Comparison

Zen Writing Practice vs Daruma

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

Head to head
About

Zen Writing Practice

Features
Read full description

Zen Writing Practice – Find calm through mindful handwriting. In a world full of digital noise, return to the meditative tradition of Japanese sutra copying (shakyo). This app turns your device into a quiet space for focus, clarity, and mindful writing inspired by the Heart Sutra. FREE FEATURES – Begin Your Practice Guided Tracing Follow gentle stroke guides to copy the full Heart Sutra at your own pace. Stroke-by-Stroke Animations HD animations show exactly how each kanji is written—ideal for beginners and mindful learners. Distraction-Free Design A clean, minimalist writing space helps you stay centered and focused. Basic Background Fusion Add simple free backgrounds to complete and share your finished calligraphy. GO PREMIUM – Unlock Your Full Practice (Subscription) Deepen your daily writing ritual with the full feature set. • Unlimited Writing: Save all your completed works without limits. • Full Color Palette: Personalize your brush colors for expressive writing. • No Ads: Maintain a completely calm, uninterrupted environment. ARTWORK ENHANCEMENTS (One-time Purchases) Personalize your final piece with premium, high-resolution backgrounds. Purchase only the designs you love to create truly share-worthy calligraphy artwork. 【Subscription】 ・Zen Writing Practice Premium (Monthly): $4.99 / month (auto-renewable) ・Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase ・Subscription automatically renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period ・Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period ・You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings at any time Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://officees.co.jp/zwp/privacy.html

About

Daruma

Features
Read full description

Complete ten sessions to see your Daruma become whole, then begin the cycle anew. Daruma is a breath-awareness meditation timer built around the Japanese Daruma tradition of commitment and perseverance. Complete ten sessions and your Daruma doll transforms — a living record of the intention you keep returning to your practice. Each session guides you through a simple, traditional breathing practice. When you're ready to sit in silence, an unguided timer mode is one tap away. Choose your duration, sit, and begin. Your progress stays visible on your Home Screen throughout the journey in a widget. Begin your first session today.

Screenshots

Zen Writing Practice4 screens
Daruma4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Daruma at none against Zen Writing Practice's shown. On price, update cadence, 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

Zen Writing Practice ships an update every 9 days, Daruma every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Zen Writing Practice versus Daruma: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZen Writing PracticeDaruma
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size138 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAoi SugizakiMichal Sverak

In-app purchases

None

Zen Writing Practice

No in-app purchases

None

Daruma

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zen Writing Practice free?
Zen Writing Practice is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Daruma free?
Daruma is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Zen Writing Practice or Daruma have ads?
Zen Writing Practice shows ads; Daruma does not.
Which is updated more often, Zen Writing Practice or Daruma?
Zen Writing Practice ships an update every 9 days, and Daruma every 5 days. Most recently, Zen Writing Practice was updated on October 25, 2026 and Daruma on October 25, 2026.

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