Comparison

Zen Time vs DharmaMonk

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

Head to head
About

Zen Time

Features
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Zen Time β€” Your nightly wind-down companion The last 30 minutes before sleep matter more than you think. Zen Time is a gentle, private space designed to help you close the day with intention β€” no subscriptions, no notifications, no data leaving your device. A breathing timer that actually works Choose from three guided breathing patterns β€” simple 4-4, calming 4-7-8, or grounding Box breathing. A soft narrator guides each breath so you never need to look at your screen. A wind-down ritual for restful sleep Four short rituals β€” Body Scan, Gratitude, Gentle Stretch, and Affirmation β€” walk you through a calming sequence before bed. Your body learns to recognize sleep is coming. Journal your day, release your worries Write a morning or evening reflection guided by a daily prompt. Use the Brain Dump to empty your mind of worries before sleep. Everything stays private, stored only on your device. Track your daily practice Set up to five daily habits and check them off each day. The 7-day history lets you see your progress and celebrate small wins. Gentle yoga for winding down Eleven beginner-friendly poses with illustrated guidance β€” perfect for a short stretch before bed. Explore and nourish Discover mindfulness tips, wellness insights, and nutrition guidance to support your overall wellbeing β€” from what to eat to how to breathe. Completely private. Fully offline. Zen Time requires no account, no login, and no internet connection. Your journal entries, habits, and sessions never leave your device. Ever. Zen Time is for anyone who wants to end their day with a little more calm β€” whether you're new to meditation, a seasoned wellness enthusiast, or simply someone who deserves a better night's sleep.

About

DharmaMonk

Features
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When life gets heavy, you don't always need an answer β€” sometimes you just need to be heard. My Zen Master is a private conversation partner grounded in Buddhist wisdom. Ask about anxiety, grief, identity, restlessness, or anything weighing on your mind β€” and receive thoughtful reflections drawn from wisdom traditions including Zen, Tiantai, Mādhyamika, and modern contemplatives. No accounts. No tracking. Your reflections stay yours. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT β€’ No subscriptions, no ads, no data collection β€’ Draws from real philosophical depth β€” not generic affirmations β€’ Responds in your language β€” English, Chinese, and more β€’ Conversation feels natural, not scripted WHO IT'S FOR β€’ Anyone going through a hard time who wants perspective, not platitudes β€’ Meditators looking for a reflection companion β€’ People curious about Buddhist philosophy but unsure where to start β€’ Anyone who values privacy in their inner life Built with care. No internet required. Just you and the question. WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT β€’ Philosophically grounded β€” Drawing from Tiantai Buddhism, Mādhyamika, consciousness studies, and social philosophy. β€’ Personal memory β€” The master remembers what you share across sessions, offering deeper, more personal reflections over time. Clear your memories anytime. β€’ No subscriptions, no ads, no tracking β€” Free, private, and yours. HOW IT WORKS Ask about meditation, the Four Noble Truths, dependent origination, emptiness (Ε›Ε«nyatā), or simply share what's on your mind. The master meets you where you are.

Screenshots

Zen Time4 screens
DharmaMonk4 screens

Verdict

The call

Zen Time and DharmaMonk are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters β€” price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them β€” neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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

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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Zen Time versus DharmaMonk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZen TimeDharmaMonk
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyβ€”Every 2 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 β€” better16.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size147 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAZZA EL MALKIZHONGJIE ZHANG

In-app purchases

None

Zen Time

No in-app purchases

None

DharmaMonk

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zen Time free?
Zen Time is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DharmaMonk free?
DharmaMonk is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Zen Time or DharmaMonk have ads?
Neither Zen Time nor DharmaMonk shows ads.

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