Breathing Apps: What Evidence Shows, Privacy and Subscriptions
What research says about breathing and relaxation apps, how they handle your data, what to check about subscriptions, and when an app is not the right tool. No rankings.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What breathing apps do
Most apps show a pacing cue, such as a circle that grows and shrinks, so you can match slow breathing to it. Some add reminders and a practice log. One research app for military veterans with brain injury and post-traumatic stress added reminders, biofeedback, and visual, touch and sound guidance. [1] NCCIH describes biofeedback as a device that lets you see how your heart rate, blood pressure or muscle tension changes with stress or relaxation. [2] See biofeedback devices for that side.This page covers general evidence only. We do not name, rank or recommend any app.
What research shows
Trials of apps are small or short, and nobody can be blinded to a breathing exercise, so expectations may shape results. Several studies were run with, or by people connected to, the app makers.| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Quick anxiety relief | A trial of 1,092 people compared 12 exercises in one app, including diaphragmatic breathing, with reading and measurement-only controls. All 12 reduced anxiety more than controls, with diaphragmatic breathing at an effect size of 0.6. The study measured the immediate effect. [3] The company's chief executive and founder are named in the conflict statement. [3] | Promising but limited |
| After a stressful task, in teenagers | 73 healthy adolescents did app-guided slow breathing or rested naturally. Heart rate variability measures differed, but the authors also said app-guided slow breathing without longer training may feel more uncomfortable. [4] | Mixed |
| Veterans with brain injury and PTSD | In a pilot of 30 people, the app group had better goal attainment and adherence. Stress, PTSD and anxiety measures improved in both groups. [1] | Insufficient evidence of added benefit |
| Long-term benefit of commercial breathing apps | Proper evidence not found. We searched PubMed for breathing-app and smartphone slow-breathing trials and found individual short studies and trial protocols, but no review pooling long-term outcomes. | Insufficient evidence |
In plain terms: guided breathing in an app can feel calming for some people in the short term. We found no solid proof about lasting health effects. For the wider evidence on slow breathing see breathing exercises for stress.
Privacy: what to check
A 2019 study of 36 top-ranked depression and smoking-cessation apps found 33 sent data to third parties, and 29 sent data for advertising or analytics to just two companies, yet only some disclosed this. [5] These were not breathing apps, so we cannot say the same holds for them. We did not find a privacy study of breathing apps specifically. The same study notes most health apps fall outside government regulation. [5] FDA has a published policy for low-risk general wellness products. [6] A "wellness" label is not proof an app works.Questions to ask before you install:
- What data does it collect, and is it shared with advertisers or analytics firms?
- Can you use it without an account, and can you delete your data?
- Does it ask for health details it does not need?
Subscriptions
The sources we read do not describe app pricing or renewal practices, so we make no claims about them. Before paying, read the trial length, how to cancel and whether it renews automatically, and keep a note of the date.What to look for in the exercises
Choose an app that offers comfortable, slow, easy breathing and lets you stop at any time. Avoid apps that push breath-holding, fast or forceful breathing, or that "gamify" longer holds. Those practices carry real risks (see breathwork safety). If focusing on breath makes you anxious, read when focusing on breath makes you anxious.Related reading
Breathing and relaxation basics, paced and resonance-frequency breathing and breathing exercises for stress.Frequently asked questions
Do breathing apps work?
Some short studies show calming effects right after use. We found no solid evidence of long-term benefit. [3][4]
Are breathing apps private?
A study of other mental health apps found widespread data sharing, so check each app's data practices. [5]
Can an app replace therapy or medicine?
No. NCCIH advises seeking a qualified professional if anxiety or depression persists. [2]
Which breathing app is best?
We do not rank apps. Use the criteria above: comfortable pacing, privacy and clear cancellation.
Is a free app safer than a paid one?
The sources we read do not compare them. Judge each by its exercises, data practices and cancellation terms.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety first
An app cannot tell you whether breathlessness, chest pain or a panic episode is serious. If breathing is hard, you have chest pain, or you feel faint, stop and get urgent care (in the US, call 911). If you are in emotional crisis in the US, call or text 988. Pick any app only as a gentle extra, never in place of medicines, therapy or medical advice. Stop any exercise if you feel dizzy, tingly, faint, anxious or short of breath, and never use one while driving, bathing, swimming or near water.
Who should check first
Ask a clinician before relying on breathing practice if you have asthma, COPD or other lung conditions, heart conditions, blood pressure problems, epilepsy, pregnancy, glaucoma, psychosis, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, trauma history or an eating disorder. Do not change medicines because of an app.
References
- Implementation of a mobile technology-supported diaphragmatic breathing intervention in military mTBI with PTSD. J Head Trauma Rehabil 2022. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH, Relaxation Techniques: What You Need To Know. U.S. National Institutes of Health. Read 2026-10-22.
- Sandkuhler JF et al. The immediate impact of app-based psychotherapeutic exercises on anxiety: an RCT. Depress Anxiety 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- Schleicher D et al. Does it need an app? Differences between app-guided breathing and natural relaxation in adolescents after acute stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024. Read 2026-10-22.
- Huckvale K, Torous J, Larsen ME. Assessment of the data sharing and privacy practices of smartphone apps for depression and smoking cessation. JAMA Netw Open 2019. Read 2026-10-22.
- FDA, General Wellness: Policy for Low Risk Devices. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Content current as of 6 January 2026. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.