to watch.
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Self at none against The Waves.'s 3. Self also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. The Waves. sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Self asks for nothing beyond the download.
Self ships an update every 2 weeks, The Waves. every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Self | The Waves. |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks β better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No β better | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod β better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 β better | 17.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 36 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Marharyta Paliakova | Oscar Fogelstrom |
In-app purchases
Self
No in-app purchases
The Waves.
- Small Wave$0.99
- Steady Tide$3.99
- Deep Ocean$9.99









