# Sorta Zen vs Koan Meditation Timer

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Koan Meditation Timer at none against Sorta Zen's 1. Koan Meditation Timer also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs weekly) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Sorta Zen's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sorta Zen sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $20.00 per year. Koan Meditation Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Sorta Zen against 5.0 for Koan Meditation Timer. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sorta Zen has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Sorta Zen ships an update weekly, Koan Meditation Timer every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sorta Zen | Koan Meditation Timer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sorta-zen-meditation-timer/id6756148773/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/koan-meditation-timer/id6763763140/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 37 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Patrick Griffith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1858713910) | [Lucas Moore](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895477926) |

## What reviewers say

### Sorta Zen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sorta-zen-meditation-timer/id6756148773)

This app provides a minimalist meditation timer with optional background sounds and interval bells. It focuses on a simple, distraction-free experience without gamification or tracking features. Designed for quiet contemplation, it offers a straightforward way to practice mindfulness.

**Highlights:** Meditation timer, Background sounds, Interval bells, Ad-free experience, No user accounts, Distraction-free interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Food For Non-Thought | $20.00 | per year |


### Koan Meditation Timer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/koan-meditation-timer/id6763763140)

This app offers a distraction-free meditation experience with customizable bell sounds and flexible session scheduling. It allows users to create simple or complex meditation routines without requiring an account or saving data.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free meditation, Customizable bell and bowl sounds, Flexible session scheduler, Simple and complex session creation, No account required, No data saving, No push notifications

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sorta Zen free?

Sorta Zen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Koan Meditation Timer free?

Koan Meditation Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Sorta Zen or Koan Meditation Timer?

Sorta Zen and Koan Meditation Timer are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 7 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Sorta Zen or Koan Meditation Timer have ads?

Neither Sorta Zen nor Koan Meditation Timer shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sorta Zen or Koan Meditation Timer?

Sorta Zen ships an update weekly, and Koan Meditation Timer every 3 days. Most recently, Sorta Zen was updated on October 24, 2026 and Koan Meditation Timer on October 20, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*