What is Zen used for?

Zen is an iPhone relaxation app with breathing exercises, meditations, soundscapes and mood check-ins that suggests sessions based on how you feel, with optional Apple Health logging. It is a good fit for short breathing breaks during a stressful day and playing ambient sounds to help with sleep.

Yes. Zen has a free plan, and paid plans start at $24.99 per year.

No. Zen is proprietary (closed-source) software. In the Productivity category, open-source options include NetNewsWire, Foqos and PowerToys.

What are some alternatives to Zen?

Other SaaS products in the Productivity category include Breathbreak, Breathing Exercises And A Cat and NoThink.

Zen: features, pricing and alternatives

About Zen

Zen is an iPhone app for calming down and winding down, built from short breathing, meditation and sound sessions. It recommends breathing, meditation and sounds based on the emotion you report, and offers mood check-ins with optional prompts four times a day. The breathing library includes Box Breathing, 4-7-8, diaphragmatic, coherent and equal breathing, and Wim Hof breathwork was added in an update. The listing frames it around NSDR protocols and somatic exercises, and adds that it is not a substitute for professional medical care.

Meditations can be guided or unguided and include Body Scan, Mindfulness, Loving Kindness and Visualization. Soundscapes such as rain, ocean waves, a fireplace, white noise, cafe ambience and meditation bowls support sleep, relaxation and focus, with independent voice and ambient volume controls and lock-screen controls. Reminder times are customizable, and Apple Health integration can record mindful minutes and State of Mind logs. A few sessions are premium; watching a short video opens them for one week. Zen Pro costs $19.99 a year or $59.99 for lifetime access.

Key features

Emotion-based session recommendations
Mood check-ins with optional daily prompts
Breathing exercises including Box and 4-7-8
Guided and unguided meditations
Soundscapes for sleep and focus
Separate voice and ambient volume controls
Apple Health mindful minutes logging
Custom reminder times

Good fit for

Short breathing breaks during a stressful day
Playing ambient sounds to help with sleep

Tags: meditation; breathing; stress-relief; ios; mindfulness; soundscapes; wellness; apple-health

Zen: questions and answers

What is Zen used for?: Zen is an iPhone relaxation app with breathing exercises, meditations, soundscapes and mood check-ins that suggests sessions based on how you feel, with optional Apple Health logging. It is a good fit for short breathing breaks during a stressful day and playing ambient sounds to help with sleep.
Is Zen free?: Yes. Zen has a free plan, and paid plans start at $24.99 per year.
Is Zen open source?: No. Zen is proprietary (closed-source) software. In the Productivity category, open-source options include NetNewsWire, Foqos and PowerToys.
What are some alternatives to Zen?: Other SaaS products in the Productivity category include Breathbreak, Breathing Exercises And A Cat and NoThink.