# Sym Breathing vs Coherence

The clearest difference is monetization model: Sym Breathing at freemium against Coherence's subscription. Sym Breathing also leads on review sentiment (94% vs 84%). Coherence's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (566 vs 35). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sym Breathing sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Coherence sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Sym Breathing against 4.8 for Coherence. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Coherence has 566 ratings behind it against 35, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of Sym Breathing's written reviews are positive against 84% of Coherence's.

Sym Breathing ships an update every 3 weeks, Coherence every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on August 2, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sym Breathing | Coherence |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sym-breathing-hrv-coherence/id6575391114/reviews)** | [4.8 (566 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coherence-breathwork/id6740344645/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 35 | **566** |
| Positive reviews | **94.1% of reviews** | 84.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 35 MB | 176 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Lubbers](https://appshunter.io/developer/1759415354) | [John Sweeney](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789596075) |

## What reviewers say

### Sym Breathing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sym-breathing-hrv-coherence/id6575391114)

This app offers guided breathwork to help you achieve a calm and balanced state. It uses a steady 5.5-second inhale/exhale rhythm to reduce stress, improve focus, and enhance well-being. Features include customizable cues, daily affirmations, and a night mode for sleep.

**Highlights:** Guided 5.5-second inhale/exhale rhythm, Customizable audio, visual, and haptic cues, Daily affirmations for positive mindset, Night mode for reduced blue light, Seamless audio integration with other apps, Effortless session initiation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Annually | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $24.99 | one-time |


### Coherence

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coherence-breathwork/id6740344645)

Master your nervous system through guided breathwork. Access over 500 breathing patterns to shift your state, from calm and focus to energy and sleep. Connect with a global community in live sessions and create custom routines.

**Highlights:** Nervous system interface via breath, Shift states: calm, focus, energy, sleep, Daily global live breathing sessions, 500+ research-backed breathing patterns, Custom breathing sequence creator, Progress tracking and stats, Community features and leaderboards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coherence Monthly Membership | $14.99 | per month |
| Coherence Membership | $69.99 | per year |
| Coherence Friend Pass | $69.99 | per year |
| Coherence Membership | $69.99 | per year |
| Coherence Membership | $69.99 | per year |
| Coherence | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent accessibility and interface
- 🚀 Great integration into daily routine
- 👍 Amazing experience and awesome sequences
- 👍 Breathwork is one of the best things for health
- 👍 Helps cut down on vices, boost vibes, and be a smooth operator


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sym Breathing free?

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

### Is Coherence free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sym Breathing or Coherence?

Sym Breathing is rated higher. Sym Breathing averages 4.9 out of 5 from 35 ratings, while Coherence averages 4.8 from 566 ratings.

### Do Sym Breathing or Coherence have ads?

Neither Sym Breathing nor Coherence shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sym Breathing or Coherence?

Sym Breathing ships an update every 3 weeks, and Coherence every 4 days. Most recently, Sym Breathing was updated on August 2, 2026 and Coherence on September 22, 2026.

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