Stressella vs Physiological Sigh
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Stressella
This app guides you through a one-minute stress reduction technique using your own recorded cyclic sighing. It's designed for quick use, requiring no internet connection and minimal setup time.
- Personalized cyclic sigh recordings
- One-minute stress reduction sessions
- Offline functionality
- Quick setup
- Mindfulness-based technique
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Stressella is an ad-free, in-app purchase-free mindfulness-based stress reduction app. It doesn’t need WiFi, only takes one minute to set up, and one minute to use, so it’s super accessible if you’re in a rush! Stressella works by having you record yourself cyclic sighing (a very effective type of breathing for stress reduction) for one minute. Then, whenever you feel stressed, you can open Stressella and it will play your recording back to you for one minute while instructing you to cyclic sigh. In early 2024, it was tested out and received statistically significant results (p = 0.2929), where stress was reduced on average by 1 point on a 10-point scale. This is really good, because its means that Stressella is an effective form of stress reduction!
Physiological Sigh
This app guides you through a scientifically proven breathing technique to quickly calm your nervous system and reduce stress. It requires no prior meditation experience and offers customizable durations and ambient sounds for a personalized experience.
- Guided breathing exercises
- Customizable phase durations
- Ambient sound library
- Daily reminder notifications
- Distraction-free interface
- Haptic feedback
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Calm your nervous system in seconds. Physiological Sigh is a science-backed breathing app built around the fastest stress-relief technique ever studied. No meditation experience required. No complicated programs. Just three simple phases, and you'll feel the difference in under 30 seconds. WHAT IS THE PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGH? The physiological sigh is a natural reflex your body already performs — spontaneously, during deep sleep — to re-oxygenate your lungs and reset your nervous system. Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman and his team discovered that triggering this reflex voluntarily is the single most effective real-time tool for reducing stress and anxiety. It works in one cycle. It works anywhere. And it works immediately. HOW IT WORKS Each cycle consists of three phases: A short inhale through the nose A second, longer inhale through the nose to fully inflate your lungs A long, slow exhale through the mouth That's it. One cycle takes less than 9 seconds. A full 5-minute session delivers lasting effects on your heart rate, cortisol levels, and overall sense of calm. WHY THIS APP Most breathing apps ask you to follow complex programs or sit through lengthy guided sessions before you feel anything. This app does one thing, and does it exceptionally well. We built it around the physiological sigh specifically because the science is clear: of all real-time stress-reduction techniques studied, this one produces the fastest and most measurable results. No guesswork, no filler. FEATURES Animated breathing disc that guides you through each phase in real time Phase card showing exactly where you are in the cycle Elapsed and remaining time counter Customizable phase durations — adjust each inhale and exhale to your comfort Session length from 1 to 30 minutes Ambient sound library — rain, ocean waves, fireplace, white noise, singing bowls, and more Custom backgrounds — choose the atmosphere that helps you focus Haptic feedback with a distinct pattern for each phase Daily reminder notifications — up to 3 scheduled reminders per day Clean, distraction-free interface designed for daily use BACKED BY SCIENCE The physiological sigh has been studied since the 1930s and brought into mainstream wellness by researchers at Stanford University. A 2023 study published in Cell Reports Medicine found that cyclic sighing practiced for 5 minutes daily produced greater improvements in mood and reductions in stress than other breathing techniques and mindfulness meditation. This app puts that research directly in your hands. PERFECT FOR Moments of acute stress or anxiety Pre-meeting nerves or public speaking Winding down before sleep Resetting after an intense workout Building a daily mindfulness habit without the time commitment SIMPLE BY DESIGN Open the app. Press play. Breathe. That's the entire experience. No account required to get started, no onboarding questionnaire, no streak pressure. Just a tool that works when you need it. Start your first session today. Your nervous system will thank you. Physiological Sigh is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. If you experience anxiety disorders or other health conditions, please consult a qualified healthcare professional. - Terms Of Use : https://occirama.com/physiological-sigh/terms-of-use/ - Privacy Policy : https://occirama.com/physiological-sigh/privacy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Stressella at none against Physiological Sigh's 2. Stressella also leads on ratings volume (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (17.2 vs 26.2). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Physiological Sigh sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Stressella asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Stressella against 5.0 for Physiological Sigh. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
| Parameter | Stressella | Physiological Sigh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | — | Every 3 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.2 — better | 26.2 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Martyna James | emmanuel orvain |
Customer experience
Stressella
Physiological Sigh
In-app purchases
Stressella
No in-app purchases
Physiological Sigh
- Premium Account / Month$2.991 Month
- Premium Account / Year$9.991 Year
Questions
Is Stressella free?
Is Physiological Sigh free?
Which has better reviews, Stressella or Physiological Sigh?
Do Stressella or Physiological Sigh have ads?
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