Zen Writing Practice vs Daruma
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Zen Writing Practice
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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
Daruma
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Zen Writing Practice ships an update every 9 days, Daruma every 5 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.
| Parameter | Zen Writing Practice | Daruma |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 138 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aoi Sugizaki | Michal Sverak |
In-app purchases
Zen Writing Practice
No in-app purchases
Daruma
No in-app purchases









