Endel vs Tide

Endel

• People who work or study better with background sound than silence
• Listening across phone, computer, watch, TV and smart speaker
• US students, who can verify for 66% off Premium

Tide

• People who work or study to rain, ocean and other nature sounds
• Anyone who wants a focus timer, sleep sounds and meditation in one app
• iPhone and Apple Watch users who want sessions synced to Apple Health

Endel

• The US App Store lists different in-app amounts, including 1 Month at $19.99, 12 Months at $119.99 and Lifetime at $124.99, so the price depends on where you subscribe.
• Endel's checkout sets prices by region; the dollar figures here are its default list, and other regions are charged different amounts in local currency.
• The App Store listing confirms a Free Edition but does not say which soundscapes it includes.
• The student discount is limited to residents of the United States and is verified through SheerID.

Tide

• Tide publishes no prices on its website; the figures here come from its US App Store listing.
• The App Store also lists Tide Membership purchases at $1.99, $4.99 and $15.99 and a $9.99 monthly Plus item without explaining them.
• Neither the site nor the store listing itemizes which sounds and features are free and which need Tide Plus.
• No Windows or web version is listed, and the Chrome extension the site links to no longer has a Chrome Web Store page.

Endel

Soundscapes generated in real time

Sound is generated on the device as you listen and reacts to inputs such as time of day, weather, heart rate and location, each with its own generative visual.

Focus, Relax, Sleep and Move modes

Four core soundscapes cover concentration, calming down, falling asleep and walking or running. Premium adds others, including Study, Recovery and Colored Noise.

Autoplay

Autoplay chooses a Focus, Relax or Sleep soundscape for the current part of the day, so a session starts with one press.

Scenarios and Focus Timer

Scenarios are timed sessions with set opening, middle and closing phases. The Focus Timer, a Premium feature, pairs interval work with focus sounds.

Offline listening

The store listings state that all soundscapes are available offline.

Watch, TV and smart speaker apps

A standalone Apple Watch app uses heart rate as an input, an Alexa skill works with Routines, and there are apps for Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

Tide

Focus timer

A Pomodoro-style timer that plays nature sounds while it runs. Timer lengths can be customized, and an immersive mode is meant to keep you off your phone.

Nature soundscapes

A library of recorded scenes such as rain, ocean and thunder, filed under Nature, Urban, Melody and other categories. A music fusion mode mixes your own music with the sounds.

Sleep and nap modes

Sleep sounds for the night and a nap mode for daytime, with light wake-up alarms and a sleep analysis report.

Guided meditation

Mindfulness courses such as Breathing and Body Scan, plus single sessions on topics like falling asleep and study pressure.

Breathing guide

Paced breathing exercises, including balanced breathing and the 4-7-8 pattern.

Tide Diary and Apple Health sync

A report of your sessions with shareable cards. The iOS app syncs data to Apple Health through HealthKit and supports Siri Shortcuts.

Endel

• Free Edition$0

  The edition the app starts in when the subscription offer is dismissed. The store listing does not list what it includes.

• Endel Premium (12 months)$39.99

  per year, web checkout US-dollar list

  Premium soundscapes such as Study, Dynamic Focus, Colored Noise and Recovery, artist collaborations and the Focus Timer.

• Endel Premium (3 months)$19.99

  per 3 months, web checkout US-dollar list

  The same Premium soundscapes and features, billed every three months.

• Endel Premium (1 month)$6.99

  per month, web checkout US-dollar list

  The same Premium soundscapes and features, billed monthly.

• Endel Premium (Lifetime)$249.99

  one-time purchase, web checkout US-dollar list

  Premium for a single payment with no renewal. The US App Store lists its own Lifetime purchase at $124.99.

Tide

• Free$0

  Free download with part of the sound library. The listing does not say exactly where the free version stops.

• Tide Plus (Monthly)$11.99

  per month, US App Store in-app purchase

  Auto-renewing subscription, one of two options named in the listing. The listing does not itemize what Plus unlocks.

• Tide Plus (Annual)$59.99

  per year, US App Store in-app purchase

  The same subscription billed yearly. The in-app purchase list also shows an annual Tide Plus item at $54.99.

Endel

• Annual discount

  12 months costs about 52% less than monthly

  On the web checkout's US-dollar list, Premium is $39.99 for 12 months against $6.99 a month, which comes to $83.88 over a year.

• Education

  66% off Endel Premium for students

  US residents in college, accepted into college, or in high school and aged 16 or over get 66% off a 12-month Premium plan after SheerID verification.

• Lifetime license

  Lifetime Premium for a one-time payment

  The web checkout's US-dollar list includes a Lifetime option at $249.99, paid once. The US App Store lists a Lifetime in-app purchase at $124.99.

Tide

• Annual discount

  Annual Tide Plus costs about 58% less than monthly

  The US App Store listing gives Tide Plus as $11.99 per month or $59.99 per year, so a year paid annually costs about 58% less than twelve monthly payments.