Track heart rate, HRV, and training load using only your iPhone camera. No smartwatch. No chest strap. No subscription — just science-backed wellness, free.
91 BPM
Live reading
HRV
48 ms
FREE
No subscription
Your iPhone is Your Heart Monitor.
PPG-based camera sensing turns your iPhone into a heart rate and HRV monitor. No chest strap. No smartwatch. No extra hardware of any kind.
Free
No subscription
No trial expiry
60s
Per reading
no wearable
HRV · Resting HR · TRIMP Training Load.
The same biometric triad that elite coaches track — now available to anyone with an iPhone. Log your recovery, measure your training stress, and spot trends before they become problems.
Apple Health Sync
All readings flow into Apple Health automatically.
Step-by-step guides for heart rate tracking, HRV, training load, and comparing Pulse Rate to popular wearables.
Whoop Alternative for iPhone — No Membership, No Band
A Whoop membership runs $199–$359 a year and the band stops working when you cancel. Pulse Rate reads HRV and resting heart rate with the iPhone camera instead — no hardware, free to start.
Oura Ring Alternative for iPhone — No Ring, No Membership
The Oura Ring 4 is $349 plus $5.99 a month to read it. Pulse Rate tracks HRV and resting heart rate from the iPhone camera instead — no sizing kit, no ring to charge, free to start.
Athlytic Alternative Without an Apple Watch — iPhone Only
Athlytic needs an Apple Watch to collect HRV and resting heart rate. Pulse Rate supplies its own sensor — the iPhone camera — so recovery tracking works with no watch at all.
Polar H10 vs iPhone Camera HRV — Do You Need the Chest Strap?
The Polar H10 reads the heart electrically and holds signal at full effort. An iPhone camera reads optically and needs stillness. An honest look at which measurement you actually need.
Garmin HRV Status Alternative — iPhone HRV Without the Watch
Garmin HRV Status needs a compatible watch worn overnight and about three weeks before it shows anything. Pulse Rate gives you a morning HRV reading from the iPhone camera on day one.
Elite HRV Alternative — HRV on iPhone With No Chest Strap
Elite HRV's app is free, but it requires a Bluetooth strap that transmits R-R intervals and does not support phone-camera measurement. Pulse Rate brings its own sensor instead.
Welltory Alternative — Same Camera Method, Free to Start
Welltory reads HRV through the phone camera exactly as Pulse Rate does, then puts 21 metrics behind $99 a year or $599 for life. Same sensor, different paywall — plus what Welltory does better.
HRV4Training Alternative — Free to Start, No $9.99 Up Front
HRV4Training costs $9.99 before your first reading and has no free tier. Pulse Rate reads HRV from the same iPhone camera, free to start — and here is the strap support you give up.
How to Track VO2 Max Without an Apple Watch (iPhone Only)
No Apple Watch? Learn how to estimate and track your aerobic fitness trend using just your iPhone camera heart rate readings and training data. Free.
What Is TRIMP? Training Load Explained (Heart Rate Method)
TRIMP (Training Impulse) is a heart-rate-based formula to quantify workout stress. Learn how it works and how to track your training load free on iPhone.
How Accurate Is iPhone Camera Heart Rate? (The Real Data)
iPhone camera-based heart rate (PPG) is highly accurate at rest — within 2–3 bpm of chest straps in peer-reviewed studies. Learn when it works best.
Best HRV App for iPhone — Free Tracker, No Chest Strap
Looking for the best HRV app for iPhone? Track Heart Rate Variability free using just the camera — no chest strap, no wearable, no subscription. Pulse Rate logs HRV trends daily.
Zone 2 Training Heart Rate: How to Find & Track It Free on iPhone
Zone 2 is the most effective aerobic base training zone. Learn your exact Zone 2 heart rate range and track your fitness progress free on iPhone.
Resting Heart Rate Morning Tracker — Free iPhone App
Track your resting heart rate every morning with just your iPhone camera. See trends, spot recovery dips, and understand your fitness baseline — free to start, no wearable required.
HRV for Beginners: What Is Heart Rate Variability & How to Track It Free
HRV (Heart Rate Variability) is the most powerful recovery metric available. Track it free with your iPhone camera. A plain-English guide for beginners.
Heart Rate Monitor for Runners — Free iPhone App (No Wearable)
Track resting HR, HRV, and recovery as a runner using just your iPhone. Pulse Rate helps you log training load, spot overreaching early, and run smarter.
Heart Rate Monitor for Cyclists — Free iPhone App (No Chest Strap)
Track resting HR, HRV, and cycling training load free on your iPhone. No Garmin, no chest strap needed for daily recovery monitoring between rides.
Heart rate, HRV, and training load — powered by your iPhone camera. No wearable, no subscription.
Free download · Core tracking always free · iOS 15+