Soft Count vs NOVA
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
Soft Count
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Breathe at your own rhythm. Soft Count is a breathing app you can shape around yourself ā from session length and breathing rhythm to visuals and haptics. Whether you want a one-minute reset or a longer, slower session, choose the rhythm that fits the moment: Natural, Relaxation, Zen, Resonant, or Calming. ⢠Start right from a Home Screen widget with your preferred time and breathing rhythm ⢠Choose 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes ⢠Change breathing rhythms during a session without losing your remaining time or progress ⢠Use Focus Studio to adjust rings, markers, display layers, glow, thickness, size, rotation, and more in real time ⢠Follow inhale, hold, exhale, and other breathing phases through haptic guidance ⢠Set daily breathing reminders ⢠Choose System, Light, or Dark appearance ⢠Switch the app language from inside Soft Count, including support for right-to-left languages Soft Count is not here to force you into one prescribed way of breathing. It gives you the freedom to choose the breathing experience that feels right for you.
NOVA
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NOVA: Timer Beautifully simple. Effortlessly precise. Designed from the ground up to eliminate distraction, NOVA redefines how you interact with time. Wrapped in a subtle space-inspired aesthetic and built as a screen-on experience, it transforms your device into an ambient, visually captivating timepiece that looks striking on any desk or stand. Minimal by design No complicated menus. No unnecessary clutter. Absolutely no ads. Just a clean, celestial interface that serves as a visual anchor while you work, study, or relax. Crafted for complete control - Tutorial: Learn how to use the buttons with the simple app tutorial on launch. - Multi gesture start button: Tap start, tap pause, tap resume, swipe right over the button to reveal stop, then tap to stop. - Custom Presets: Tap a preset for instant focus, or long-press to easily create your own. - Custom clock: Choose from Classic or Glass and choose your colour, or simply match wallpaper. - Orbit Intervals: Track orbits clearly displayed as numbers directly underneath the timer. - Collections: Pick from a selection of images as your background - Add your photo: Use your own image as a background - Remembers Your Setup: Automatically saves all your chosen preferences so NOVA is always ready when you are. - Countdown and Stopwatch: Choose which way you want your. timer to work. Tailor your environment Toggle features on or off with a single tap to fit your exact flow, or long press for more detailed precise options. - Noise: Custom audio alerts and notifications. - Orbit: Interval tracking indicators. - Vibrate: Tactile haptic feedback. - Animate: Fluid visual movement, sound effects, and celebratory confetti - or switch them off for total static minimalism. Key Features: - Ambient Space Design: Built to remain on screen as a stunning, functional timepiece. - Volume: Lowers the volume of background audio so you can hear the countdown and success prompts - Zero Distractions: No ads, no popups, and no tracking clutter. Just a beautiful experience. - Customise: Make it your NOVA Time, elevated. Experience NOVA today.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: NOVA at Free against Soft Count's $0.29. NOVA also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
NOVA is free to download; Soft Count costs $0.29 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Soft Count ships an update every 3 weeks, NOVA every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Soft Count | NOVA |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.29 | Free ā better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 days ā better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad ā better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 ā better |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 11 MB | 70 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Makoto Fukuoka | Robert Dowling |
In-app purchases
Soft Count
No in-app purchases
NOVA
No in-app purchases









