Not all breathing apps serve the same purpose. The most useful starting point is understanding what kind of breathing practice you want to build — because the right app depends entirely on the technique, not on which app has the best design or most features.
Breathwork Studios makes three dedicated breathing apps, each built around a specific technique or system. Here is a plain-language guide to which one fits which need.
| If you want to practise… | Best app |
|---|---|
| Pranayama — a broad library of yogic breathing techniques | Yogi Breath |
| A wide range of breathwork and breathing exercises | Yogi Breath |
| A structured beginner-to-advanced breathing curriculum | Yogi Breath |
| Box breathing (4-4-4-4 / square breathing) | Breathe Even |
| The physiological sigh (double inhale + long exhale) | Cyclic Sighing |
Best for: Anyone who wants to learn and practise a broad library of breathing techniques, including traditional pranayama.
Yogi Breath includes 42 guided breathing techniques organized across 6 progressive skill levels from Newbie to Yogi. Its library spans classical pranayama techniques — Nadi Shodhana, Ujjayi, Bhramari, Kapalabhati, Bhastrika, Sitali, Sama Vritti, and more — alongside modern breathing exercises including box breathing, 4-7-8, and diaphragmatic breathing.
Choose Yogi Breath if:
Pricing: Free to download — $4.99/month, $29.99/year, or $59.99 lifetime. iOS 16 or later.
Full overview of Yogi Breath →Best for: Anyone who specifically wants to practise box breathing — the 4-4-4-4 method also known as square breathing, tactical breathing, or Sama Vritti Pranayama.
Breathe Even is a dedicated box breathing app for iPhone. It provides guided 4-4-4-4 sessions with visual animations and haptic cues, a custom exercise builder, streak tracking, a breathing journal, Apple Health integration, Game Center, and home screen widgets. One-time $4.99 purchase, no subscription.
Choose Breathe Even if:
Pricing: Free to download — $4.99 one-time, no subscription. iOS.
Full overview of Breathe Even →Best for: Anyone who specifically wants to practise the physiological sigh — a double inhale through the nose followed by a long exhale through the mouth, also called cyclic sighing.
Cyclic Sighing is a dedicated physiological sigh app for iPhone. It guides the double inhale technique specifically, with optional voice guidance and haptics, three breathing patterns (Calm, Relax, Rest), pre- and post-session mood check-ins tied to every session, mood insights, streak tracking, and Apple Health integration. Free to download, one-time $9.99 Pro, no subscription.
Choose Cyclic Sighing if:
Pricing: Free to download — $9.99 one-time Pro, no subscription. iOS 16.6 or later.
Full overview of Cyclic Sighing →The three apps are complementary, not competing. Yogi Breath's library actually includes Sama Vritti (box breathing) as one of its 42 techniques — but if box breathing is your specific daily practice, Breathe Even's dedicated features (custom counts, detailed streak tracking, journal) serve that practice better. Similarly, the physiological sigh appears in breathwork literature, but Cyclic Sighing's mood check-in system and specific double-inhale guidance serve that technique better than a general library.
Many practitioners use more than one — Yogi Breath for a broad morning pranayama practice, and Breathe Even or Cyclic Sighing for a specific on-demand reset during the day.
All three apps are intended for general wellness and educational purposes only. They do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Some breathing techniques — particularly those involving rapid breathing or breath retention — are not suitable for everyone. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any breathing practice if you have a health condition.