nalua The European alternative to Calm / Headspace

nalua is a sensory breathing app from the solo developer neuro / dev, based in Wustermark in Brandenburg, Germany. The app is designed specifically for users experiencing sensory overload (e.g., neurodivergence or ME/CFS) and keeps visual stimulation to a minimum. Instead of animated circles or colours, haptic feedback simulates lung expansion through the phone vibration. This allows breathing exercises with eyes closed, without looking at the screen. nalua is available on the Google Play Store for Android.

The nalua app itself runs entirely offline on the smartphone. There is no server backend, no cloud connection, and no data transmission to external services. The marketing website neurodiv.dev is hosted on GitHub Pages, a US service, according to the privacy policy. For app use this hosting detail is irrelevant, because no data ever leaves the device. The sole proprietorship neuro / dev is based in Wustermark, Brandenburg, and falls under German and European data protection law.

Classic breathing and meditation apps such as Calm or Headspace rely on animated visualisations, voice guidance, and a varied interface. nalua takes the opposite approach with a zero-stimulation design, a deep black OLED-optimised background, minimal graphic elements, and no audio. The breathing movement is conveyed solely through organic vibrations, so the app also works with eyes closed. Endless Mode lets sessions run without a fixed timer, and Gentle Fade-Out dims automatically when the user falls asleep. This reduction targets users who want to avoid sensory overload. Additionally, nalua skips onboarding, login screens, or gamification streaks entirely. The app just opens and starts immediately.