As Black women, we face unique stressors.
But our challenges, including cultural pressures, societal expectations, gender bias, and racism, aren’t always acknowledged or addressed in mainstream wellness apps.
The Exhale app is different.
Here’s how it works, what sets it apart, and what to know before deciding whether it belongs in your wellness routine.
What is the Exhale app?
Exhale is a wellness app created specifically for Black women.
Exhale founder Katara McCarty recognized how much we tend to juggle every day, especially when navigating environments that don’t always consider our well-being. She wanted a platform that was more than just another wellness app, so she created a place where Black women could release some of what we carry.
Exhale’s culturally relevant wellness tools include guided meditations, breathwork, affirmations, and calming sounds—all designed to help you slow down, de-stress, and reconnect with yourself.
How it works
Exhale offers several ways to care for your emotional well-being, whether you have a few minutes or an entire evening to dedicate to your needs.
Source: Exhale App | Apple App Store
Daily check-ins
Exhale invites you in with a simple question: What do you need?
From there, you can choose a guided meditation, breathing exercise, or sound meditation based on what feels most supportive in the moment.
You’ll also find a short reflection or “A thought for today.” These small prompts can help you build the habit of checking in with yourself and tending to your needs.
Guided meditations
The platform’s “guided journeys” explore topics like inner peace and embodiment, which is simply noticing what’s happening in your body.
These meditations give you a chance to pause, acknowledge where you are emotionally, and process what you’re feeling or experiencing.
Breathing and sound meditations
Within the Exhale app, you can practice different breathing techniques, like slow breathing or box breathing. These exercises can be especially helpful if you’re feeling a lot of stress or anxiety.
You can also listen to soothing sounds whenever you want to rest, focus, or simply create a peaceful environment.
Both breathwork and sound meditations give you simple ways to calm your mind when it feels overactive.1,2
Where the Exhale app stands out
Black women aren’t an afterthought with Exhale—we’re a priority. That sets the app apart from a sea of mainstream wellness apps.
With Exhale, you can see yourself in the imagery, hear language that reflects your experiences, and explore topics that matter to you.
Culturally relevant support matters. When you feel seen, accepted, and understood as a Black woman navigating all that you do, it becomes easier to give yourself space to pause, notice, and let go.
What to know before you sign up
Exhale is free to download, and you can access content for free for 7 to 14 days. During this period, you can explore what’s available within the app to see if it can help you on your wellness journey.
To access all features, you’ll need a paid subscription—$4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
Overall, Exhale may be a good fit if you’re building mental and emotional wellness habits and looking for practices that speak to your experiences.
The Exhale app FAQs
Is the Exhale app a breathing app?
The Exhale app has breathing exercises but also includes guided meditations, sound meditations, daily reflections, and other resources to help Black women pause, breathe, and let go.
Is the Exhale app free?
Exhale is free to download, and the Apple App Store mentions access to free content for 7 to 14 days. You’ll need a subscription to access all features—$4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
Is the Exhale app only for Black women?
No. Exhale was designed for Black women, given the unique stressors we face. However, anyone can download the app and benefit from its resources.
References
Last accessed October 2026
- Bailey, K. (2024, April 1). The power of the breath. Yale School of Medicine. https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/the-power-of-the-breath/ ↩︎
- Wei, M. (2019, July 5). The healing power of sound as meditation. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-survival/201907/the-healing-power-of-sound-as-meditation ↩︎
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