Breathe Calmly — Free Guided Breathing Exercises

Breathe Calmly (breathecalmly.app) is a free online breathing guide. Choose a breathing pattern, set your rounds, and follow the visual and spoken cues. No account or login required.

Breathing patterns

• Coherent breathing — 5.5-second inhale and 5.5-second exhale. A slow, steady rhythm associated with improved heart-rate variability and calm focus.
• Box breathing timer — 4 seconds inhale, 4 seconds hold, 4 seconds exhale, 4 seconds hold. Used by athletes and first responders to reduce stress under pressure.
• 4-7-8 breathing guide — 4 seconds inhale, 7 seconds hold, 8 seconds exhale. Often used to ease anxiety and support sleep.
• Custom breathing timer — Set your own inhale, hold, and exhale durations to match your practice or a specific technique.

How to use Breathe Calmly

1. Choose a breathing pattern — coherent, box, 4-7-8, or custom.
2. Set the number of rounds (1–50). The estimated session duration is shown.
3. Optionally choose an ambient sound and adjust the volume.
4. Press Start breathing. Voice cues and a visual circle guide each inhale, hold, and exhale.
5. The session ends automatically after your chosen rounds.

Sound options

Breathe Calmly includes spoken voice guidance from two instructors (Clara and Wim) and eight ambient sound loops: ocean waves, rain, forest, fire crackling, wind, Tibetan bowl, white noise, and lo-fi piano. Voice guidance can be muted independently of ambient sound. Your preferences are saved automatically.

Frequently asked questions

What is box breathing?

Box breathing is a four-phase breathing technique — inhale 4s, hold 4s, exhale 4s, hold empty 4s. It is used to reduce stress and sharpen focus. Breathe Calmly includes a box breathing timer you can use directly in your browser.

What is the 4-7-8 breathing method?

The 4-7-8 method involves inhaling for 4 seconds, holding for 7 seconds, and exhaling for 8 seconds. It is often used to ease anxiety and aid sleep. Breathe Calmly guides you through each phase with a voice cue and a visual breathing circle.

What is coherent breathing?

Coherent breathing uses a slow 5.5-second inhale and 5.5-second exhale — roughly five to six breath cycles per minute. This rate is associated with heart-rate variability improvements and a steady, calm state.

Is Breathe Calmly free?

Yes. Breathe Calmly is completely free — no account, no subscription, no ads.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Breathe Calmly is a Progressive Web App. After your first visit the app and audio files are cached and available without an internet connection.

Does Breathe Calmly save my settings?

Yes. Your chosen pattern, round count, ambient sound, and volume levels are saved in your browser's local storage and restored on your next visit. Anonymous usage analytics are collected via Google Analytics.