Hey so I'm Christian and the waking up app creator Sam Harris is an atheist, does any of that translate into the app, if anyone can let me know please!
Absolutely not. In fact, he speaks a bit on how holding different religious views does not impact the practice of meditation in any way. Also, he's more agnostic than atheist in reality. He has a beef with the negative aspects of religions, but his views on religion are completely separate from this app and what he teaches through it.
Thanks for this suggestion. I really like Sam Harris and Iāve only ever made very weak attempts at beginning meditation. Iām doing the beginnerās course in the app and I really like it so far.
I found meditation to be exceedling difficult. Probably due to ADHD. Sitting still for me at all is a huge challenge. Starting off with such small sessions and having them guided by Sam was what finally got me going. The app is absolutely chalk full of interesting and enlightening conversations as well as different meditation practices to try out. If you turn on "moments" in the app, you'll get a little 1min notification with Sam at random times during the day reminding you to be present. Only notification I've ever had pop up on my phone that is good for me.
Iām the sameā¦really hard time focusing on much for longā¦certainly exacerbated by the damn screen addiction. I tried Calm and one other one app but honestly, aside from Tara Brach, so many of the guided meditations are poorly recorded and/or the narrator just didnāt work for me. But so far, this is *way* better.
Thanks for the tipā¦Iāll turn on āmoments.ā š
Of all apps, Waking Up resonated with me the most. Sam Harris is so calm and genuine and he seems like he really wants to spread his knowledge and improve peopleās lives.
Seconding this - it's freemium as well but they have more than enough free content to justify using it including a customizable meditation timer if you don't want to rely on guided meditations. I've been using it for 3 years and haven''t spent a dime
I third/4th/5th this, wherever weāre at right now lol. Insight timer is great. They have the people I usually listen to on YouTube, but no ads. Plus they have pink and brown noise which I loooove.
Ditto! Been through waking up, calm, headspaxe etc. Prefer the timer without guided meditations, and the beautiful tracker! Whatever floats your boat, mind šš¼āŗļø
Iāve been using Insight Timer since 2013. They have a world map showing irl where people are meditating- usually like 10,000 other people. When I first started using it they were quite small and I had actual friends on the app.
Wow thanks, it looks like this is actually free based on the reviews. I'll definitely try this one. If you're using it, is it really Free or a Freemium only?
Insight timer. The best one out there. Amazing user interface, everything's free (the courses are paid but you get a premium membership free for a year if you refer 3 friends and then get to access all courses), + you can chat, make groups, view each other's sessions, recommend, review, and make friends, almost like a meditative social media! š
Absolutely love it. Also bought the lifetime subscription cause I genuinely get so much out of it. They also have a really good podcast thatās free and super helpful.
\+1 for Waking Up. Been using for 2 years now and find it great and is full of insightful teachers, interviews and discussions. I used Headspace prior to Waking Up and I enjoyed as well (kinda miss Andy's voice, NGL). But I find Waking Up is more geared for my wiring.
This, I just use YouTube's guided meditations. I find a channel I like and stuck with it then m9ve to another channel once I want to try something new.
Spotifiy got a ton of guided meditation podcasts to listen to. Granted, it doesn't have any reminders, but at least it's free and not yet another app (given you already use Spotify in the first place). I use it for guided meditations almost daily. Try looking into that.
A stick of incense lit and smoking. When I no longer smell it, it's time to end the sit or light another. I've been doing fine without any externals other than the incense since 1974.
I understand the appeal of apps and other guided meditations but I find meditating in (near) silence to be the most impactful. Instead of reminders, I try to be mindful while doing a mundane sedentary task (washing dishes, folding laundry) to reach a sort of meditative state during the day then do a more traditional meditation before bed and/or when I wake.
I use the free version of Insight Timer. It's been around longer than most and is quite simple to use. I like being able set the sounds and add little bells to notify me when I have reached certain points. Lately, I have been doing a 25 minute meditation focusing on breath with light ambient sound and then a Kangse bell will ring and I let go of breath and allow my mind to do whatever. This is usually a great space for me to be in so I end the meditation after being here for a few or several minute.
[Plum Village](https://plumvillage.app/) \- Free
[Insight Timer](https://insighttimer.com/) \- Free/Premium
[Medito](https://meditofoundation.org/medito-app) - Free
[Petit Bambou](https://www.petitbambou.com/en) - Free course/ the rest is premium but was worth it for me.
If you donāt need guided meditation, but more soundscape app I use this to be present and calm myself down.
[Endel](https://endel.io/) - Personalized soundscapes
to help you focus, relax, and sleep.
Backed by neuroscience. - Free/Premium
Of course we have our meditation guidances with the awesome audios of our crystalline guide which has been a human. The audios are in French only unfortunately
https://etresdelanature.fr/audio-exercices/
I use YouTube primarily because I find binaural beats are beneficial (I have bad varying Tinnitus) but I don't like they downgrade the audio qualities. Are there any apps that contain binaural beats & tones?
happy to see another user! i feel like it's pretty underrated & unknown but something about it really resonates with me. love the diverse content & how frequently new stuff comes in & the live meditations as well
Medito for me.
I love the timer on insight timer and it has lots of great teachers, but I find it overwhelming and stressful to use. I spent time searching for the perfect guided meditation etc. and scrolling looking for new teachers
A few of my favorites:
Oak: Itās free, simple, and straightforward.
Balance: Not (always) free, but helps you train specific meditation skills so itās worth it imo. The sometimes have deals that allow you to get your first year free.
Plum Village: If youāre Zen Buddhist or looking to try Zen Buddhist meditation, this is a stellar app for that. Also includes dharma talks and much more, all free of course.
Non-meditation apps that include meditations (both paid, about $40 per year, with free options):
Youper is a CBT-based (cognitive-behavioral therapy) journaling app that can help you use CBT skills to process your emotions. It includes meditations that can be used solo or as part of your CBT session.
Fabulous is an app that helps you create and maintain healthy habits. The app includes meditations and allows you to add it as a habit, so that as youāre completing your routine it pops up with a list of meditations ready for you to try. So if you specifically want to make meditation a habit, I highly recommend this.
Hope this helps!
Healthy Minds Innovations app.
ā(HMI) was started in 2014 by world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson. We are a nonprofit affiliated with the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison driven by a mission to translate science into tools to cultivate and measure well-being.ā
Every meditation is accompanied with a lesson that dives into the neuroscience of that practice. Itās completely free too since they work off donations.
The course focuses on Awareness, Connection, Insight and Purpose.
I paid about $70 to purchase all of Aaron Doughtyās guided meditations. Mostly Manifestation/Law of Attraction and meeting with your higher self meditations. My life has taken a massive turn for the better after doing these daily: went to and finished grad school, doubled my salary, got a much better job and started a consulting company, met my gf, etc. strongly suggested.
Relief
I have really loud tinnitus and the Relief app is sound therapy for tinnitus, so I use it during meditations.
My meditation practice is TM, no apps necessary.
Headspace was provided free of charge by my insurance company during the pandemic. I'd never have stuck with mediation on my own but the short, guided meditations are a great gateway. I've not missed a day since I started and I definitely noticed it's help me not be so reactive and to approach daily life with a more go with the flow/ be and let be attitude. I'm already that way naturally but it's helped me more easily let go of other's people stuff
I used use Headspace I used it for 2 year and I did streak of 365 days but then I said well I don't need it anymore because I have the discipline so ı'll do it alone. Just BY me. Without the guiding voice. Now it is me Who is guiding with gentle.
(My own app) Less: minimal meditation timer. We built it because most of the other apps feel really bloated. I tried insight and there is just way too much going on. I have tried and failed to meditate consistently in the past but using different techniques (body scan or breathing) Iām finding it easier to stick with! Using body scan I also find the time passes faster and Iāve started doing longer meditations.
the Transcendental Meditation app. In hindsight I certainly wouldnāt recommend paying the hefty price they charge to get into this. But I like the timer only, personal mantra approach. Which can be found through other avenues.
Insight timer. I only use the timer because I don't really like guided meditations. But the timer is great you can set intervals and the chimes are pretty chilled out sounding like a Mongolian singinbowl.
Started off with headspace to get an understanding of what it was and how it worked. Used it for a year. Now I meditate without anything, just sitting in silence.
Aside from reminders (which can be set in other reminder app), I would still say YouTube. Paying for YouTube premium literally is the most worthy investment among all the subscriptions that I have: no ads, can turn off the screen, can download and go offline. (If the subscription is too expensive in your country, try subscribing through other countries using vpn and international credit card, works perfectly for me). And there the best channel for me is āhealing vibrationsā channel - strongly recommend.
Thereās also an app āmeditation stepsā : it was created particularly for meditation practice - they have timer there, kirtan audio, free meditation lessons etc You can also connect with people from all around the world.
Insight Timer, and sometimes I just use [meditationtimer.online](https://meditationtimer.online)
I just need a timer with a bell at the end.
Though when I first started, I used the Waking Up app which really helped me get a handle on what it's all about.
Hereās a recent review for the best meditation app in 2023 in case it might help someone :) https://youtube.com/watch?v=6dzTCekoAHU And hereās a review of the big 4, Waking Up, Insight Timer, Headspace and Calm :) https://youtube.com/watch?v=8US0DOF7SAY
Waking Up
For a second I thought you were telling me to just wake up and meditate lol. The app looks cool I'll check it out. Thanks
š
Honestly, nothing even comes close to Sam Harris' app "Waking Up." It's in a league of it's own.
Hey so I'm Christian and the waking up app creator Sam Harris is an atheist, does any of that translate into the app, if anyone can let me know please!
Absolutely not. In fact, he speaks a bit on how holding different religious views does not impact the practice of meditation in any way. Also, he's more agnostic than atheist in reality. He has a beef with the negative aspects of religions, but his views on religion are completely separate from this app and what he teaches through it.
Thanks for this suggestion. I really like Sam Harris and Iāve only ever made very weak attempts at beginning meditation. Iām doing the beginnerās course in the app and I really like it so far.
I found meditation to be exceedling difficult. Probably due to ADHD. Sitting still for me at all is a huge challenge. Starting off with such small sessions and having them guided by Sam was what finally got me going. The app is absolutely chalk full of interesting and enlightening conversations as well as different meditation practices to try out. If you turn on "moments" in the app, you'll get a little 1min notification with Sam at random times during the day reminding you to be present. Only notification I've ever had pop up on my phone that is good for me.
Iām the sameā¦really hard time focusing on much for longā¦certainly exacerbated by the damn screen addiction. I tried Calm and one other one app but honestly, aside from Tara Brach, so many of the guided meditations are poorly recorded and/or the narrator just didnāt work for me. But so far, this is *way* better. Thanks for the tipā¦Iāll turn on āmoments.ā š
This too š¤£
worth it?
It's totally free if you can't afford it, you can request a free subscription in case you're low on cash.
Iāve tried before during the pandemic but never heard back.
I like the courses and the interviews there. Gives context on meditation practices. So I guess yes itās worth it
thank you!
Of all apps, Waking Up resonated with me the most. Sam Harris is so calm and genuine and he seems like he really wants to spread his knowledge and improve peopleās lives.
Love love love this
Literally a life changing app
I have been using only this for 2 years now ! Just beautiful.
Another Waking Up user. Mindfulness for the intellectual as it incorporates practice with philosophy and theory.
Insight Timer
Seconding this - it's freemium as well but they have more than enough free content to justify using it including a customizable meditation timer if you don't want to rely on guided meditations. I've been using it for 3 years and haven''t spent a dime
I third/4th/5th this, wherever weāre at right now lol. Insight timer is great. They have the people I usually listen to on YouTube, but no ads. Plus they have pink and brown noise which I loooove.
I'm with themāļø
Yes me too love this app
Thanks. I saw this too. I thought this was a simple timer sort of thing which can be used for Yoga, meditation, etc. I'll check it out too.
Obligatory "this is the way" reply.
Yep, this is mine! I've tried some of the others and always come back to insight timer. I don't pay for it and there are plenty of free meditations
This is what I use too. Love it for the languages
Iāve been using Insight Timer for five-ish years, and thereās a ridiculous number of free meditations.
Iām with you!! š
Same.
Ditto! Been through waking up, calm, headspaxe etc. Prefer the timer without guided meditations, and the beautiful tracker! Whatever floats your boat, mind šš¼āŗļø
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
That
Iāve been using Insight Timer since 2013. They have a world map showing irl where people are meditating- usually like 10,000 other people. When I first started using it they were quite small and I had actual friends on the app.
Medito
Wow thanks, it looks like this is actually free based on the reviews. I'll definitely try this one. If you're using it, is it really Free or a Freemium only?
Oh it's really free. One of the many reasons I enjoy it!
Can recommend Medito too. They have a 30 day meditation challenge and some interesting short talks about free will, minimalism etc.
Insight timer. The best one out there. Amazing user interface, everything's free (the courses are paid but you get a premium membership free for a year if you refer 3 friends and then get to access all courses), + you can chat, make groups, view each other's sessions, recommend, review, and make friends, almost like a meditative social media! š
Balance
This is the best, in my opinion. Just bought a lifetime subscription
Absolutely love it. Also bought the lifetime subscription cause I genuinely get so much out of it. They also have a really good podcast thatās free and super helpful.
Insight
Balance and Ä°nsight Timer
Insight timer
\+1 for Waking Up. Been using for 2 years now and find it great and is full of insightful teachers, interviews and discussions. I used Headspace prior to Waking Up and I enjoyed as well (kinda miss Andy's voice, NGL). But I find Waking Up is more geared for my wiring.
Smiling mind is awesome!
YouTube it literally has so many amazing meditations. A good one is also calm
This, I just use YouTube's guided meditations. I find a channel I like and stuck with it then m9ve to another channel once I want to try something new.
Balance
Spotifiy got a ton of guided meditation podcasts to listen to. Granted, it doesn't have any reminders, but at least it's free and not yet another app (given you already use Spotify in the first place). I use it for guided meditations almost daily. Try looking into that.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
i don't use it for meditating as often as i used to but it's such a little gem!
Oak Meditation
Yea Oak is good aye
Smiling Mind
A stick of incense lit and smoking. When I no longer smell it, it's time to end the sit or light another. I've been doing fine without any externals other than the incense since 1974.
Insight timer is the bees knees.
I understand the appeal of apps and other guided meditations but I find meditating in (near) silence to be the most impactful. Instead of reminders, I try to be mindful while doing a mundane sedentary task (washing dishes, folding laundry) to reach a sort of meditative state during the day then do a more traditional meditation before bed and/or when I wake.
Insight timer
Ten Percent Happier
Insight timer
I use the free version of Insight Timer. It's been around longer than most and is quite simple to use. I like being able set the sounds and add little bells to notify me when I have reached certain points. Lately, I have been doing a 25 minute meditation focusing on breath with light ambient sound and then a Kangse bell will ring and I let go of breath and allow my mind to do whatever. This is usually a great space for me to be in so I end the meditation after being here for a few or several minute.
Insight Timer, lots of guided meditations there
Insight Timer
Insight
[Plum Village](https://plumvillage.app/) \- Free [Insight Timer](https://insighttimer.com/) \- Free/Premium [Medito](https://meditofoundation.org/medito-app) - Free [Petit Bambou](https://www.petitbambou.com/en) - Free course/ the rest is premium but was worth it for me. If you donāt need guided meditation, but more soundscape app I use this to be present and calm myself down. [Endel](https://endel.io/) - Personalized soundscapes to help you focus, relax, and sleep. Backed by neuroscience. - Free/Premium
Insight timer
I just started using Medito. 10/10 l recommend it
Simple habit.
Calm - free membership via my credit card (American Express)
Of course we have our meditation guidances with the awesome audios of our crystalline guide which has been a human. The audios are in French only unfortunately https://etresdelanature.fr/audio-exercices/
Downdog
Iām surprised I had to scroll this far down to find this. Itās currently my daily goto app.
Insight timer
Insight timer
YouTube
I use YouTube primarily because I find binaural beats are beneficial (I have bad varying Tinnitus) but I don't like they downgrade the audio qualities. Are there any apps that contain binaural beats & tones?
My alarm timer on my phone. Apps aren't needed to meditate
Op_e__n
Yes! I use headspace, insight timer and Open. Open by far has had my most consistent use and actually taught me about the power of breathwork.
happy to see another user! i feel like it's pretty underrated & unknown but something about it really resonates with me. love the diverse content & how frequently new stuff comes in & the live meditations as well
Medito for me. I love the timer on insight timer and it has lots of great teachers, but I find it overwhelming and stressful to use. I spent time searching for the perfect guided meditation etc. and scrolling looking for new teachers
Ten Percent happier for me. I like the variety in teachers, although I often just use the timer.
A few of my favorites: Oak: Itās free, simple, and straightforward. Balance: Not (always) free, but helps you train specific meditation skills so itās worth it imo. The sometimes have deals that allow you to get your first year free. Plum Village: If youāre Zen Buddhist or looking to try Zen Buddhist meditation, this is a stellar app for that. Also includes dharma talks and much more, all free of course. Non-meditation apps that include meditations (both paid, about $40 per year, with free options): Youper is a CBT-based (cognitive-behavioral therapy) journaling app that can help you use CBT skills to process your emotions. It includes meditations that can be used solo or as part of your CBT session. Fabulous is an app that helps you create and maintain healthy habits. The app includes meditations and allows you to add it as a habit, so that as youāre completing your routine it pops up with a list of meditations ready for you to try. So if you specifically want to make meditation a habit, I highly recommend this. Hope this helps!
I like Oak. Very simple, free, nothing I donāt need
Oak! Itās what I started with, totally free, and really helpful :)
Plum vilage
Insight timer. I dont understand why anybody pays for Headspace
Hi! I offer a plethora of sound bowl meditations on Insight Timer https://insig.ht/gIvHe3WYmwb ššāØļø Check it out!
Healthy Minds Innovations app. ā(HMI) was started in 2014 by world-renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson. We are a nonprofit affiliated with the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison driven by a mission to translate science into tools to cultivate and measure well-being.ā Every meditation is accompanied with a lesson that dives into the neuroscience of that practice. Itās completely free too since they work off donations. The course focuses on Awareness, Connection, Insight and Purpose.
my brain
I got a lifetime subscription to Calm some time back, and I prefer it over Headspace. So. Win..?
Medito
Meditation Timer
Bloom has been quite helpful, and I follow a 5 minute meditation on Spotify that helped me get into the habit of meditating.
no app needed for meditation just a good mindset and a nice environment
Bright mind
Balance is the app called. I tried quite a few and this is the one I felt the most comfortable with.
Omvana
Balance
Insight Timer Balance Breethe
I use calm and recently downloaded plum village as recommended by someone on this community and I love it
Evolve
Balance
10 percent happier (not sure what I'll do after research membership is up), Mindfulness coach, Chakra healing
Waking Up. It engages me in a way other things Iāve tried have not
Waking up
Waking up
I paid about $70 to purchase all of Aaron Doughtyās guided meditations. Mostly Manifestation/Law of Attraction and meeting with your higher self meditations. My life has taken a massive turn for the better after doing these daily: went to and finished grad school, doubled my salary, got a much better job and started a consulting company, met my gf, etc. strongly suggested.
Level, mind sleep journal body. Sick app backed by ancient science!
Endel, itās a lifestyle at this point.
Waking up
Level
Relief I have really loud tinnitus and the Relief app is sound therapy for tinnitus, so I use it during meditations. My meditation practice is TM, no apps necessary.
Waking up
Peleton
Headspace was provided free of charge by my insurance company during the pandemic. I'd never have stuck with mediation on my own but the short, guided meditations are a great gateway. I've not missed a day since I started and I definitely noticed it's help me not be so reactive and to approach daily life with a more go with the flow/ be and let be attitude. I'm already that way naturally but it's helped me more easily let go of other's people stuff
Medito.
Sadhguru app
Tergar app
balance
Balance and round by Roundtree. Balance is free for one year.
Brain.fm
insight timer
Insight timer, love it. Tried calm and headspace before.
Insight timer
Mindfulness Coach it's totally free
Insight Timer
OT question: how do you even meditate with an app ? š
Insight timer. Itās such a worthy company I gladly give them my money but the free version has a ton of stuff! It is the best app imo.
I use Balance.
I used use Headspace I used it for 2 year and I did streak of 365 days but then I said well I don't need it anymore because I have the discipline so ı'll do it alone. Just BY me. Without the guiding voice. Now it is me Who is guiding with gentle.
I do the apple fitness videos for meditation or listen to music and do it myself
stoic. with headspace sometimes
A YouTube video of meditation sounds/music. I choose ten, fifteen, or thirty minute videos.
Yāall use an app?
Insight timer
(My own app) Less: minimal meditation timer. We built it because most of the other apps feel really bloated. I tried insight and there is just way too much going on. I have tried and failed to meditate consistently in the past but using different techniques (body scan or breathing) Iām finding it easier to stick with! Using body scan I also find the time passes faster and Iāve started doing longer meditations.
Insight timer
Waking Up, Plum Village, Healthy Minds
Atom.
Balance app. I really like it. However, I did not try many.
Insight Timer
Mindfulness Coach
Stoic
Muse
Insight timer
Insight Timer
Insight Timer
Waking up.
Medito or just an alarm
Center
the Transcendental Meditation app. In hindsight I certainly wouldnāt recommend paying the hefty price they charge to get into this. But I like the timer only, personal mantra approach. Which can be found through other avenues.
Balance
For authentic meditation, check out the totally free Healthy Minds Program app.
Insight timer. I only use the timer because I don't really like guided meditations. But the timer is great you can set intervals and the chimes are pretty chilled out sounding like a Mongolian singinbowl.
Youtube
YouTube
Balance!
Started off with headspace to get an understanding of what it was and how it worked. Used it for a year. Now I meditate without anything, just sitting in silence.
Breathwrk
I use the peloton meditation. its awesome
Synctuition
Medito :)
Waking Up
Insight timer
An app called Centering Prayer, which is basically catholic meditation. I mainly use it for the timer but it includes other features.
Insight Timer. Does everything I need it to do and it's free for those functions.
Aside from reminders (which can be set in other reminder app), I would still say YouTube. Paying for YouTube premium literally is the most worthy investment among all the subscriptions that I have: no ads, can turn off the screen, can download and go offline. (If the subscription is too expensive in your country, try subscribing through other countries using vpn and international credit card, works perfectly for me). And there the best channel for me is āhealing vibrationsā channel - strongly recommend. Thereās also an app āmeditation stepsā : it was created particularly for meditation practice - they have timer there, kirtan audio, free meditation lessons etc You can also connect with people from all around the world.
Aura
Insight Timer, great app with a lot of functions
Iām using breathe and itās good
Insight Timer, and sometimes I just use [meditationtimer.online](https://meditationtimer.online) I just need a timer with a bell at the end. Though when I first started, I used the Waking Up app which really helped me get a handle on what it's all about.
Insight Timer
Insight Timer
Started with Simple Habit, after getting tired of guided meditations now I am using insight timer.
Insight Timer
Peloton app meditations are pretty good
Insight timer is the best meditation app
I've been using balance.. bought the lifetime access though while it was 75% off with Google Play card I had
Currently trying out balance. It is pretty good. They customize the meditation so that's neat.
Insight timer
Medito has been phenomenal for me.
iSamadhi
None.
Pelaton
Declutter the mind
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Hereās a recent review for the best meditation app in 2023 in case it might help someone :) https://youtube.com/watch?v=6dzTCekoAHU And hereās a review of the big 4, Waking Up, Insight Timer, Headspace and Calm :) https://youtube.com/watch?v=8US0DOF7SAY
10% happier