Comparison

Visual Snow Relaxation vs Smiling Faces

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

Head to head
About

Visual Snow Relaxation

This app offers adjustable visual noise patterns to help relax the eyes and mind. It features customizable controls, a full-screen mode, and a built-in timer for mindful sessions. Designed for those with Visual Snow Syndrome or anyone seeking a minimalist relaxation tool.

Highlights
  • Adjustable visual noise patterns
  • Customizable speed and intensity
  • Full-screen relaxation mode
  • Built-in timer
  • Distraction-free design
  • Offline functionality
Features
Read full description

Visual Snow Relaxation is a calming app designed for people with Visual Snow Syndrome or anyone looking for a gentle way to relax the eyes and mind. Features: • Adjustable visual noise patterns inspired by Visual Snow • Customizable speed and intensity controls • Relaxing full-screen mode for deep focus • Built-in timer for mindful sessions • Simple, clean, and distraction-free design Who is it for? This app is created with the Visual Snow community in mind. Some people with Visual Snow find that controlled visual noise can provide a calming and balancing experience. It can also be used by anyone looking for a minimalist relaxation tool, a visual meditation aid, or a unique way to take a break. Designed with care Visual Snow Relaxation uses soft color themes and smooth animations to avoid unnecessary strain. The interface is simple and intuitive, so you can focus on relaxation instead of navigating menus. Why use Visual Snow Relaxation? • Helps create a sense of calm through controlled visual stimulation • Supports relaxation and mindfulness practice • Lightweight app, no sign-up required • Works offline, ad-light This app is not a medical treatment or cure, but a supportive tool for relaxation. If you live with Visual Snow Syndrome, or you’re just looking for a way to quiet your thoughts and rest your eyes, Visual Snow Relaxation can be a helpful companion. Try it today and discover a new way to relax.

About

Smiling Faces

A simple, calming practice for busy minds. Focus on finding a single smiling face among many, with no timers or scores. Designed to reduce stress and promote well-being in just a few minutes.

Highlights
  • Positive attention practice
  • Find the smiling face
  • No timers or scores
  • Reduces stress
  • Promotes well-being
  • Private and ad-free
Features
Read full description

Smiling Faces is a small, gentle positive attention practice for busy minds. Among a crowd of faces, one is smiling. Your only task is to find it. No timer racing against you, no score to beat, no streak to maintain. Just a quiet moment of focused attention, whenever you need one. Take two minutes, find the smile, find your calm. It's built on a simple idea from attention research: gently directing your focus toward positive cues can help settle a restless mind, decrease stress and increase feelings of wellbeing. A calmer few minutes: No pressure, no penalties. Play for as long or as little as you like. Positive by design: Every round ends on a smile. The practice is quiet, warm, and made to leave you a little steadier than you started. Yours, privately: No accounts, no ads, no tracking. Just you and a moment of calm. Best as a small daily habit, but there's no wrong way to use it, and no judgement either.

Screenshots

Visual Snow Relaxation4 screens
Smiling Faces4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Smiling Faces at 100% against Visual Snow Relaxation's 0%. Smiling Faces also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.0) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 3 weeks). Visual Snow Relaxation's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $2.99). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

Visual Snow Relaxation costs $1.99 and Smiling Faces $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Smiling Faces holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smiling Faces has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Visual Snow Relaxation's written reviews are positive against 100% of Smiling Faces's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Visual Snow Relaxation ships an update every 3 weeks, Smiling Faces every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Visual Snow Relaxation versus Smiling Faces: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVisual Snow RelaxationSmiling Faces
Price$1.99 — better$2.99
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings15 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 10 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB3 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperVictor Nicolai FriedhoffAnthropic Advisory, LLC

Customer experience

Visual Snow Relaxation

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Smiling Faces

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Visual Snow Relaxation

No in-app purchases

None

Smiling Faces

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Visual Snow Relaxation free?
Visual Snow Relaxation costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Smiling Faces free?
Smiling Faces costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Visual Snow Relaxation or Smiling Faces?
Smiling Faces is rated higher. Visual Snow Relaxation averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Smiling Faces averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Visual Snow Relaxation or Smiling Faces have ads?
Neither Visual Snow Relaxation nor Smiling Faces shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Visual Snow Relaxation or Smiling Faces?
Visual Snow Relaxation ships an update every 3 weeks, and Smiling Faces every 10 days. Most recently, Visual Snow Relaxation was updated on November 12, 2026 and Smiling Faces on October 31, 2026.

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