You're looking for a breathing app you can install without pulling out your credit card after 3 days. Here's the 2026 selection of free apps, or apps with a real free version that's actually usable. No paywall hidden behind 5 features.
Why "free" has become rare
Most wellness apps (Calm, Headspace) have moved to subscription-only, with paywalls right when you open them. When you just want 5 minutes of breathing, that feels disproportionate.
The apps I list below have a free version that actually works, not a 30-second demo.
The selection
1. Respirelax+ (free, French)
Platform: iOS and Android.
Concept: a ball that goes up and down at the heart-coherence rhythm you choose (5-5, 4-6, etc.). No frills, no account, no ads.
Strengths: completely free, no advertising, created by Thierry Thomas, a recognized expert on heart coherence.
Limits: very old-school interface. No visual customization. But it does the job.
For whom: if you want the simplest possible version of heart coherence, with no noise.
2. iBreathe (free, English)
Platform: iOS and Android.
Concept: a bubble that guides your breath through several protocols (coherence, 4-7-8, box breathing). Modern, restrained interface.
Strengths: covers several breathing techniques, clean design, free with a few very discreet ads.
Limits: English only.
For whom: you want to try several breathing techniques in a single app, and English isn't a problem.
3. Dioboo (free, multilingual)
Platform: iOS.
Concept: an animated journey (chairlift, hot-air balloon, beach, etc.) that rises and falls with your breathing. No voice, no music, just a calm visual and ambient sounds.
Strengths: rich visuals (the only one in the list), no account, no notifications, designed specifically for the evening and the transition to sleep.
Limits: iOS only for now. It also works for daytime use (focus, anti-stress), but the aesthetic leans nocturnal.
For whom: you want something more immersive than the "rising ball". Especially for bedtime.
Disclosure: this is the app I built. I'm trying to be honest in the comparison.
4. Apple Health — Breathe (free, built-in)
Platform: iOS and Apple Watch.
Concept: built into Apple's Health app. You start a session, the screen shows a circle that pulses at the breathing rhythm.
Strengths: already installed if you have an iPhone, integrates with Apple Watch (light haptics), free.
Limits: very basic, no customization, no developed visual experience.
For whom: you want the bare minimum without installing another app.
5. Insight Timer (free with optional premium)
Platform: iOS and Android.
Concept: a massive library of guided meditations, plus breathing exercises. Most of the content is free.
Strengths: huge amount of content, active community, very generous free version.
Limits: it's not specifically a breathing app — you have to dig through the content to find breathing exercises. More oriented toward guided meditation.
For whom: you're torn between meditation and breathing and want both in one app.
Apps I don't recommend if you want free
- Calm: the free version is very limited. Almost everything sits behind the paywall.
- Headspace: same story, the free trial is short and everything else is paid.
- Petit BamBou: the free version gives you 8-10 meditations, then a subscription is required.
These apps are good in themselves, but if your criterion is "no subscription", they're out.
How to choose
A few questions to help you decide:
- You just want the bare minimum to do heart coherence → Respirelax+ or Apple Health.
- You want something immersive and visual, especially for bedtime → Dioboo.
- You want to try several techniques (coherence, 4-7-8, box breathing) → iBreathe.
- You're hesitating with guided meditation → Insight Timer.
The criterion that actually matters
More than the sophistication of the app, what matters is using it every evening (or every morning) for several weeks. A simple app you actually use beats any sophisticated app you abandon after 3 days.
Pick the one with the least friction to open. Open it 20 times over 30 days. You'll see the difference.