Comparison

Cephalo vs WaitSpace

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

Head to head
About

Cephalo

Features
Read full description

Understand your headaches and migraines without giving up your privacy. Cephalo is a headache and migraine diary that keeps every entry on your iPhone, so you can log an attack in seconds and see what your own patterns are telling you. Track the moments that matter: when a headache starts and ends, how intense it feels, symptoms like aura, nausea, and sensitivity to light or sound, the medication you took, and the possible triggers around you. YOUR DATA IS ALWAYS YOURS - FOR FREE Cephalo's free tier never caps your history. Record as many entries as you like, keep your full timeline, and back up everything to a JSON file you control, anytime. Your diary is yours to own. CEPHALO PLUS - SEE THE PATTERNS Upgrade to Plus when you want help making sense of it all: - Doctor-ready PDF report that summarizes your history in clear counts to bring to your appointment - Pattern analysis that highlights what often appears before a difficult day - Highlights of the conditions that have shown up before your harder days in the past - Pattern and insight summaries across weeks and months - Weather and barometric-pressure correlation views - MIDAS disability trends over time - CSV export for your own spreadsheets Plus turns your own history into understanding. It helps you spot patterns and prepare for your doctor - it never diagnoses or treats. JUST NEED A REPORT FOR ONE VISIT? No subscription required - unlock the doctor-ready PDF report for 14 days with a single purchase, and generate as many reports as you need in that window. PRIVACY BY DESIGN - Local-first: your diary lives on your device - Optional iCloud sync that you control - Opt-in, on-device private federated learning, so insights improve without your raw data ever leaving your phone - No ads, no data brokers, no selling your health information MEDICAL DISCLAIMER Cephalo is a tracking and record-keeping tool. It does not provide medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your health. SUBSCRIPTION TERMS Cephalo Plus is available as a monthly or yearly auto-renewing subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Price and currency depend on your region. The yearly subscription includes a 7-day free trial for new subscribers; you are not charged during the trial, and it converts to a paid yearly subscription unless you cancel at least 24 hours before it ends. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your Apple ID is charged for renewal within 24 hours of the period ending. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. The lifetime option is a single purchase with no recurring charge. A one-time 14-day report unlock is also available as a separate purchase that enables doctor-ready PDF report generation for 14 days, with no recurring charge. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Track it. Understand it. Keep it private.

About

WaitSpace

Features
Read full description

Conquer boredom and stress in waiting rooms, medical appointments, scans and treatment sessions - WaitSpace is a better space to wait when you’re stuck waiting. Simple games to distract you, breathing exercises to keep you calm and centred, and even techniques to try when you can’t bring your phone with you. For people stuck in waiting rooms, getting ready for scans, killing time when appointments run late and sitting through long treatment sessions. WaitSpace is not therapy. It’s not medical advice. It’s just something useful for when you’re in for a wait. And there’s no ads, ever, because that’s the last thing you need! WHAT’S INCLUDED Free: Memory Match, Tic-Tac-Toe, Pattern Pick, Box Breathing, brain anchors to keep your mind occupied during scans, Body Scan and Beach Walk extended calm activities and Appointment Notes. Unlock Everything ($2.99, one-time): Access the full library with 10 games, 4 breathing exercises, 10 brain anchors, 8 extended calm sessions, progressive relaxation, and all prep tips. THREE MODES FOR DIFFERENT SITUATIONS Waiting Room Mode You're ready for your appointment, but they're not quite ready for you. Fill in some time with easy games, quick breathing exercises, and a notes section for questions you don't want to forget. Prep Mode Some scans mean leaving your phone outside. Look through breathing exercises, brain anchors, and practical tips, then choose a few to keep in mind when you go in. Treatment Mode For longer sessions like infusions and extended treatments. Games, breathing exercises, brain anchors, extended calm sessions, and progressive relaxation for when you're settled in for the long haul. HOW IT WORKS Open WaitSpace and think about what's happening today. Are you waiting for an appointment, getting ready for a scan, or undergoing treatment? Select your mode, then you choose how you want to spend the time. Choose GUIDE ME for a short sequence of activities based on what you're doing and how you're feeling. Pick ‘Distract Me’, ‘Help Me Relax’, or ‘Mix of Both’ and WaitSpace curates a program for you based on what you need. Choose BROWSE ACTIVITIES for access to whatever you feel like doing at your pace. Jump into a game, try a breathing exercise, read through the brain anchors or open your notes. WaitSpace is designed for when concentration is hard. Large buttons that are easy to tap. Text that's readable under harsh lights. A quiet, minimal design. No bright colours, no notifications, no pressure to do anything except what feels right in that moment. Everything works offline, so you don't need to rely on waiting room or hospital WiFi. No accounts. No data collection. Everything stays on your device. This app doesn't give medical advice. It's for distraction, breathing exercises, and practical tools. Always follow directions from your healthcare team.

Screenshots

Cephalo4 screens
WaitSpace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is device support: WaitSpace at 3 against Cephalo's 1. WaitSpace also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Cephalo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and WaitSpace sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cephalo ships an update every 2 weeks, WaitSpace fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 4 level
Cephalo versus WaitSpace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCephaloWaitSpace
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB33 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperIterica B.V.Kylie McIntyre

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Cephalo

Subscriptions2
  • Cephalo Plus Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Cephalo Plus Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
1 purchases

WaitSpace

One-time1
  • WaitSpace Full Access$1.99

Questions

Is Cephalo free?
Cephalo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WaitSpace free?
WaitSpace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Cephalo or WaitSpace have ads?
Neither Cephalo nor WaitSpace shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cephalo or WaitSpace?
Cephalo ships an update every 2 weeks, and WaitSpace fortnightly. Most recently, Cephalo was updated on September 29, 2026 and WaitSpace on September 19, 2026.

Other comparisons