# Start Stretching vs Yoga | Down Dog

The clearest difference is ads: Yoga | Down Dog at none against Start Stretching's shown. Yoga | Down Dog also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (327K vs 3.6K). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Start Stretching sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Yoga | Down Dog sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Yoga | Down Dog holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Yoga | Down Dog has 327K ratings behind it against 3.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Start Stretching's written reviews are positive against 93% of Yoga | Down Dog's.

Start Stretching ships an update every 4 months, Yoga | Down Dog every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Start Stretching | Yoga | Down Dog |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (3.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-stretching/id827568897/reviews) | **[4.9 (327K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yoga-down-dog/id983693694/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 3.6K | **327K** |
| Positive reviews | 79.8% of reviews | **92.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#112** |
| Size | 9 MB | 101 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yogasoft Applications](https://appshunter.io/developer/827568900) | [Yoga Buddhi Co.](https://appshunter.io/developer/983693693) |

## What reviewers say

### Start Stretching

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-stretching/id827568897)

Improve your physical flexibility with guided stretches designed for beginners. This app offers simple instructions and a built-in timer to make daily stretching convenient. Track your progress and integrate with your health app to monitor your fitness journey.

**Highlights:** Beginner-level stretches, Easy-to-follow graphics and instructions, Configurable stretch durations, Built-in timer, Health app integration, Statistics tracking, Automatic stretch cycling

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Start Stretching Premium | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Straightforward stretching routine
- 💪 Helpful for improving flexibility
- ⏱️ Effective timer and countdown features
- 📊 Useful statistics and progress tracking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Limited number of stretches
- 🤔 Lack of customization and progression options
- 💰 Premium version not worth the cost
- 🤯 Confusing instructions and interface for some users

**Reported bugs**

- Occasional freezing or looping issues
- Inconsistent behavior with left/right stretch variations

**Requested features**

- More stretching exercises and routines
- Ability to create custom stretching programs
- Guided audio or video instructions
- Integration with fitness tracking apps


### Yoga | Down Dog

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yoga-down-dog/id983693694)

**Currently charting:** #112 Top Grossing · Health & Fitness (US App Store)

This app generates a unique yoga, meditation, Pilates, or HIIT workout every time you start. It's fully customizable to your skill level, focus, pace, and time, offering over a million possible configurations. Syncs with Apple Health and is available in multiple languages.

**Highlights:** Brand-new yoga practice every time, Over ten styles of yoga, Customizable focus on 19 body areas, Choice of 6 yoga teachers, Includes meditation, Pilates, and HIIT, Syncs with Apple Health, Available in multiple languages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Down Dog Membership | $2.99 | per month |
| Pro Membership | $3.99 | per month |
| Down Dog Membership | $7.99 | per month |
| Pro Membership | $12.99 | per month |
| All Access Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| All Access Subscription | $99.99 | per year |
| Pro Membership | $99.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧘‍♀️ Helps with chronic illness
- 🤸‍♀️ Customizable practices
- 🕰️ Flexible duration and pacing
- 🎶 Variety of music options
- 🧠 Calming and mindful experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🧠 Can be stressful with too much customization
- 🤸‍♀️ Expectations for poses may be unrealistic for beginners
- 🔌 Offline access removed
- 🔇 Music volume can overpower instructions
- 🔍 Lack of diversity in instructors and models

**Reported bugs**

- Syncing issues causing practices to go out of sync
- Inability to cast to TV
- Draining battery life due to background activity

**Requested features**

- Add a library of pose explanations and modifications
- Allow adjusting music volume separately from instructions
- Offer a Yoga Sculpt option
- Add a meditation component to practices
- Provide a way to exclude certain poses from a practice


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Start Stretching free?

Start Stretching is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Yoga | Down Dog free?

Yoga | Down Dog is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Start Stretching or Yoga | Down Dog?

Yoga | Down Dog is rated higher. Start Stretching averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.6K ratings, while Yoga | Down Dog averages 4.9 from 327K ratings.

### Do Start Stretching or Yoga | Down Dog have ads?

Start Stretching shows ads; Yoga | Down Dog does not.

### Which is updated more often, Start Stretching or Yoga | Down Dog?

Start Stretching ships an update every 4 months, and Yoga | Down Dog every 2 weeks. Most recently, Start Stretching was updated on November 11, 2026 and Yoga | Down Dog on November 13, 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.*
