Comparison · checked 20 October 2026
A free alternative to the Calm Breathe Bubble
Calm's Breathe Bubble is a soothing breathing guide inside the Calm app, with a simplified version on calm.com. In the app you choose 4, 6 or 8 breaths a minute and a session from 1 minute to endless. If you want to set exact counts, hold your breath, add a second inhale, or skip the subscription, Breathcharge does all of that for free. The timer above is set to 4-6 breathing, six breaths a minute.
Start breathingSide by side
| Feature | Breathcharge | Calm Breathe Bubble (in the app) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, everything | One free style ("Relax"); the others are part of Calm Premium |
| Where it runs | Any browser, plus optional home-screen app | Calm app on iOS and Android; a simplified version on calm.com |
| Breathing pace | Any pattern, to 0.1 s | 4, 6 or 8 breaths per minute |
| Session length | Breaths, minutes or open-ended | 1 minute to endless |
| Breath holds | Yes | Not documented |
| Second sharp inhale (physiological sigh) | Yes | No |
| Sound | Music that follows each breath | Guidance and scene sounds |
| Haptics | No | Yes, on phones |
| Account | None | Calm account for the app |
Checked on 20 October 2026 against Calm's Breathe Bubble help article and the Calm App Store listing. Prices are US store prices and vary by country. Breathcharge isn't affiliated with any of these companies; all trademarks belong to their owners. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
When Calm is the better choice
Calm is a full meditation and sleep library: guided meditations, sleep stories and music, with the Breathe Bubble as one small part. If you want all of that in one subscription, it's a good choice. If you only need a breathing timer, Breathcharge is free and does more with the breath itself.
What Breathcharge does differently
- Nothing to install. It runs in any modern browser on Mac, Windows, Linux, Chromebook, iPhone and Android, and can be added to your home screen to work offline.
- Everything is free. Every technique, any pattern and any session length. No account, no ads and no premium tier.
- The physiological sigh, with a real second sharp inhale and music that crossfades into it.
- Built for your desk. A floating always-on-top window, the phase in the browser tab and audio that stays in time in the background.
- Honest about the science. Every guide cites peer-reviewed studies and says how strong the evidence is.
Breathing safely
The slow patterns here are gentle, but holds and deep inhales can make you light-headed. Stop and breathe normally if you feel dizzy. Never practise breath holds in or near water, or while driving. If you are pregnant, or have a heart, lung or seizure condition or panic disorder, check with a clinician first. Breathing exercises can complement medical care but don't replace it.
Questions
Is the Calm Breathe Bubble free?
The Relax style is free in the Calm app and a simplified version is on calm.com. Other bubble styles are part of Calm Premium. Breathcharge is completely free.
Can I add breath holds to the Calm bubble?
Calm documents pace and duration settings but not holds. In Breathcharge you can add a hold after the inhale, after the exhale, or both, to any length.
What breathing pace does the Calm bubble use?
In the app you can choose 4, 6 or 8 breaths per minute. In Breathcharge, 4 seconds in and 6 out gives 6 breaths per minute; any other pace can be set to a tenth of a second.