The Portal Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Portal in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Portal
The Insider’s Guide
Nature scenes with spatial audio for focus, sleep and calm
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among focus apps, read from Portal’s own pages.
Made by Portal Labs Ltd · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Portal’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Portal’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 30 of the 65 other focus apps we grade
Portal is an app for iPhone, iPad and Mac that plays filmed nature scenes with spatial audio recordings from places such as Iceland, Costa Rica and Scotland, as a backdrop for focus, relaxation and sleep. It includes a Pomodoro timer, a sleep timer, breathing exercises and a sunrise wake-up alarm, and can match Philips Hue, Nanoleaf and HomeKit lights to the scene. A small rotating set of scenes is free, and a Premium membership opens the full library.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Portal, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for nature scenes and sound behind your work
Portal plays filmed nature scenes with spatial audio behind your work or sleep, with a Pomodoro timer, and Hue or Nanoleaf lights can follow the scene.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $2.99 / month, or $29.99 / year (US App Store).
- 3
There is a free plan
Portal Open Access: 3 portals free, refreshed monthly, with no ads or time limits, plus the timers, breathing exercises and audio mixing. Free portals may play at lower quality than Premium ones.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and macOS.
- 5
Motion visuals
Window-like views of nature filmed with digital cinema cameras in up to 12K resolution. On the Mac they play full screen or as a moving desktop background.
- 6
Spatial audio
Nature recordings in spatial audio, up to 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos. Head-tracked playback needs AirPods (3rd generation or later), AirPods Pro, AirPods Max or Beats Fit Pro.
- 7
Timers, breathing and wake-up alarm
A Pomodoro timer, a sleep timer, meditation timers and breathing exercises are built in, along with a virtual sunrise wake-up alarm.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 30 of 65
That is against the other focus apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Portal you could make: Pomodoro timer. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Portal at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $2.99 / month, or $29.99 / year (US App Store)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day free Premium trial. The App Store listing says no payment details are needed and it does not auto-subscribe.
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Portal Labs Ltd
- Category
- Focus Apps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
- Store rating
- 4.8 on the App Store, 10,249 ratings
The report card
Best for nature scenes and sound behind your work
Portal plays filmed nature scenes with spatial audio behind your work or sleep, with a Pomodoro timer, and Hue or Nanoleaf lights can follow the scene. It's Apple devices only and wants recent software: iOS 18.4 or macOS 15.4. Free gives you 3 scenes at a time out of more than 100, possibly at lower quality, and on the Mac HomeKit lights aren't supported.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | $29.99 a year, about $2.50 a month, which slips inside the lowest-priced quarter of this category, and Premium can be shared with up to five relatives. Monthly is $2.99. Lifetime, when it's offered, is $99.99, which is more than three years of the annual. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Open Access gives 3 portals at a time, swapped monthly, with no ads or time limits and the timers and breathing exercises included. But 3 out of more than 100 is a taste, and free portals may play at lower quality. The 7-day trial needs no payment details. |
| Features | C | Nature filmed in up to 12K with Dolby Atmos sound, a Pomodoro timer, sleep and meditation timers, breathing, a sunrise alarm, lights that follow the scene and offline playback. It does atmosphere completely, which is a smaller job than this category's, and on the Mac HomeKit lights aren't supported. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.8 from about 10,200 App Store ratings. It does want recent software, mind: iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 or macOS 15.4 or later, and some v4 features need iOS 26. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro, with Philips Hue, Nanoleaf, HomeKit, Shortcuts and Siri. One family of devices: no Android, Windows or web version is listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Portal is for
- Fits if you focus or sleep with nature sounds rather than music
- Works for people with Philips Hue or Nanoleaf lights who want them to follow the scene
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Android or Windows, as it's Apple devices only
- Tight if you're staying free, because Open Access is 3 portals at a time, possibly at lower quality
- Not for you if your iPhone or Mac is on older software, since it needs iOS 18.4 or macOS 15.4, and some features iOS 26
- Watch out: on the Mac, HomeKit lights aren't supported and visuals can't span more than one screen
- Watch out: lights that follow the scene need Premium, and the $99.99 Lifetime is only offered from time to time
Good to know
Good for
- People who focus or sleep better with nature sounds than music
- Mac users who want a moving nature scene as their desktop
- Homes with Philips Hue or Nanoleaf lights
- Families: Premium can be shared with up to five relatives
Worth knowing
- Apple devices only: iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro. No Android, Windows or web version is listed.
- Open Access covers 3 portals at a time; the rest of the library and smart lighting support need a Premium membership.
- The App Store listing requires iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4 or macOS 15.4 or later, and some v4 features need iOS 26.
- On the Mac, HomeKit lights are not supported and visuals cannot span more than one screen.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.50
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
Portal has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.99 / month, or $29.99 / year (US App Store).
Open Access
$0
Three portals, changed monthly, with no ads or time limits, plus the timers, breathing exercises and audio mixing.
Monthly Membership
$2.99
per month, US App Store in-app purchase
Portal Premium billed monthly: the full library of more than 100 portals on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro, with smart lighting.
Annual Membership
$29.99
per year, US App Store in-app purchase
The same Premium access, billed as one payment for the full year.
Portal Membership (Lifetime)
$99.99
one-time purchase
Premium access for a single up-front payment. Portal's FAQ says Lifetime memberships may be available from time to time.
The free plan
Portal Open Access: 3 portals free, refreshed monthly, with no ads or time limits, plus the timers, breathing exercises and audio mixing. Free portals may play at lower quality than Premium ones.
Trying it first
7-day free Premium trial. The App Store listing says no payment details are needed and it does not auto-subscribe.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Annual Membership costs about 16% less than monthly
The US App Store lists the Annual Membership at $29.99 against the Monthly Membership at $2.99, which comes to $35.88 over twelve months.
Stated on apps.apple.comLifetime license
Lifetime Membership for a one-time payment
A Portal Membership (Lifetime) in-app purchase is listed at $99.99 on the US App Store, charged as a single up-front payment.
Stated on apps.apple.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Annual Membership”, against $29.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | ₹ 899 | $9.29 | 69% less |
| Mexico | $249.00 | $13.68 | 54% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 249ribu | $13.93 | 54% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 899.00 | $14.31 | 52% less |
| Canada | $34.99 | $24.60 | 18% less |
| United Kingdom | £19.99 | $26.43 | 12% less |
| Australia | $39.99 | $27.92 | 7% less |
| Germany | 24,99 € | $28.00 | 7% less |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Nature scenes with spatial audio for focus, sleep and calm. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, one-time purchase, Pomodoro timer, focus music.
It does atmosphere completely, which is a smaller job than this category's, and on the Mac HomeKit lights aren't supported.
- Motion visuals
- Window-like views of nature filmed with digital cinema cameras in up to 12K resolution. On the Mac they play full screen or as a moving desktop background.
- Spatial audio
- Nature recordings in spatial audio, up to 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos. Head-tracked playback needs AirPods (3rd generation or later), AirPods Pro, AirPods Max or Beats Fit Pro.
- Timers, breathing and wake-up alarm
- A Pomodoro timer, a sleep timer, meditation timers and breathing exercises are built in, along with a virtual sunrise wake-up alarm.
- Smart lighting
- Philips Hue lights on a Hue Bridge and Nanoleaf panels can follow the light and hue of each scene. HomeKit lights are supported on iPhone and iPad but not on the Mac.
- Circadian Flow
- Syncs Portal with the local time of day and plays portals that follow the changing light outside from sunrise to sunset. Whole collections can also play in sequence.
- Audio mixing and offline use
- Portal's sound can play under your own music, podcasts, audiobooks or guided meditations. Portals can be made available offline, and Siri, Shortcuts and widgets give quick access.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- Philips Hue
- Nanoleaf
- Apple HomeKit
- Apple Shortcuts
- Siri
Portal is made by Portal Labs Ltd.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
30/65
Other focus apps it is graded above
Portal's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 30 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 45 of 65) and worst on features (C, above 3).
Its paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.82 for the category: 18 of the 45 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 6 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 66 focus apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Portal’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 30 of 65
- CFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 65
- CFeaturesAbove 3 of 65
- AEase of useAbove 45 of 65
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 8 of 65
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 56 focus apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Portal is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Portal you could make: Pomodoro timer. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $29.99 a year.
What you could make
- Pomodoro timer: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A library of sound you would have to license.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Philips Hue, Nanoleaf and Apple HomeKit among them.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets and Siri.
What this rests on. Portal’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Endel, Tide, Dark Noise, Noisli and Brain.fm
The 5 tools Portal is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Endel
Free plan · from $6.99/mo
Adaptive soundscapes for focus, relaxation and sleep.
- Only Endel lists a web app.
- Only Endel lists Windows and Android apps.
- Portal also covers Pomodoro timer.
- 2.8GPA
Tide
Free plan · from $11.99/mo
Nature soundscapes with a focus timer, sleep and meditation.
- Only Tide lists an Android app.
- Portal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.0GPA
Dark Noise
Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Ambient noise app for iPhone, iPad and Mac with custom mixes.
- Portal also covers Pomodoro timer.
- 2.2GPA
Noisli
Free plan · from $10/mo
Ambient sound mixer with a session timer and text editor.
- Only Portal lists a macOS app.
- Only Noisli lists a web app.
- Portal can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.0GPA
Brain.fm
Free trial · from $99.99/yr
Functional music for focus, relaxation, sleep and meditation.
- Portal has a free plan. Brain.fm does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Brain.fm lists a web app.
- Only Brain.fm lists Windows and Android apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
16
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Portal free?
Portal has a free plan. Portal Open Access: 3 portals free, refreshed monthly, with no ads or time limits, plus the timers, breathing exercises and audio mixing.
How much does Portal cost?
Portal lists 4 plans. Open Access: $0.
What platforms does Portal work on?
Portal is available on iOS and macOS.
Does Portal offer any discounts?
Portal publicly lists the following: Annual Membership costs about 16% less than monthly; Lifetime Membership for a one-time payment.
How is Portal rated?
Portal's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 10,249 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Portal have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Portal is listed for iOS and macOS.
Does Portal have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Portal is listed for iOS and macOS.
Is Portal open source?
Portal is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Portal work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Portal integrate with?
Portal's listing names Philips Hue, Nanoleaf, Apple HomeKit, Apple Shortcuts and Siri.
Does Portal have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free Premium trial.
Who makes Portal?
Portal is made by Portal Labs Ltd.
What are the alternatives to Portal?
The closest alternatives to Portal in our directory are Endel, Tide, Dark Noise, Noisli and Brain.fm.
How does Portal compare with other focus apps?
Portal's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 30 of the 65 other focus apps we grade, and level with 10.
Is Portal good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Portal B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.50 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $2.82 for the category: 18 of the 45 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Portal?
The plain part of Portal you could make: Pomodoro timer. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Portal’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Portal's own pages on 9 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-07.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Portal Labs Ltd. Prices change, so check portal.app before you buy.
- portal.app/
- apps.apple.com/us/app/portal-escape-into-nature/id1436994560
- portal.app/experience
- portal.app/about
- portal.app/faq/free-vs-premium?platform=ios
- portal.app/faq/portal-open-access-macos?platform=mac
- portal.app/faq/how-much-is-a-premium-membership?platform=ios
- portal.app/faq/how-does-the-7-day-free-trial-work?platform=ios
- portal.app/faq/how-are-portal-premium-subscriptions-billed?platform=ios
- portal.app/faq/what-lights-does-portal-support-ios?platform=ios
- portal.app/faq/what-lights-does-portal-support?platform=mac
- portal.app/faq/unfortunately-homekit-is-not-currently-supported-on?platform=mac
- portal.app/faq/is-it-possible-for-portals-visuals-to-span-across-multiple-screens?platform=mac
- portal.app/faq/from-time-to-time-lifetime-portal-memberships-may?platform=mac
- portal.app/faq/is-family-sharing-available-with-portal?platform=ios
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Portal, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/portal
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Portal: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/portal
Know someone choosing between focus apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/portal/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded focus apps after Portal, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Focus Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 66 focus apps we grade, compared
- ScreenZen Insider's GuideFree app that delays and blocks distracting apps and sites3.6 GPA
- Flora Insider's GuideFree focus timer that grows trees, alone or with friends3.2 GPA
- Flow Insider's GuideMinimal Pomodoro timer for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Portal’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Portal is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Portal Labs Ltd. Prices and plans change: check portal.app before you buy.