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Breathwrk vs Othership vs Wim Hof Method (2026)

Three breathwork apps that define the 2026 category. Breathwrk — now part of Peloton — is an affordable guided library of exercises, daily classes and programs. Othership offers the largest library, music-driven sessions and live classes. The Wim Hof Method app is the official single-method app, built around Wim Hof breathing and cold exposure.

Breathwrk, Othership or Wim Hof Method: which is better?

Higher ONDA score: Othership (7.7 vs 7.5 vs 6.9)

Three different jobs, three right answers. Othership scores highest overall (7.7) for its library, music-driven sessions and live classes; Breathwrk (7.5) for an affordable guided routine with a free plan; the Wim Hof Method app for the Wim Hof method specifically — and, at $42.99 a year, the cheapest subscription of the three.

⚠ Safety first: fast breathing and breath-holds

Never in or near water. Not in a pool, the sea, a bath or a cold plunge. Hyperventilating before a breath-hold delays the urge to breathe, and people have died after blacking out underwater without warning.
Never while driving, cycling or standing — or anywhere fainting would be dangerous. Sit or lie down on a safe surface; you may feel dizzy or faint.
Talk to a doctor first if you have epilepsy (over-breathing can trigger seizures), heart disease or an arrhythmia, high blood pressure, a history of fainting, panic attacks or a psychiatric condition, or if you are pregnant.
Tingling, dizziness or cramps mean carbon dioxide has dropped too far. Stop and breathe slowly and normally until they pass.
If you faint, lie down and get help. Seek medical help for fainting, chest pain, palpitations with dizziness, or symptoms that do not settle within minutes.

Studies of these methods are small; they do not show that fast breathing treats any disease.

What the evidence shows — and the risks →

Breathwrk7.5 / 10

Breathwrk

Guided breathing-exercise app with classes and programs

A well-priced guided breathing library — exercises, daily classes and programs with a free tier and Peloton inclusion — but no heart-rate or HRV feedback, and its benefit claims go uncited.

Othership7.7 / 10

Othership

Premium music-driven breathwork app with live community sessions

Best premium breathwork experience — music-driven cinematic sessions, live community classes, polished UX. Highest sub price in the category, justified by production value.

Innerfire (Wim Hof)6.9 / 10

Wim Hof Method

Official Wim Hof Method breathwork and cold-exposure app

Best for the Wim Hof Method specifically — official rounds, structured progression, cold-exposure integration. Narrow scope vs Breathwrk’s breadth.

Head-to-head breakdown

Breathwrk vs Othership vs Wim Hof Method — head-to-head comparison by criterion
Criterion	Winner	Why
Library size	Othership	Othership: 500+ on-demand sessions, curated around one music-driven style. Breathwrk: 50+ exercises (100+ on Pro) plus daily classes and programmes (official site and App Store, accessed 2026-10-11). WHM: structured rounds at varying levels — narrow by design.
Technique coverage	Tie	Breathwrk: officially named techniques include box breathing, 4-7-8, humming and long-exhale patterns. Othership: leans into rhythmic, music-led sessions. Both score 7.5; WHM teaches one method.
Evidence grounding	Wim Hof Method	Wim Hof Method scores higher on evidence: the method itself has published research, including the Radboud University study (Kox 2014). Breathwrk’s App Store copy claims HRV, heart-rate and blood-pressure benefits without citing studies. Othership leans on experience and ceremony framing.
Production / UX	Othership	Othership: cinematic, music-driven sessions. Breathwrk and WHM: cleaner, more functional apps.
Community	Othership	Othership: live classes are central to the experience. Breathwrk and WHM: mostly solo practice.
Cold-exposure integration	Wim Hof Method	WHM: cold-exposure guidance built into the method. Breathwrk and Othership: breath only.
Price	Wim Hof Method	WHM: $42.99/yr (Supporter Yearly). Breathwrk: $49/yr. Othership: $129.99/yr. Changed from a Breathwrk–WHM tie: WHM is now the cheapest, Breathwrk close behind (and free with some Peloton memberships).

Choose Breathwrk

Choose Breathwrk if you want an affordable guided routine — exercises, daily classes and programs — for about $49 a year, or free if you already pay for Peloton All-Access, Guide or App+.

Choose Othership

Choose Othership if you want music-driven sessions and live community classes and are willing to pay $129.99 a year for that experience.

Choose Wim Hof Method

Choose the Wim Hof Method app if you are committed to the Wim Hof method specifically, want its structured progression and cold-exposure guidance, and can practise it safely.

The short answer

Othership scores highest overall, for its large library, music-driven sessions and live classes — at $129.99 a year. Breathwrk is the affordable guided option: exercises, daily classes and programs for $49 a year, and free with some Peloton memberships. The Wim Hof Method app is the cheapest at $42.99 a year, but it teaches one method — choose it only if that method is what you want.

| | Breathwrk | Othership | Wim Hof Method app | |---|---|---|---| | Best at | Affordable guided routine | Music-driven sessions, live classes | The Wim Hof method + cold exposure | | Techniques | Box, 4-7-8, humming, long exhale and more | Mostly rhythmic, music-led | One method | | Annual price (US) | $49 | $129.99 | $42.99 | | Monthly price (US) | $9 | $17.99 | $5.99 | | Free content | Free tier | 5 rotating free sessions | Free basic version | | 3-year cost | ~$147 | ~$390 | ~$129 |

Choose Breathwrk if…

you want an affordable guided routine with a free plan to start;
you want short, structured daily sessions;
you already pay for Peloton All-Access, Guide or App+ (Breathwrk is included).

Full details in our Breathwrk review.

Choose Othership if…

music and production quality are what keep you coming back;
live community classes matter to you;
$129.99 a year is fine for that experience.

Full details in our Othership review.

Choose the Wim Hof Method app if…

the Wim Hof method is your main practice;
you want structured progression and cold-exposure guidance;
you can practise safely (see below).

Full details in our Wim Hof Method app review.

Is Wim Hof breathing safe?

Wim Hof breathing is rapid, deep breathing followed by breath-holds. It can cause tingling, dizziness and, in some people, fainting. Never practise it in or near water, while driving, or standing where a fall could hurt you. Do it sitting or lying down. Talk to a doctor first if you are pregnant or have a heart condition, epilepsy or high blood pressure.

What does the research say?

Two breathing techniques have solid trial data. In a Stanford randomised trial, five minutes a day of cyclic sighing improved mood and lowered breathing rate more than mindfulness meditation (Balban 2023). In a Radboud University trial, people trained in the Wim Hof method showed a smaller inflammatory response to an injected bacterial toxin (Kox 2014) — the breathing, not the cold, appears to drive that effect. Apps themselves have not been tested head to head. For the honest picture on what breathing does to HRV, see what breathing and cold really do to your HRV.

Related comparisons

Breathwrk vs Othership, Breathwrk vs SOMA Breath, Wim Hof Method app vs SOMA Breath, or the full best breathwork apps of 2026.

Sources

Balban MY et al. (2023). Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal. Cell Reports Medicine 4(1):100895. doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100895
Kox M et al. (2014). Voluntary activation of the sympathetic nervous system and attenuation of the innate immune response in humans. PNAS 111(20):7379–7384. doi:10.1073/pnas.1322174111
Breathwrk — official site (Pro pricing, Peloton membership; checked 2026-10-11), Breathwrk on the App Store (checked 2026-10-11), Othership on the App Store and Wim Hof Method on the App Store, checked 2026-10-03

Common questions

Which breathwork app is best in 2026?

It depends on what you want. Othership ($129.99/yr) scores highest overall, with the largest library, music-driven sessions and live classes. Breathwrk ($49/yr) is the affordable guided option with a free plan. The Wim Hof Method app ($42.99/yr) is the official app for one specific method with cold exposure.

Is Breathwrk or Othership better?

Othership scores higher overall (7.7 vs 7.5) on library size, production and live community classes. Breathwrk wins on price ($49 vs $129.99 a year) and has a free plan. Pick Breathwrk for an affordable guided routine; pick Othership if the music and community are what keep you practising.

How much do Breathwrk, Othership and the Wim Hof Method app cost?

In the US App Store: Breathwrk Pro $49 a year or $9 a month; Othership $129.99 a year or $17.99 a month; Wim Hof Method Supporter $42.99 a year or $5.99 a month. All three have some free content. Breathwrk is included with Peloton All-Access, Guide and App+.

Is Wim Hof breathing safe?

For most healthy adults, sitting or lying down, yes — but it can make you dizzy or faint. Never do it in or near water, while driving, or anywhere a blackout could hurt you. Check with a doctor first if you are pregnant or have a heart condition, epilepsy or high blood pressure.

Do I need the Wim Hof Method app if I already use Breathwrk?

Only if the Wim Hof method is your main practice. The official app adds structured progression and cold-exposure guidance. Breathwrk's official materials do not list Wim Hof-style rounds, so use the official app if that method is what you want.

See the full ranking

Best Breathwork Apps (2026)

ONDA ranks the ten best breathwork apps of 2026 — Othership, Breathwrk, SOMA Breath, Wim Hof Method, Open, Pause, Inhale, Prana Breath, iBreathe and Breathe2Relax. Scored on library, technique coverage, evidence and value.

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