Nomi was an early entry in the Apple Watch virtual pet category, with a charming heartbeat-feeding mechanic that let your pet evolve over time. Its last update was version 1.13 in February 2021, and it has not been refreshed since. Belly is a newer entrant built for current watchOS, with active development, deeper customization, and a free model.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Belly | Nomi |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no paywalls | $1.99 one-time |
| Last App Store update | Active (April 2026) | February 2021 |
| Minimum watchOS | 11.0 | 6.2 |
| Core mechanic | Steps earn hearts and unlock cosmetics | Heart rate and steps feed the pet |
| Customization | Deep: cosmetics, scenes, auras, toys, food items | Minimal |
| Social features | Friends, leaderboard, visit | None |
| Watch complications | Rectangular, circular, corner | Legacy complications only |
| Standalone (no iPhone needed) | Yes | Yes |
| App Store rating | 5.0 (small sample) | 3.7 (361 ratings) |
Belly: Active Development, Deep Customization
Belly is built for current Apple Watch hardware (watchOS 11 and later) and ships updates regularly. Your pet's health is tied to your daily steps, with hearts as the in-game currency for cosmetics. The pet does not suffer for rest days. The customization layer is the strongest part of the app: hand-drawn cosmetics, scenes and backgrounds, auras and effects, and a range of toys and food items that affect happiness and health.
Belly Strengths
- Free with no paywalls. Optional cosmetic in-app purchases exist, but coins are earnable in-game.
- Active development with regular App Store updates.
- Deep customization: hand-drawn cosmetics, scenes, auras, toys, and food items.
- Social features: friends, leaderboard, and the ability to visit other players' pets.
- Modern complications (rectangular, circular, corner) for current watch faces.
- Standalone Apple Watch app. No iPhone companion required, which makes it suitable for kids on Family Setup.
Belly Limitations
- Smaller user base than older apps (the App Store rating sample is small).
- Currently cats only. More pet types are on the roadmap.
- Social features are still expanding.
Nomi: A Frozen Classic
Nomi was a creative early Apple Watch pet. The defining mechanic was using your heart rate to feed the pet, paired with steps as another input. The pet evolved over time if you kept it alive. The art style is distinctive and the gameplay loop was novel for 2019 to 2021.
The catch is the timeline. Nomi's last App Store update was version 1.13 on February 3, 2021. That is more than five years without a refresh. The app still launches on current watchOS, but it has not adopted modern complication families, modern UI, or any new content. Its 3.7 average rating reflects users running into stale-app issues over the years.
Nomi Strengths
- Distinctive heartbeat mechanic. Few other pet apps use heart rate as a feeding input.
- Pet evolution: the longer you keep your pet alive, the more it changes.
- One-time $1.99 purchase with no further monetization.
Nomi Limitations
- No updates since February 2021. No support, no bug fixes, no new content.
- No modern complications. Predates the WidgetKit complication families introduced in watchOS 9.
- No social features.
- Minimal customization.
- Paid upfront, with no trial or free tier.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Belly if you want:
- An actively maintained pet app with regular updates
- A free experience with no required spending
- Deep customization (cosmetics, scenes, auras, toys, food items)
- Social features: friends, leaderboard, and visiting other pets
- Modern watch complications on current watch faces
- A non-punishing pet that does not suffer on rest days
Pick Nomi if:
- You specifically want the heartbeat-feeding mechanic
- You already own it and are happy with the 2021 experience
- You prefer a one-time purchase over a free app with optional cosmetic IAPs
- You accept that the app has not been updated in five years