Comparison

Anima vs CalmPulseD

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

Head to head
About

Anima

This app offers a simple, scientifically validated breathing technique to reduce stress and anxiety. Practice for just 5 minutes to achieve immediate calm and long-term benefits like improved mood and immune function.

Highlights
  • Cardiac coherence breathing exercises
  • Scientifically validated stress reduction
  • 7 distinct breathing modes
  • Visual and haptic guidance
  • Progress tracking and rewards
  • Customizable sessions
  • Privacy-focused, no data collection
Features
Read full description

Anima guides you through cardiac coherence and guided breathing exercises. Take five minutes to slow down, breathe, and find your calm, at your own pace. Free, with no ads, subscriptions, or in-app purchases. CARDIAC COHERENCE, MADE SIMPLE Cardiac coherence is based on slow, steady breathing, usually around 6 breaths per minute. This rhythm supports the natural interaction between breathing, heart rate, and the autonomic nervous system. The 365 method offers a simple routine: 3 times a day, 6 breaths per minute, for 5 minutes. Slow breathing exercises have been studied for their effects on stress, anxiety, and physiological regulation. Regular practice may also support relaxation, sleep, and concentration. CREATE YOUR OWN BREATHING EXERCISES Box breathing, triangle breathing, 4-7-8, or a custom rhythm without pauses: build the exercise that works for you in the Create tab, save it, and start it with a single tap. AN EXERCISE FOR EVERY MOMENT Balance: the classic cardiac coherence rhythm Energy: a longer inhale to start your day Relax: a longer exhale to help you slow down Express: a one-minute breathing break Focus: box breathing to help you refocus Sleep: the 4-7-8 method with guided relaxation Pre-teens and Kids: breathing rhythms adapted for younger users Free Session: choose your own rhythm and duration Arrange the list however you like: show, hide, or reorder your exercises. GUIDANCE THAT WORKS FOR YOU Follow a voice guide, gentle chimes, or simply breathe in silence. Visual guidance, subtle haptics, and breathing sounds let you practice the way you prefer, even with your eyes closed. YOUR PRACTICE, AT YOUR OWN PACE Unlock nature photography as you practice and use it as a background during your sessions. Keep track of your practice history, statistics, and reminders, without pressure or imposed goals. YOUR DATA STAYS YOURS Anima does not collect personal data related to your breathing practice. FREE. NO ADS. NO SUBSCRIPTION. An independent app created to make cardiac coherence simple, enjoyable, and accessible.

About

CalmPulseD

Features
Read full description

Feeling stressed? Overwhelmed by the demands of daily life? Find your anchor in the storm with CalmPulse, your personal guide to a calmer, more mindful you. Find relief in minutes with guided breathing exercises designed to lower anxiety, monitor your heart rate, and help you understand your emotional patterns. All features are always free. ◇ Find Calm in Your Breath ◇ At the heart of CalmPulse is a simple yet powerful tool: your breath. Our beautifully designed, full-screen animated guide makes it easy to follow along with proven breathing techniques. Feel a gentle buzz from your phone (haptic feedback) to signal each phase, allowing you to close your eyes and fully immerse yourself in the moment. Choose the pattern that's right for you: • Box Breathing (Basic): A simple 4-4-4-4 pattern perfect for finding balance, increasing focus, and calming your nervous system anytime, anywhere. • 4-7-8 Relaxing Breath (PRO): A renowned technique designed to deeply relax the body and mind. Ideal for unwinding after a long day or preparing for a restful night's sleep. • Physiological Sigh (PRO): A science-backed, double-inhale technique that provides the fastest way to offload stress and reset your state of mind in seconds. ◇ Connect Your Body and Mind with Apple Health ◇ CalmPulse integrates seamlessly with the Apple Health app to provide a complete picture of your wellness. By granting permission, you can: • Monitor Your Heart Rate: See the real-time impact of your breathwork as your heart rate lowers during a session. • Get Proactive Alerts: Enable our optional background monitoring feature to get a gentle notification if your heart rate is detected as high, suggesting it might be a good time for a quick breathing session. • Track Your Progress: All your session data contributes to a richer understanding of your health journey. ◇ Understand Your Journey with a Private Diary ◇ True progress comes from understanding. After each session, CalmPulse invites you to a private check-in: • Log Your Mood: How are you feeling now? Choose from a simple set of expressive faces. • Identify Your Triggers: What was on your mind? Tag common stressors like "Work," "Family," or "Finances." • See Your Insights: Our simple, easy-to-read charts show you your mood trends over time and highlight your most common triggers. Connect the dots and empower yourself with knowledge. ◇ Your Privacy is Our Priority ◇ In a world where data is a commodity, we believe your wellness journey is sacred and private. Period. All of your session logs, moods, and trigger information are stored securely only on your own device. We never see, collect, or share your personal data. Your peace of mind is our most important feature. ◇ Free for Everyone, Supported by Community ◇ We believe that mental wellness tools should be accessible to everyone, without financial barriers. That’s why every feature in CalmPulse, including all PRO breathing exercises, is completely free. If you find the app helpful, you will have the option to make a small donation to support our mission and help us keep it free for everyone, forever. Key Features at a Glance: • Simple, beautiful, full-screen breathing guide • Haptic feedback for eyes-closed sessions • Multiple breathing patterns for different needs (Basic & PRO) • Real-time heart rate monitoring via Apple Health • Private mood and trigger diary • Insightful charts to track your progress • Optional high heart rate notifications • 100% free features • Absolute commitment to user privacy Ready to reclaim your calm? Download CalmPulse today and take your first step towards a more centered, peaceful you.

Screenshots

Anima4 screens
CalmPulseD4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Anima at every 2 weeks against CalmPulseD's every 5 months. Anima also leads on iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Anima ships an update every 2 weeks, CalmPulseD every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Anima versus CalmPulseD: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAnimaCalmPulseD
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS16.6 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size108 MB1 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperNicolas HaddadNEYBOAPP LLC

In-app purchases

None

Anima

No in-app purchases

None

CalmPulseD

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Anima free?
Anima is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CalmPulseD free?
CalmPulseD is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Anima or CalmPulseD have ads?
Neither Anima nor CalmPulseD shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Anima or CalmPulseD?
Anima ships an update every 2 weeks, and CalmPulseD every 5 months. Most recently, Anima was updated on November 5, 2026 and CalmPulseD on November 9, 2026.

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