Comparison

Coherence vs Return to Self

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

Head to head
About

Coherence

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
Read full description

YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM, ON DEMAND Coherence is a nervous system interface. Using the science of breath, shift into calm, focus, or energy in minutes. Your breath is the only autonomic function you can consciously control - a direct line to your nervous system. Coherence gives you the patterns to use it. SHIFT YOUR STATE - Calm: Activate your parasympathetic system to release stress - Focus: Enter alert relaxation for deep work - Energy: Stimulate your system for peak performance - Sleep: Downregulate for faster, deeper rest BREATHE WITH THE WORLD Join the Daily Sync - a live global session where people worldwide breathe together in perfect unison. Watch participants appear around a real-time 3D Earth. Set an intention. Experience collective coherence. 500+ BREATHING PATTERNS Techniques selected from peer-reviewed research and proven traditions: - Coherence: Heart-brain synchronization (5.5s rhythm) - Box Breath: Used by Navy SEALs for composure under pressure - 4-7-8: Vagal activation for rapid calm - Physiological Sigh: The fastest way to reduce stress - Vortex: Fibonacci-based energizing sequence - Tummo: Traditional Tibetan inner heat practice - Sleep, Focus, Energy patterns and more CREATE YOUR OWN Build custom breathing sequences with our visual editor. Set phase durations, add music from Spotify or Apple Music, record your own voice guidance, and share with the community. TRACK YOUR REGULATION - Streaks and daily practice stats - Session history and insights - Weekly progress visualization - Level progression system COMPETE & CONNECT - Weekly leagues with promotion and demotion - Global leaderboards - User profiles and friends - Invite others to sync sessions DESIGNED FOR FOCUS - Minimalist dark interface - Zen mode fades the UI so nothing distracts you - Beautiful animations guide your breath - Sonic cues keep you on rhythm - Works with screen off - Works in airplane mode SUBSCRIPTION All features require an active subscription: - Monthly: $9.99/month - Annual: $39.99/year (3-day free trial) - Cancel anytime in App Store settings Take control of your nervous system. Terms of Use: https://www.coherencebreath.com/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.coherencebreath.com/privacy

About

Return to Self

Features
Read full description

Return to Self is your pocket-sized sanctuary — designed to help you pause, breathe, and reconnect with your inner peace, no matter where life takes you. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, unbalanced, or simply need a moment of stillness, this beautifully crafted app offers calming tools to support your emotional well-being. What You’ll Find Inside: - Return to Self: A gentle, one-tap experience to help ground and center you instantly. - Mindful Exercises: Guided practices like Box Breathing, Body Scan, and Loving Kindness to ease stress and restore calm. - Calming Sounds: Soothing soundscapes including ocean waves, forest ambience, gentle rain, and more. - Daily Affirmations: Gentle and empowering messages to start your day with intention and love. We believe peace shouldn’t be interrupted — so you’ll never see forced ads here. If you’d like to support us, you can choose to view an ad only when you feel like it. With a minimalist design and a soul-soothing atmosphere, Return to Self is more than just an app — it’s a safe space to come home to yourself.

Screenshots

Coherence4 screens
Return to Self4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Return to Self at none against Coherence's 6. Coherence's advantage is ads (none vs shown). 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. Coherence sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Return to Self asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Coherence versus Return to Self: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCoherenceReturn to Self
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (597 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings597 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.114.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size176 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn SweeneyFurkan Kolcu

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Coherence

Subscriptions6
  • Coherence Monthly Membership$14.991 Month
  • Coherence Membership3 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Coherence Friend Pass14 Days trial$69.991 Year
Show 3 more
  • Coherence Membership$69.991 Year
  • Coherence Membership1 Month trial$69.991 Year
  • Coherence3 Months trial$69.991 Year
None

Return to Self

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Coherence free?
Coherence is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Return to Self free?
Return to Self is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Coherence or Return to Self have ads?
Return to Self shows ads; Coherence does not.

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