Free for iPhone, Apple Watch and CarPlay
Breathe with the tide.
Water rises as you breathe in and ebbs as you breathe out. Calm, private breathing practice that tells you honestly what the research does and does not show.
Coming soon to the App Store- Free
- Works offline
- No accounts, no tracking
- Evidence labelled
The idea
Your breath already moves like a tide.
Slow breathing is easiest to follow when you can see it. So the whole app is one picture: a circle that fills as you breathe in, rests as you hold, and drains as you breathe out. Follow the water, and the timing takes care of itself.
Inhale
The water rises. Breathe in gently through the nose and let the circle fill.
Hold
The water rests. Only in the patterns that ask for it, and always comfortably.
Exhale
The tide goes out. Let the breath leave slowly and the circle drain.
Try it now
A taste of the app, right here.
Pick a technique, read what the research says about it, and breathe along with the tide. Sit down, relax your shoulders, and stop if you feel dizzy.
Eyes closed
Feel the breath on your wrist.
The Apple Watch app taps the rhythm so you never need to look at a screen. Soft taps quicken as you breathe in, rest while you hold, and fade as you breathe out.
- Works on its own, with no phone nearby.
- Keeps going with your wrist down, so you can rest your arm.
- Choose Off, Light or Standard taps, and test each one before you start.
- Optional heart rate during a session, only if you allow it.
The haptic language
Illustration of the pattern. The exact feel is tuned on real watches.
| Phase | What you feel |
|---|---|
| Inhale | Soft taps that quicken gently, so you feel the breath rising. |
| Hold | One soft tap, then stillness. |
| Exhale | Slower, fading taps, so you feel the breath falling. |
| Finish | A distinct closing tap. |
Honest about the evidence
Every technique wears its evidence on its sleeve.
Breathing apps love big promises. We would rather tell you what was studied, how many people took part, and what the studies could not show. Each technique carries one of three labels, based on how much good research exists for that exact technique.
Well studied
Well studied
Many studies and several systematic reviews, usually with small to moderate effects and mixed study quality. Slow, even breathing at around six breaths a minute lives here.
Promising
Promising
Some controlled research, often small or exploratory, pointing the right way. The cyclic sigh has this label, based on a 2023 randomised trial.
Early
Early
Popular and plausible, but little or no direct controlled research on that exact technique. Box breathing, the long exhale and 4-7-8 all sit here, and we say so.
Built to be trusted
Free, private and works anywhere.
Free, completely
No price, no ads, no in-app purchases. Nothing held back.
Private by design
No accounts and no tracking. Your sessions stay on your device, and in Apple Health only if you allow it.
Works offline
On a plane, underground or in the countryside. Nothing needs a signal.
Your own patterns
Build a custom rhythm, or take a short guided trial to find the pace that feels easiest for you.
Explains itself
Plain-English science for every technique, with sources you can open and check.
Gentle in the car
On CarPlay, only gentle audio sessions with no breath holds. Planned for when Apple approves it.
Journal
Reading for the curious.
The first articles are on their way.
One slow breath is a good place to start.
Tidal Breath is free, private and works offline. Try the demo now, or read how we weigh the evidence.