Comparison · checked 20 October 2026
A free alternative to The Breathing App
The Breathing App is a beautiful, well-made resonance-breathing app for iPhone, iPad and Android, with music by Moby. Breathcharge was inspired by it. If you want the same kind of calm pacer on your computer, in a browser tab beside your work, with every pattern free, this is how the two compare. The timer above is set to coherent (resonance) breathing.
Start resonance breathingSide by side
| Feature | Breathcharge | The Breathing App |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, everything | Free tier (resonance and kids ratios, sessions up to 20 min). Premium $4.99/month or $44.99/year |
| Where it runs | Any browser: Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, Android | iPhone and iPad (also Apple-silicon Macs and Vision Pro), Android |
| Install | None; optional home-screen app | App Store or Google Play |
| Custom inhale, holds and exhale | Yes, to 0.1 s | Yes (Personal Ratios) |
| Second sharp inhale (physiological sigh) | Yes | Not listed |
| Ready-made techniques | Sigh, coherent, box, 4-7-8, 4-6, 2-to-1, 7-11, triangle, equal | Resonance, box, 4-7-8, calming, focusing, energizing, grounding |
| Music | Two pieces that follow each breath, adjustable fade | Tones and music; Moby and Maejor are credited |
| Floating window on a computer | Yes (Chrome, Edge) | No |
| Account or ads | None | None |
Checked on 20 October 2026 against the App Store listing and the Google Play 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 Spotted something out of date?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 The Breathing App is the better choice
If you mostly breathe on your phone and want a polished native app, The Breathing App is excellent. It has no ads, needs no account and offers a kids mode. Its paid tier unlocks more ratios, timers and guided sound breathing.
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 there a version of The Breathing App for Windows or the web?
We could not find one; it is available for iPhone, iPad and Android, and runs on Apple-silicon Macs as an iPad app. Breathcharge runs in any browser, including on Windows.
Is The Breathing App free?
It has a free tier with resonance and kids ratios and sessions up to 20 minutes. Other ratios and features need a subscription. Breathcharge is completely free.
Can I do resonance breathing in Breathcharge?
Yes. The Coherent 5.5 preset breathes at about 5.5 breaths per minute, and you can set any inhale and exhale length to find your own resonance rate.