Comparison

The Waves. vs Hold

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

Head to head
About

The Waves.

Features
Read full description

Every craving follows the same arc: it rises, peaks, and dissolves on its own. Always. In about ninety seconds. Ancient monks called this vedana — the wave nature of desire. Modern neuroscience confirmed it. You don't need willpower. You just need to stay with it a little longer than feels comfortable. The Waves is a single-purpose meditation tool. When a craving hits — for food, your phone, a cigarette, anything — open the app and touch to begin. Ninety seconds of guided awareness. That's it. WHAT HAPPENS IN 90 SECONDS • A gentle countdown with body-scan prompts guides your attention • Ocean sounds shift as the wave builds and passes • A singing bowl marks the beginning and end • Subtle haptic feedback anchors you in the moment THE PRACTICE Most of us experience desire as a command. The Waves treats it as data. Commands demand action, but data invites investigation. You cannot remove the craving. You can change your relationship to it. That is the only variable. And it is enough. The wave always passes. You only have to watch.

About

Hold

This app offers a guided pause to help you manage emotional eating and cravings. It provides a 10-minute mindfulness exercise to create space between an urge and your reaction, helping you build a healthier relationship with food.

Highlights
  • Guided 10-minute pause timer
  • Identify emotional triggers
  • Log comfort swaps and outcomes
  • Track eating patterns over time
  • Personalized risk map
  • Weekly recaps and charts
Read full description

Hold is a gentle urge interruption system for emotional eating and cravings. When an urge hits, you don't have to give in to autopilot or white-knuckle it. Hold will predict when the urge will hit and notify you. Open Hold, start a guided pause, and let the moment pass with you in control. HOW IT WORKS • Start a Hold the second a craving shows up • Ride out a calm, guided 10-minute pause — it keeps counting even if you put your phone down • Name what you're really feeling: stress, boredom, loneliness, tiredness, or reward • Choose a comfort swap and log what happened • Watch your patterns take shape over time WHY IT HELPS Most snacking isn't about hunger — it's about a feeling. Hold helps you notice the trigger, create a little space, and build a calmer relationship with food, one pause at a time. Regain self trust with food through Hold HOLD PLUS • Unlimited Holds, any time • Full exercise + danger window notification system • Weekly recap and charts • Personal risk map — your most vulnerable days and times • Trigger analysis and reset effectiveness • 8-week progress trends Hold Plus is an auto-renewing subscription (weekly or yearly) or a one-time lifetime purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. Subscriptions renew automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the period, and can be managed in your Apple Account settings. Hold is a mindfulness support tool, not a medical or mental health treatment, and not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or care. If you're struggling with compulsive behaviors or an eating disorder, please consult a qualified healthcare professional. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://holdprivacy.netlify.app

Screenshots

The Waves.4 screens
Hold4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hold at every 3 weeks against The Waves.'s every 2 months. Hold also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, ads, 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. The Waves. sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Hold sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Waves. ships an update every 2 months, Hold every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
The Waves. versus Hold: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Waves.Hold
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.3 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB41 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperOscar FogelstromArnav Goel

In-app purchases

3 purchases

The Waves.

One-time3
  • Small Wave$0.99
  • Steady Tide$3.99
  • Deep Ocean$9.99
2 purchases

Hold

Subscriptions2
  • Hold Plus Weekly$2.997 Days
  • Hold Plus Yearly$39.991 Year

Questions

Is The Waves. free?
The Waves. is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Hold free?
Hold is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do The Waves. or Hold have ads?
Neither The Waves. nor Hold shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Waves. or Hold?
The Waves. ships an update every 2 months, and Hold every 3 weeks. Most recently, The Waves. was updated on October 12, 2026 and Hold on September 30, 2026.

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