Comparison

WakeCycle vs WakeArc

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

Head to head
About

WakeCycle

Features
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Wake up feeling refreshed every morning with WakeCycle - the scientific alarm clock that works with your natural sleep cycles. Say goodbye to morning grogginess and sleep inertia. WakeCycle uses scientifically proven 90-minute sleep cycle calculations to time your wake-up perfectly during REM sleep (light sleep), so you start your day alert and energized. KEY FEATURES: 2-Stage Alarm System Our unique 2-stage alarm gently prepares your brain before waking. Stage 1 plays a soft, gentle sound 20 minutes before your target wake time, allowing your body to transition naturally from deep sleep. Stage 2 sounds at your set time to ensure you wake up on schedule. This gradual approach dramatically reduces the stress of sudden awakening. 90-Minute Sleep Cycle Optimization Human sleep follows approximately 90-minute cycles, alternating between deep sleep and REM (light) sleep. Waking up during deep sleep causes grogginess, while waking during REM leaves you feeling refreshed. Simply set your wake time, and WakeCycle calculates the optimal bedtime to complete full sleep cycles. Smart Bedtime Notifications Receive personalized bedtime reminders based on your wake time. Build healthy sleep habits by going to bed at the optimal time for your schedule. Intuitive Sleep Visualization See your sleep patterns at a glance with our beautiful wave graph. Understand how sleep cycles work and why timing matters for quality rest. Beautiful Midnight Glow Theme Eye-friendly dark mode design perfect for use in dark bedrooms. Elegant interface with smooth animations makes setting alarms simple and pleasant. Scientific Evidence Based WakeCycle is designed based on research from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and the Sleep Foundation. We follow the latest sleep science to recommend optimal sleep duration and wake timing. HOW IT WORKS: Step 1: Set your desired wake time Step 2: Receive a bedtime notification at the calculated optimal time Step 3: Go to bed and fall asleep naturally Step 4: Wake up refreshed as our 2-stage alarm guides you through the sleep cycle WHO IS WAKECYCLE FOR? Perfect for professionals, students, and anyone who wants to: - Eliminate morning grogginess and sleep inertia - Wake up feeling alert and productive - Improve overall sleep quality - Establish healthy sleep routines - Understand the science behind better rest SLEEP SCIENCE EDUCATION: Access our built-in Sleep Science section to learn about: - The 90-minute sleep cycle structure - Differences between deep sleep and REM sleep - Optimal sleep duration recommendations with health scores - Pre-sleep routine tips (the 3-2-1 rule: no food 3 hours, work 2 hours, screens 1 hour before bed) Download WakeCycle now and experience the difference of waking up at the right time. Science says you can start every morning feeling refreshed - let us help you prove it. For support and feedback, contact us at eerf0309+wakecycle@gmail.com

About

WakeArc

Features
Read full description

WakeArc is a fast sleep-cycle alarm planner for iPhone and Apple Watch. Tap Sleep Now to see a recommended wake time based on 90-minute cycles, or choose Wake At to work backward from the morning. Adjust your wind-down buffer, set the selected alarm, and keep choices synced with Apple Watch. WakeArc Pro unlocks every sleep-cycle option so you can compare 3, 4, 5, and 6 cycles and choose the night that fits.

Screenshots

WakeCycle3 screens
WakeArc3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WakeCycle at none against WakeArc's 1. WakeCycle also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 26.0). WakeArc's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. WakeArc sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. WakeCycle asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

WakeCycle ships an update weekly, WakeArc every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
WakeCycle versus WakeArc: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWakeCycleWakeArc
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch โ€” better
Requires iOS15.1 โ€” better26.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size24 MB7 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerakira kawataDuy Bui

In-app purchases

None

WakeCycle

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

WakeArc

One-time1
  • Pro$4.99

Questions

Is WakeCycle free?
WakeCycle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is WakeArc free?
WakeArc is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do WakeCycle or WakeArc have ads?
Neither WakeCycle nor WakeArc shows ads.
Which is updated more often, WakeCycle or WakeArc?
WakeCycle ships an update weekly, and WakeArc every 2 days. Most recently, WakeCycle was updated on October 25, 2026 and WakeArc on October 25, 2026.

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