Comparison

SleepBuddy App vs First Gear

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

Head to head
About

SleepBuddy App

Features
Read full description

SleepBuddy is a sleep journal. Log duration, quality, and the inputs that affect your rest. SEPARATE PAID SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED SleepBuddy is free to download. Creating, updating, or deleting entries; changing custom fields or reminders; using subscription-gated tracking areas and insights; and exporting saved data require a separately purchased, auto-renewable subscription. Monthly and yearly options are offered through Apple in-app purchase, and the price is shown before purchase. Pro tracking (paid subscription required) - Sleep window, duration, and interruptions - Quality (1–10) and morning mood - Energy through the day - Caffeine, alcohol, and screen time before bed - Sleep aids and wind-down habits Pro insights (paid subscription required) - Average sleep and consistency - What helps and what hurts your nights - Weekly and monthly trends Pro reports (paid subscription required) - Export to PDF, CSV, HTML, or plain text - Share with a sleep specialist or doctor - Copy to clipboard for patient portals Terms of Use: https://getbuddyapps.com/terms/

About

First Gear

This app guides beginner runners through walk-run intervals using live heart rate data. It adapts to your recovery needs and offers voice cues directly on your Apple Watch, allowing your phone to stay home. Focus on consistent progress without pressure or guilt.

Highlights
  • Heart rate-guided walk/jog intervals
  • Apple Watch voice cues
  • Adaptive recovery adjustments
  • Outdoor route maps by effort
  • Session history and trends
  • Integration with Apple Health
Features
Read full description

Starting running, or starting again? First Gear guides easy jogs and walking breaks using your live heart rate. Your Apple Watch speaks the cues, so your phone can stay home. ON THE WAY TO A FIRST 5K Most beginner 5K plans run on a stopwatch: jog for 60 seconds whether you are ready or not. First Gear listens to your heart instead, so the easy effort that builds toward a 5K never turns into a slog, and a hard day gets more room to walk instead of a failed workout. Your coach calls out each mile or kilometer as you pass it. A ROUTINE YOU CAN KEEP Sessions aim for 20 minutes, or the length you set from 10 to 60. Start with three days a week, with room to walk whenever you need to. Six stages shape your coaching range while keeping the run length you choose. Qualifying sessions can offer the next stage. You choose whether to try it or stay where you are. COACHING THAT PAYS ATTENTION Your coach can give you more room for walking recovery on warm days, after a break, or when recent sessions felt hard. It explains the adjustment before you start. After a run of shorter outings, it can set a shorter goal instead. There is no daily readiness rating. You choose your run length and how the top of your heart rate range is set: First Gear's estimate, MAF, Zone 2 (Apple's own on iOS 27) or your own number. ON YOUR WATCH, THEN ON YOUR PHONE • Voice cues guide when to jog and when to walk • Two coach voices, Lana and Cal • Guided mobility before you set off • Outdoor route maps shaded by effort • Session history, heart-rate charts, and Easy score trends • Workouts saved to Apple Health Your Easy score shows time inside your coaching range during scored portions of a session. It is feedback on that session, not a fitness test. NO WATCH? RUN WITH YOUR IPHONE (BETA) With AirPods Pro 3 or Powerbeats Pro 2, your coach can run on your iPhone instead. It reads the heart rate your earbuds measure and speaks through them, and your run shows on the Lock Screen while the phone stays in your pocket. Phone runs are outdoors for now, and they count like any other run. NO STREAKS. NO GUILT. No catch-up workouts. A break does not take away your stage. Your coach makes room for your return, and your badges stay yours. No account required. Set up on iPhone, run with Apple Watch, and review your sessions afterward on your phone. First Gear requires an iPhone with iOS 18 or later and, for watch runs, an Apple Watch with watchOS 11 or later. Phone runs, in beta, need iOS 26 or later and AirPods Pro 3 or Powerbeats Pro 2, and setup offers them only when none of its heart-rate questions applies to you. SUBSCRIPTION First Gear Coaching. 7 days free, then billed monthly or yearly, at the price shown in your local currency before you confirm. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the period, and you can manage or cancel it in your Apple Account settings. Cancel at least a day before the free week is up and you pay nothing. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://firstgear.run/privacy

Screenshots

SleepBuddy App4 screens
First Gear4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SleepBuddy App at none against First Gear's shown. SleepBuddy App also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 5 days) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SleepBuddy App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and First Gear sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SleepBuddy App ships an update every 2 days, First Gear every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
SleepBuddy App versus First Gear: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSleepBuddy AppFirst Gear
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.7 (3 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 5 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB153 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperArla ServicesRubber Bands LLC

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SleepBuddy App

Subscriptions2
  • SleepBuddy Pro Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • SleepBuddy Pro Annual3 Days trial$29.991 Year
2 purchases

First Gear

Subscriptions2
  • First Gear Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • First Gear Annual7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is SleepBuddy App free?
SleepBuddy App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is First Gear free?
First Gear is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SleepBuddy App or First Gear have ads?
First Gear shows ads; SleepBuddy App does not.
Which is updated more often, SleepBuddy App or First Gear?
SleepBuddy App ships an update every 2 days, and First Gear every 5 days. Most recently, SleepBuddy App was updated on September 24, 2026 and First Gear on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons