Comparison

Pacing Guard vs Pace

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

Head to head
About

Pacing Guard

This app provides structured activity and rest routines for individuals with chronic fatigue conditions. It uses voice cues and haptic feedback to guide users, with optional heart rate monitoring to ensure safe activity levels. All data is kept private and offline on the device.

Highlights
  • Customizable GO and REST intervals
  • Voice and haptic feedback for phase transitions
  • Bluetooth heart rate strap support
  • Aerobic threshold calculator
  • Offline and private operation
  • Session insights and trend analysis
  • Apple Health integration
Features
Read full description

Pacing Guard helps people with ME/CFS, Long COVID, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue follow structured activity-rest routines - without watching the clock. Voice cues, haptic feedback, with optional support of a Bluetooth heart rate strap tell you when to go and when to rest. You focus on living. The app keeps the rest. TIMER • Customizable GO and REST intervals (5 to 120 seconds) • Voice announcements at each phase transition • Countdown alerts in the final 5 seconds before switching • Haptic feedback and sound cues at phase changes • Smooth visual progress ring with phase colour coding • Works in the background with screen off HEART RATE MONITORING • Connects to any Bluetooth heart rate strap (Polar, Garmin, Wahoo, and others) • Aerobic threshold calculator to find your personal safe HR limit • Voice and haptic alerts when approaching or exceeding your limit • Configurable repeat alerts so you stay informed without being overwhelmed • Periodic heart rate announcements at configurable intervals • Time above HR limit tracked for every session, even with alerts muted SLEEP MONITORING • Long-press Start for overnight heart rate tracking • No voice cues, no alerts - continuous silent recording • Session max HR saved to history SESSION INSIGHTS • Live stats during any session - tap the live stats button • Post-session HR chart with exceedance breakdown • 8-week trend analysis with sparkline charts • Monthly pacing calendar showing your compliance at a glance • Export session data as CSV • Save sessions to Apple Health as workouts PRIVATE & OFFLINE • No accounts, no ads, no tracking • No subscriptions or hidden costs • All data stays on your device • Works fully offline ACCESSIBLE • Full VoiceOver support with descriptive labels • Dynamic Type for all text sizes • Respects Reduce Motion preference • Minimum 44pt tap targets • High Contrast mode compatible --- Disclaimer: Pacing Guard is a general-purpose interval timer and self-management aid. It is not a medical device and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or disease prevention. The app does not make any claims about health outcomes. Heart rate monitoring is provided for informational purposes only. Any routines followed using this app are self-directed and used at your own discretion. Always seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical condition.

About

Pace

Features
Read full description

Pace helps people with ME/CFS, Long COVID, MS, Parkinson's, fibromyalgia, and lupus manage their energy using pacing — a medically-recognized technique for staying within your energy envelope and preventing Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). Log daily energy check-ins, track symptoms, and visualize your energy trends over time. Pace gives you real data to share with your doctor and helps you understand your limits without judgment. Features: • Daily energy check-ins with symptom tracking • PEM risk assessment based on your personal baseline • Energy envelope visualization • Symptom frequency charts (Plus) • Doctor-ready PDF reports (Pro) • HealthKit integration (Pro) • Fully offline — no account, no tracking Terms of use - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Pacing Guard4 screens
Pace4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Pace at Free against Pacing Guard's $4.99. Pacing Guard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS

CostPrice Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Ads Ā· Monetization

Pace is free to download; Pacing Guard costs $4.99 up front. Pace sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Pacing Guard asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences Ā· 6 level
Pacing Guard versus Pace: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPacing GuardPace
Price$4.99Free — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Update frequencyEvery 9 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKim SyversenPaul OBrien

In-app purchases

None

Pacing Guard

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Pace

Subscriptions4
  • Pace Plus Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Pace Pro Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Pace Plus Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Pace Pro Yearly7 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Pacing Guard free?
Pacing Guard costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pace free?
Pace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pacing Guard or Pace have ads?
Neither Pacing Guard nor Pace shows ads.

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