Physiological Sigh vs Heed
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Physiological Sigh
This app guides you through a scientifically proven breathing technique to quickly calm your nervous system and reduce stress. It requires no prior meditation experience and offers customizable durations and ambient sounds for a personalized experience.
- Guided breathing exercises
- Customizable phase durations
- Ambient sound library
- Daily reminder notifications
- Distraction-free interface
- Haptic feedback
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Calm your nervous system in seconds. Physiological Sigh is a science-backed breathing app built around the fastest stress-relief technique ever studied. No meditation experience required. No complicated programs. Just three simple phases, and you'll feel the difference in under 30 seconds. WHAT IS THE PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGH? The physiological sigh is a natural reflex your body already performs — spontaneously, during deep sleep — to re-oxygenate your lungs and reset your nervous system. Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman and his team discovered that triggering this reflex voluntarily is the single most effective real-time tool for reducing stress and anxiety. It works in one cycle. It works anywhere. And it works immediately. HOW IT WORKS Each cycle consists of three phases: A short inhale through the nose A second, longer inhale through the nose to fully inflate your lungs A long, slow exhale through the mouth That's it. One cycle takes less than 9 seconds. A full 5-minute session delivers lasting effects on your heart rate, cortisol levels, and overall sense of calm. WHY THIS APP Most breathing apps ask you to follow complex programs or sit through lengthy guided sessions before you feel anything. This app does one thing, and does it exceptionally well. We built it around the physiological sigh specifically because the science is clear: of all real-time stress-reduction techniques studied, this one produces the fastest and most measurable results. No guesswork, no filler. FEATURES Animated breathing disc that guides you through each phase in real time Phase card showing exactly where you are in the cycle Elapsed and remaining time counter Customizable phase durations — adjust each inhale and exhale to your comfort Session length from 1 to 30 minutes Ambient sound library — rain, ocean waves, fireplace, white noise, singing bowls, and more Custom backgrounds — choose the atmosphere that helps you focus Haptic feedback with a distinct pattern for each phase Daily reminder notifications — up to 3 scheduled reminders per day Clean, distraction-free interface designed for daily use BACKED BY SCIENCE The physiological sigh has been studied since the 1930s and brought into mainstream wellness by researchers at Stanford University. A 2023 study published in Cell Reports Medicine found that cyclic sighing practiced for 5 minutes daily produced greater improvements in mood and reductions in stress than other breathing techniques and mindfulness meditation. This app puts that research directly in your hands. PERFECT FOR Moments of acute stress or anxiety Pre-meeting nerves or public speaking Winding down before sleep Resetting after an intense workout Building a daily mindfulness habit without the time commitment SIMPLE BY DESIGN Open the app. Press play. Breathe. That's the entire experience. No account required to get started, no onboarding questionnaire, no streak pressure. Just a tool that works when you need it. Start your first session today. Your nervous system will thank you. Physiological Sigh is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical condition. If you experience anxiety disorders or other health conditions, please consult a qualified healthcare professional. - Terms Of Use : https://occirama.com/physiological-sigh/terms-of-use/ - Privacy Policy : https://occirama.com/physiological-sigh/privacy/
Heed
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Heed is a guided practice space for the Attention Training Technique (ATT) — a structured listening exercise described in published metacognitive research, delivered as a 12-minute spatial-audio session. Through regular practice, the goal is to help you interrupt negative thinking patterns and build flexible control over where your focus goes. Put on headphones. Several sounds take their places around you — behind, beside, above. A calm voice guides you through three phases: focus on a single sound while the others compete, switch your attention between sounds on cue, then widen out and hold them all at once. That's the whole practice. It's simple, and it's genuinely hard — that's the point. SPATIAL AUDIO • The original technique places each sound at a different location in the room — a structure no flat recording can reproduce • Heed restores it with true 3D audio — works with any headphones SOUND MIXES • Start with sounds selected to work well together, then preview, swap, or shuffle them if you like • Save combinations you like and return to them anytime SCENES • A growing library of crafted soundscapes — a forge in the rain, a crowded coffeehouse, a reef twelve meters down… • Each scene is a composed atmosphere: sounds chosen to belong together YOUR PRACTICE • Your practice is tracked with session stats and trends over time — stored on your device • Optional questions after each session trace your progress • Gentle reminders help you keep a regular practice, at your own pace FREE & PREMIUM Heed is fully functional for free: the complete guided training, a selection of scenes, and Sound Mixes using a starter sound library — no time limits. Premium unlocks the full scene and sound catalog, available as a monthly or annual subscription, or a one-time lifetime purchase. DISCLAIMER Heed is a tool for self-guided practice, not a substitute for therapy or medical care. Terms of Service: https://excessive-raptor-1ad.notion.site/Heed-Terms-of-Service-39cca91f51548008997feb22f907c34b
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Heed at 17.0 against Physiological Sigh's 26.2. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Physiological Sigh sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Heed sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Physiological Sigh | Heed |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | Every 3 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.2 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 43 MB | 304 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | emmanuel orvain | SK95 Engineering AB |
In-app purchases
Physiological Sigh
- Premium Account / Month$2.991 Month
- Premium Account / Year$9.991 Year
Heed
- Monthly$2.991 Month
- Annual$19.991 Year
- Lifetime$49.99









