Comparison

Set vs The Waves.

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

Head to head
About

Set

Features
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Set-Rest Timer is a simple, customizable interval timer for any timed activity. - Set number of rounds, work time, rest time, and optional preparation time - Shows current phase and countdown with large, readable digits - Plays sound alerts at each transition - Useful for stretching, rehab, circuits, strength training, or similar routines - No ads, no login, no internet required Ready to use on install.

About

The Waves.

Features
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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 โ€” 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 โ€” for food, your phone, a cigarette, anything โ€” open the app and touch to begin. Ninety seconds of guided awareness. That's it. WHAT HAPPENS IN 90 SECONDS โ€ข A gentle countdown with body-scan prompts guides your attention โ€ข Ocean sounds shift as the wave builds and passes โ€ข A singing bowl marks the beginning and end โ€ข 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.

Screenshots

Set2 screens
The Waves.4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Set at none against The Waves.'s 3. Set also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. The Waves. sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Set asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Set ships an update daily, The Waves. every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
Set versus The Waves.: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSetThe Waves.
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyDaily โ€” betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad โ€” betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size1 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLari PartanenOscar Fogelstrom

In-app purchases

None

Set

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

The Waves.

One-time3
  • Small Wave$0.99
  • Steady Tide$3.99
  • Deep Ocean$9.99

Questions

Is Set free?
Set is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Waves. free?
The Waves. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Set or The Waves. have ads?
Neither Set nor The Waves. shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Set or The Waves.?
Set ships an update daily, and The Waves. every 2 months. Most recently, Set was updated on October 16, 2026 and The Waves. on October 12, 2026.

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