Comparison

Pillow vs NextSet

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pillow

This app helps you understand and improve your sleep. It automatically tracks your sleep cycles, analyzes heart rate, and records audio events like snoring. Get personalized insights and tips to wake up feeling refreshed.

Highlights
  • Automatic sleep tracking
  • Smart alarm clock
  • Snore and sleep talking recorder
  • Sleep cycle analysis
  • Heart rate analysis
  • Personalized sleep tips
  • Sleep aid library
Features
Read full description

Sleep trouble? Sleep better with Pillow, your smart sleep tracker. Pillow can analyze your sleep cycles automatically using your Apple Watch, iPhone or iPad. Use Pillow as a smart alarm clock to wake up at the lightest possible sleep stage and start your day refreshed and relaxed. Record important audio events such as snoring, sleep apnea, and sleep talking. Explore trends about your sleep and compare your sleep quality with many Apple Health metrics that affect sleep. As seen on: The New York Times, Forbes, The Guardian, BuzzFeed, The Washington Post, TechCrunch, MacStories, Daily Mail, and many more. Rated as one of the best sleep tracking apps for the Apple Watch and iPhone. Join the millions that have discovered the life-changing benefits of great sleep! TRACK YOUR SLEEP AUTOMATICALLY - Simply wear your Apple Watch during sleep. Pillow will automatically detect and analyze your sleep. - View last night's report right on your Apple Watch, along with the heart rate analysis for the night. - Switch between manual and automatic mode anytime. SLEEP CYCLE & HEART RATE ANALYSIS - Advanced sleep cycle analysis algorithm based on the latest scientific findings in sleep research. - Detailed heart rate analysis - Detailed sleep stage diagram (Awake, REM, Light Sleep, Deep Sleep) and sleep score. - Home Screen, Lock Screen Widgets and Apple Watch Complications AUDIO RECORDINGS USING MACHINE LEARNING - Snoring, sleep apnea, sleep talking and other nightly sounds. - All processing is done using on-device intelligence to ensure privacy. PERSONALISED INSIGHTS & SLEEP TIPS - Create a unique personal sleep program to reach your goals - Regularly updated sleep tips - Advanced Insights, including optimal bedtime, chronotype and more. SLEEP TRENDS - Explore your sleep history with Week, Month, Year, and All Time overviews. - Compare your sleep quality with many Apple Health categories that affect sleep. BACKUP & SYNCHRONIZE - Synchronize and backup your sleep data and audio recordings between your devices. ALARM PRESETS & NAPS - Powernap, recovery, and full-cycle nap - Customisable alarm presets MOOD & NOTES - Track your mood when you wake up - Discover how your notes affect your sleep quality SLEEP AID - Access an expanding library of Meditations, Bedtime Stories, Soundscapes and Music. - Use a track from Apple Music or iTunes as an alarm. - Siri Wind Down support PREMIUM FEATURES: - Unlimited sleep history & analysis - Advanced sleep analysis - Sleep trends & Apple Health comparison - Sleep notes - Heart rate analysis - Sound recordings - Nap modes & Customisable presets - Access to Sleep aid library - Access to all wake-up melodies - Discover: Create a personalised sleep program. - Wake-up melodies from your iTunes library or Apple Music - Data export in CSV format - Smart Wake-up Learn more at https://pillow.app SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account as soon as you confirm your purchase. You can manage your subscriptions and turn off auto-renewal from your Account Settings after the purchase. If you start a free trial, you will be charged automatically at the end of the trial period unless you cancel 24 hours before the expiration period. Your subscription will renew automatically unless you turn off auto-renew at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. The renewal cost will be charged to your account within 24 hours before the end of the current period. When canceling a subscription, your subscription will stay active until the end of the period. Auto-renewal will be disabled, but the existing subscription will not be refunded. If offered, any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when purchasing a subscription. Terms & Privacy Policy: https://pillow.app/pillow-privacy-policy-en

About

NextSet

Features
Read full description

Keep a short rest from turning into a long scroll. NextSet is a rest timer for workouts organized into sets. • Choose 30 seconds to 10 minutes of rest and start the countdown after each set. • Get interval reminders every 30 or 60 seconds, with at most two extra reminders after rest ends. Optional system alarms require separate permission. • See the countdown on your Lock Screen and supported Dynamic Island. Start the next set or add 30 seconds directly. • Optional app limits: restrict selected apps or websites during training, make them available during rest, and share a 1- or 2-minute usage allowance each round. Requires individual Screen Time authorization. • Release limits for the current workout at any time while timing continues. Finishing clears this app's restrictions. • Use the paired Apple Watch to start rest, extend it, begin your next set or confirm finishing. Start on iPhone and keep it connected. Wrist taps work while the watch app is active; background reminders use the iPhone system alarm. • Keep your last 30 workouts on device and create a share image showing total duration, all rest and recorded sets. • English and Simplified Chinese follow system or app language settings. No account, ads or in-app purchases. Timing starts with your actions. NextSet does not detect every unlock or lock the whole phone. Screen Time measures selected-item usage separately from the rest timer; system callbacks may be delayed. Extending rest does not add an allowance. Notifications depend on notification and Focus settings. Sets are recorded by your taps. Total duration includes rest. Extra rest is not phone usage, and share images do not claim whole-phone usage or a phone-use score. NextSet does not record heart rate, start a HealthKit workout or provide medical advice. Choose rest durations that suit your training.

Screenshots

Pillow4 screens
NextSet1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NextSet at none against Pillow's 6. NextSet also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 10 days). Pillow's advantage is chart position (#147 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Pillow sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. NextSet asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pillow ships an update every 10 days, NextSet daily. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Pillow versus NextSet: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPillowNextSet
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (96K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews41.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings96K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
Best chart rank#147 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size691 MB3 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperNeybox Digital Ltd.少鹏 冯

Bugs and requests

Pillow

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes or freezes
  • Sleep data not syncing properly
  • Audio recording issues
  • Alarm not working as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to edit sleep sessions and data
  • Sleep cycle trends and insights
  • Dream journal integration
  • More customization options for alarms and sounds

NextSet

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Pillow

Subscriptions5
  • Pillow Premium - Monthly$19.991 Month
  • Premium Sleep Tracking7 Days trial$49.991 Year
  • Pillow Premium - Annual$49.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Pillow Premium - Annual1 Year trial$49.991 Year
  • Pillow Premium - Quarterly$59.993 Months
One-time1
  • Pillow Premium - Legacy$249.99
None

NextSet

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pillow free?
Pillow is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NextSet free?
NextSet is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pillow or NextSet have ads?
Neither Pillow nor NextSet shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pillow or NextSet?
Pillow ships an update every 10 days, and NextSet daily. Most recently, Pillow was updated on October 29, 2026 and NextSet on October 26, 2026.

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