Comparison

Dopamine Detox vs Waveful

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

Head to head
About

Dopamine Detox

Take control of your smartphone usage and cultivate healthier habits by nurturing a virtual avatar. Engage in detox challenges with a global community and track your progress to achieve greater self-control.

Highlights
  • Restrict app usage
  • Avatar growth system
  • Detox challenges
  • Detailed usage records
  • Free and Goal modes
  • Community competition
Features
Read full description

App Introduction Take control of your app usage and grow your own avatar! By nurturing your avatar, you can shift from unproductive habits to more productive ones, positively managing your dopamine levels. Compete with other countries in detox challenges and limit your app usage alongside a diverse community, fostering growth together. Use the Dopamine Detox app to achieve ultimate control over your smartphone usage. App Purpose Modern diseases such as depression, obesity, social isolation, and insomnia have become prevalent only in recent times. These issues often stem from a lack of physical activity, addiction to social media, and short-form content, primarily driven by improper smartphone use and a lack of self-control. To combat this, we developed the Dopamine Detox app, aiming to promote minimal smartphone use. Our goal is for users to gain control over not just their smartphones but also their lives, even without relying on this app in the future. Key Features 1. Lock or restrict the usage of specific apps or your entire device. 2. Detox in two modes: Free Mode without time limits or Goal Mode with set time restrictions. 3. Level up your avatar as a reward for limiting app usage. 4. Purchase avatars for free or with paid options in the Avatar Shop. 5. Compete in detox challenges between different countries. 6. Compete in detox challenges with other users individually. 7. View detailed detox records, including the number of restricted apps, individual time, total time, and average time, organized by date. 8. Additional features may be available as needed. Embrace Dopamine Detox to limit your app usage, nurture your avatar, and develop productive habits!

About

Waveful

Features
Read full description

* Sound-based Wellness App Inspired by Frequency Research This wellness app provides frequency (Hz)-based sounds inspired by scientific papers and research studies. Explore sound categories such as Motion Comfort, Relaxation, Focus Support, Meditation, Ambient Noise, and Guided Breathing to create a more comfortable listening experience in everyday life. * Available Sounds 1. 100Hz Motion Comfort / Gentle Low-Frequency Support - Inspired by research published in Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine by researchers from Nagoya University, Japan (2025) 2. 432Hz Relax Mode / Relaxation & Sleep Support - Inspired by research published in EXPLORE by researchers from the University of Florence, Spain (2019) - Inspired by research published in Journal of Applied Oral Science by researchers from Valdivia, Chile (2020) 3. 528Hz Relaxation Tone / Calm & Relaxation Support - Inspired by research published in Health by researchers from Juntendo University, Japan (2018) 4. Binaural Beats Focus Support / Concentration Aid - Inspired by research published in Psychological Research by researchers from UNED, Spain (2019) - Inspired by research published in PLOS ONE by researchers from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany (2023) 5. 40Hz Gamma-Inspired Sound / Cognitive Focus Support - Inspired by research published in Journal of Neuroscience by researchers from the Pamplona Medical School, Spain (2002) 6. Ambient Noise Layer / White, Pink & Brown Noise - Inspired by research published in Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine by researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College, USA (2022) - Inspired by research published in Frontiers in Psychology by researchers from Hamburg University Hospital, Germany (2015) 7. Guided Breathing / 4-7-8 & Box Breathing - Inspired by research published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews by researchers from the University of Caen Normandy, France (2022) 8. 963Hz Meditation Tone / Deep Meditation - Direct clinical evidence regarding the specific effects of 963Hz remains limited. - This feature is designed as a high-frequency meditation sound intended to support deep meditation and immersive listening experiences rather than medical treatment. 9. 639Hz Harmonic Energy / Harmonious Atmosphere - Direct clinical evidence regarding the specific effects of 639Hz is currently limited. - This feature is intended to provide a soft harmonic tone for creating a calm and harmonious atmosphere. 10. 72Hz Deep Grounding / Low Frequency Grounding - Direct clinical evidence regarding the specific grounding effects of 72Hz has not been established. - This feature is designed as a low-frequency sound intended to create a calm and stable listening environment. 11. 1122Hz Clarity Tone / Clear High-Frequency Tone - Direct clinical evidence regarding the specific effects of 1122Hz remains limited. - This feature is intended to provide a clear and crisp high-frequency listening experience that may support focus and mental clarity. * Recommended Listening Time - Motion Comfort: 1 min - Sleep / Relaxation: 20–45 min, default 30 min - Stress Relief: 10–30 min, default 15 min - Focus: 15–45 min, default 25 min - Meditation: 10–30 min, default 15 min - Energy / Awakening: 5–15 min, default 10 min - Cognitive Focus Support: 10–20 min, default 15 min - Deep Grounding: 5–20 min, default 10 min - Spiritual / Intuition Sounds: 5–20 min, default 10 min *How to Use 1. Wear earphones or headphones for a more immersive experience. 2. Select your preferred category and press play. 3. Customize the playback timer as needed. * Key Features - Custom Hz settings - Background playback - Multiple timer options This app is a wellness tool inspired by research. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. Individual experiences may vary. Consult a qualified healthcare professional for health-related concerns.

Screenshots

Dopamine Detox4 screens
Waveful4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Waveful at none against Dopamine Detox's 8. Dopamine Detox's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Dopamine Detox sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Waveful asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dopamine Detox ships an update weekly, Waveful fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Dopamine Detox versus Waveful: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDopamine DetoxWaveful
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (15 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings15 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.116.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size133 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRedev Inc.Purple Night Inc

In-app purchases

8 purchases

Dopamine Detox

One-time8
  • 500 Dia$0.29
  • 1000 Dia$0.49
  • 3000 Dia$1.99
Show 5 more
  • 5000 Dia$2.99
  • 10000 Dia$5.99
  • 20000 Dia$11.99
  • 30000 Dia$19.99
  • 50000 Dia$29.99
None

Waveful

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dopamine Detox free?
Dopamine Detox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Waveful free?
Waveful is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Dopamine Detox or Waveful have ads?
Waveful shows ads; Dopamine Detox does not.
Which is updated more often, Dopamine Detox or Waveful?
Dopamine Detox ships an update weekly, and Waveful fortnightly. Most recently, Dopamine Detox was updated on October 24, 2026 and Waveful on October 12, 2026.

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