Ranking updated
Breathing exercise apps: change how you feel in a few minutes
Breathing is the one part of the stress response you can steer directly, and it takes no equipment. What an app adds is pace: something to follow so you do not rush the exhale. Breathwrk has short exercises for sleep, stress, focus and energy, Othership sets longer sessions to music, iBreathe keeps it plain and lets you design your own pattern, and Prana teaches classic pranayama techniques.
How we chose: established breathwork apps compared on session style and how much they guide you. Features from each App Store listing, read in October 2026. Breathing exercises are not a treatment; if you feel dizzy, stop, and ask a doctor first if you have a heart or lung condition or are pregnant.
New short breathing and calm practices
Younger apps from independent developers in the Censuus catalogue.
Pixel Thoughts4.8★ App Storea 60-second interactive mindfulness exercise for stress and anxiety, where you take part instead of just listening.BreathFlowGoogle Playan Android app with guided breathing techniques for calm, focus, sleep, energy and recovery; pick a goal and follow visual guidance with optional sound and haptic cues.
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Short, guided resets: Breathwrk
Breathwrk offers guided exercises for sleep, stress, focus and energy that work in short bursts, with customisable sounds, visuals and haptic vibration so you can follow with your eyes closed. It is now part of Peloton, and Peloton members get it with their membership.
Breathwork as a ritual: Othership
Othership sets its sessions to music, led by breathwork facilitators, from about a minute up to an hour. It is built for a daily habit: something energising in the morning, decompression after work, or winding down for sleep.
Plain and customisable: iBreathe and Prana
iBreathe has a deliberately simple interface, ready exercises for sleep, stress and anxiety, the option to build your own pattern, reminders to breathe during the day and Apple Health sync for mindful minutes. Prana teaches named techniques from pranayama and modern breathwork, including equal breathing, box breathing, alternate nostril and 4-7-8, with guided sessions and custom timers.
Which one to pick
A one-minute reset between meetings: Breathwrk. A longer, musical session: Othership. Your own pattern, nothing else: iBreathe. Learning the classic techniques: Prana. For longer practice, see meditation apps.
| App | Session style | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| BreathwrkApp Store | short guided exercises with sound, visuals and haptics | quick resets for sleep, stress, focus, energy |
| OthershipApp Store | music-driven sessions with facilitators, about a minute to an hour | a daily ritual, longer practice |
| iBreatheApp Store | simple guide, your own custom exercises, reminders | no-clutter daily practice, Apple Health minutes |
| PranaApp Store | pranayama techniques such as box, 4-7-8 and alternate nostril, timers | learning named techniques |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for breathing exercises?
Breathwrk suits short guided resets, Othership longer music-driven sessions, iBreathe a simple custom pattern, and Prana learning named techniques like box breathing and 4-7-8.
Is there a breathing app for box breathing?
Prana includes box breathing along with 4-7-8, alternate nostril and equal breathing, and iBreathe lets you build your own pattern.
Are breathing exercises safe?
For most people, yes, but stop if you feel dizzy, and ask a doctor first if you have a heart or lung condition or are pregnant.