# Vela HRV vs Dusk Journal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Vela HRV at none against Dusk Journal's 1. Dusk Journal's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dusk Journal sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month. Vela HRV asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Vela HRV against 5.0 for Dusk Journal. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

Vela HRV ships an update every 3 weeks, Dusk Journal every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Vela HRV | Dusk Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vela-hrv/id6762096428/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dusk-journal/id6765956296/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 4 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Xavier Camps Novi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1557885675) | [Sri Appala Adatrao](https://appshunter.io/developer/1324897877) |

## What reviewers say

### Vela HRV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vela-hrv/id6762096428)

This app analyzes your heart rate variability (HRV) from your Apple Watch to provide a personalized stress score. It establishes your unique baseline and uses it for ongoing stress assessment, offering daily, weekly, and monthly historical data. All processing occurs on your device for enhanced privacy.

**Highlights:** Personalized 0-100 stress score, Passive background HRV measurement, Daily, weekly, and monthly history, On-device processing, iCloud data sync, No mandatory subscription

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


### Dusk Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dusk-journal/id6765956296)

This app provides a private journaling experience with AI-powered reflection questions. It analyzes your writing to identify patterns and offers insights into your mood and stress triggers, all while prioritizing your privacy.

**Highlights:** AI reflection questions, On-device pattern insights, Mood tracking, Journal history, Private by design, Pro deep insights

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dusk Pro | $2.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Vela HRV free?

Vela HRV is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dusk Journal free?

Dusk Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Vela HRV or Dusk Journal?

Vela HRV and Dusk Journal are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Vela HRV or Dusk Journal have ads?

Neither Vela HRV nor Dusk Journal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Vela HRV or Dusk Journal?

Vela HRV ships an update every 3 weeks, and Dusk Journal every 2 days. Most recently, Vela HRV was updated on October 7, 2026 and Dusk Journal on October 24, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*