Cardiographer vs Heartthrum
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Cardiographer
Read full descriptionHide full description
Cardiographer turns your iPhone's rear camera into a fingertip pulse reader. Cover the camera with a fingertip and watch your full pulse waveform at 240 samples per second โ heart rate, the pulse shape with its dicrotic notch, and heart-rate variability for stress & recovery awareness. Everything is processed on your device; nothing is uploaded. SEE EVERY BEAT โข Live pulse waveform at 240 Hz with beat-by-beat detail โข One averaged beat with the dicrotic notch labeled โข Heart rate (BPM) with signal-quality feedback STRESS & RECOVERY, YOUR WAY โข HRV (SDNN) after every reading โข Trends over time in History โข Export readings as CSV PRIVATE BY DESIGN โข 100% on-device processing โ no account, no cloud, no tracking A FINGERTIP AND SOME LIGHT โข Cleanest signal in daylight โ just face the incoming light โข Dark room? Turn on the flash with one tap, or use any lamp โข Clear guidance for a good signal CARDIOGRAPHER PRO Unlimited readings, full history and CSV export with a monthly subscription โ 7-day free trial for new subscribers. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account; the subscription auto-renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel anytime in Settings. Cardiographer is for general wellness and fitness only. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or monitor any medical condition. Terms of Use (Apple standard EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://software.nanorescenter.com/cardiographer-privacy
Heartthrum
Read full descriptionHide full description
Heartthrum turns your iPhone into a simple pulse monitor. Place your fingertip on the back camera and see your heart rate in about 40 seconds. Completely free. No ads. No subscriptions. No in-app purchases. No account. Your data never leaves your device. MEASURE Place your finger on the camera and flash. Heartthrum reads the tiny color changes in your fingertip caused by your heartbeat and shows your pulse with a live waveform. TRACK YOUR WELL-BEING Save each measurement with an optional context (resting, after activity, morning, evening) and how you feel. Follow your trends by day, week, or month. BREATHE Relax with guided breathing at about six breaths per minute. Choose 1, 3, or 5 minutes. APPLE HEALTH If you want, Heartthrum can save your measured heart rate to Apple Health. This is off by default and fully under your control. PRIVACY FIRST Heartthrum collects no data at all. There are no trackers, no analytics, and no network connection. Everything stays on your iPhone. Important: Heartthrum is not a medical device. Measurements are for wellness and general well-being purposes only and do not replace professional medical advice.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Heartthrum at none against Cardiographer's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Cardiographer sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month. Heartthrum asks for nothing beyond the download.
Cardiographer ships an update every 2 weeks, Heartthrum weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cardiographer | Heartthrum |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Weekly โ better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No โ better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | NANO ELECTRONICS RESEARCH MUHENDISLIK ARASTIRMA GELISTIRME LIMITED SIRKETI | Dachverband Legasthenie Deutschland e.V. |
In-app purchases
Cardiographer
- Subscription7 Days trial$1.991 Month
Heartthrum
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Cardiographer free?
Is Heartthrum free?
Do Cardiographer or Heartthrum have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cardiographer or Heartthrum?
Other comparisons















