# Malu vs AmbientWave

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: AmbientWave at none against Malu's 2. AmbientWave also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Malu sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. AmbientWave asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Malu against 5.0 for AmbientWave. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 5 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Malu ships an update monthly, AmbientWave every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Malu | AmbientWave |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/malu-idea-journal/id6756270920/reviews) | [5.0 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ambientwave/id6756723341/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 54 MB | 285 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Martin Zimmer](https://appshunter.io/developer/1859682623) | [Paul Crowley](https://appshunter.io/developer/1862512679) |

## What reviewers say

### Malu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/malu-idea-journal/id6756270920)

Capture fleeting thoughts, inspirations, and aspirations in a calm, organized digital journal. Track your progress as you bring these ideas to life, fostering a sense of joy and accomplishment without the pressure of productivity.

**Highlights:** Collect and save ideas, Track tried experiences, Organized and clutter-free interface, Gentle reminders for action, Focus on personal fulfillment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Malu Supporter | $2.99 | one-time |
| Malu Supporter Plus | $4.99 | one-time |


### AmbientWave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ambientwave/id6756723341)

Create personalized ambient soundscapes for focus, relaxation, or sleep. Mix various environmental sounds like rain, wind, and ocean with individual volume controls for a seamless listening experience.

**Highlights:** Mix multiple ambient sounds, Continuous loop playback, Individual sound volume control, Unlockable sound variations (Pro), White/Pink/Brown noise (Pro), Sleep timer (Pro)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Malu free?

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

### Is AmbientWave free?

AmbientWave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Malu or AmbientWave?

Malu and AmbientWave are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 5 ratings respectively.

### Do Malu or AmbientWave have ads?

Neither Malu nor AmbientWave shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Malu or AmbientWave?

Malu ships an update monthly, and AmbientWave every 5 days. Most recently, Malu was updated on October 1, 2026 and AmbientWave on October 14, 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.*