# Shaolin Meditation vs Zen

The clearest difference is price: Zen at Free against Shaolin Meditation's $6.99. Zen also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 4 months) and device support (6 vs 3). Shaolin Meditation's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Zen is free to download; Shaolin Meditation costs $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Shaolin Meditation ships an update every 4 months, Zen every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shaolin Meditation | Zen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $6.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shaolin-meditation/id945061097/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **28** | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Size | 46 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Alex Maxim](https://appshunter.io/developer/733677632) | [Francis Dierick](https://appshunter.io/developer/332084019) |

## What reviewers say

### Shaolin Meditation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shaolin-meditation/id945061097)

Discover traditional Buddhist and Taoist meditation techniques and Qi Gong exercises from Shaolin monks. This app offers a detailed guide, natural soundscapes, and progress tracking to enhance mindfulness, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.

**Highlights:** Traditional Buddhist and Taoist meditation techniques, Gentle moving Qi Gong exercises, Detailed 40-page instructional guide, Natural sound effects and ambient sounds, Progress tracking for silent meditation, Integration with Apple Health (Mindful Minutes)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Zen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-meditation-timer/id6780166288)

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shaolin Meditation free?

Shaolin Meditation costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Zen free?

Zen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Shaolin Meditation or Zen have ads?

Neither Shaolin Meditation nor Zen shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shaolin Meditation or Zen?

Shaolin Meditation ships an update every 4 months, and Zen every 2 days. Most recently, Shaolin Meditation was updated on November 1, 2026 and Zen on October 31, 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.*