Comparison

CalmAnchor vs Panic Ease

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

Head to head
About

CalmAnchor

This app provides immediate support during panic attacks with a one-tap SOS feature. It offers guided breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and mood tracking to help manage anxiety and build lasting calm over time. Premium features include personalized plans and detailed trend analysis.

Highlights
  • Panic SOS from Lock Screen widget
  • Guided breathing and grounding techniques
  • Mood tracking and intensity rating
  • 30-day personalized anxiety plan
  • Gamified progress with badges and ranks
  • Apple Watch integration with haptic feedback
  • Optional Apple Health integration
Features
Read full description

Having a panic attack? Tap once. CalmAnchor opens straight into Panic SOS from a Lock Screen widget: 5-4-3-2-1 grounding, then six slow guided breaths with a live countdown in your Dynamic Island. Rate how intense it feels before and after, and watch it come down. Then it helps you need it less. Check in on your mood, follow a 30-day plan built around your triggers, and earn your way up the ranks as calm becomes a habit. PANIC SOS — FREE • One tap from your Lock Screen widget into a guided session • 5-4-3-2-1 grounding to bring you back to the present • Six slow breaths (in 4, hold 4, out 4) with a Dynamic Island countdown • Calming affirmations and a before-and-after intensity check • A coping library: box breathing, 4-7-8, body scan, thought records and more • The 988 Lifeline and Crisis Text Line, one tap away HELP FROM ANYWHERE — NEW IN 2.0 • Apple Watch app: Panic SOS on your wrist, with breaths you can feel • Start Panic SOS from the Action Button, Control Center, Siri or Spotlight • Haptic breathing: feel each breath with your eyes closed • Optional voice guidance through grounding and breathing • Optional Apple Health: mindful minutes, mood as State of Mind, and your heart rate before and after EARN YOUR CALM RANK • 50 badges to unlock, from First Anchor to secret moments like Night Watch • An Anchor Pass with 20 ranks, from First Breath to Zen Anchor, that turns from Sea Glass to Pearl as you climb • Celebrations for streaks, badges and new ranks, with cards you can share • Daily quests, plus a grace day so one missed day doesn't erase your streak • Your week in calm: a story recap of your sessions, moods and wins LASTING CALM — PREMIUM • A personalized 30-day plan built around your triggers • A guided journal with gratitude, affirmations and free writing • Mood and anxiety trends over 7 days, 30 days or all time PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your journal, moods and sessions stay on your iPhone, unless you choose to save sessions and moods to Apple Health. No account, no ads. CalmAnchor is a self-help and wellness tool, not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you're in crisis, call or text 988 or your local emergency number. SUBSCRIPTION & LEGAL CalmAnchor offers auto-renewable subscriptions (weekly, monthly, yearly) and an optional one-time Lifetime purchase. Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; manage or cancel in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://gwlabs.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://gwlabs.app/privacy

About

Panic Ease

Features
Read full description

Panic Ease was created by someone who has been there and done that, through panic attacks, relentless anxiety and the frightening physical sensations that can come with them. Its tools are shaped by what has genuinely helped in real life, while its educational content is grounded in established evidence and reputable clinical guidance. When panic hits, even simple instructions can feel like too much. Panic Ease gives you something immediate to see, touch and follow. Tap Help Me Now and choose what feels manageable: distract your attention, reconnect with your surroundings, follow one simple action, work with your breathing or ride the sensations without fighting them. Panic Ease includes tactile, sensory tools designed to keep your hands, eyes and attention occupied: • Hold and move with a flowing light • Feel a steady pulse through your finger • Press soft pads in numbered or free patterns • Follow and catch moving lights • Trace glowing shapes • Count objects and solve gentle attention exercises • Use sound, colour and room-based grounding prompts • Squeeze and release with visual and haptic feedback • Follow the rise and fall of the Ride It wave • Try small puzzles when you want something absorbing to focus on There are no streaks, lives, countdown pressure or judgements. Stop whenever you want and choose something else. BREATHING THAT MEETS YOU WHERE YOU ARE Choose a straightforward guided breathing rhythm, or teach PanicEase the pace of your breathing by tapping along. The app can begin with your current rhythm and gradually make it more even. If the pace no longer feels right, you can adjust it again at any time. You choose the length or leave the session open and continue for as long as you want. BUILD YOUR PANIC KIT Save the tools that feel most useful and keep them close. Choose one to open first when you tap Help Me Now. Optional before-and-after check-ins let you notice patterns over time without turning your feelings into a diagnosis or a score you must improve. UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING When you have more space to read, explore clear evidence-informed information about panic and anxiety, including: • Common physical symptoms and why they can feel frightening • The panic feedback loop • Anticipatory anxiety and avoidance • CBT and panic-focused CBT • Exposure and interoceptive exposure • Acceptance-based approaches • Medication, sleep, caffeine, alcohol, stress and exercise • Established treatments and where to seek professional support Medical evidence and lived experience are clearly labelled and kept separate. Sources and review dates are included so you can see where the information comes from. OPTIONAL APPLE WATCH SUPPORT The Apple Watch companion can add gentle wrist haptics during supported activities and show a simple heart-rate direction such as rising, broadly steady or easing down. Heart-rate information is provided as context only. It cannot determine why your heart rate changed or whether you need medical care. PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No accounts • No advertising • No tracking SDKs • No third-party analytics • Panic sessions and check-ins remain on your device • The app works offline • Delete your locally stored data whenever you want PanicEase also supports VoiceOver, Voice Control, Dynamic Type, Reduced Motion, Reduced Transparency, increased contrast and an optional reduced-stimuli mode. PanicEase is a support and educational tool. It does not diagnose, treat or cure anxiety, panic attacks or any medical or mental-health condition. It is meant as a companion only. It does not replace professional healthcare, but it can be used in conjunction with other therapies. New, severe or unusual physical symptoms should not automatically be assumed to be anxiety. Seek appropriate medical help when needed.

Screenshots

CalmAnchor4 screens
Panic Ease4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: CalmAnchor at Free against Panic Ease's $0.99. Panic Ease's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

CalmAnchor is free to download; Panic Ease costs $0.99 up front. CalmAnchor sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Panic Ease asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CalmAnchor ships an update every 2 weeks, Panic Ease daily. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
CalmAnchor versus Panic Ease: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCalmAnchorPanic Ease
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size82 MB5 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperGW Capital Partners LLCMark David

In-app purchases

4 purchases

CalmAnchor

Subscriptions3
  • Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Monthly3 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Yearly3 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime$79.99
None

Panic Ease

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CalmAnchor free?
CalmAnchor is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Panic Ease free?
Panic Ease costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do CalmAnchor or Panic Ease have ads?
Neither CalmAnchor nor Panic Ease shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CalmAnchor or Panic Ease?
CalmAnchor ships an update every 2 weeks, and Panic Ease daily. Most recently, CalmAnchor was updated on October 31, 2026 and Panic Ease on October 28, 2026.

Other comparisons