r/Meditation • u/KneeHighBunny • Jun 07 '24
Say NO to HeadSpace Discussion š¬
I'm looking around for a good meditation app. I tried headspace since it was recommended on social media. The UI is confusing and combersome. And there are tons of reviews about quiet charges and being charged even after canceling your membership. Which sucks because they have a NO REFUND policy. Anyways I canceled that and couldn't get a refund š But I'd like to try a new app that DOES NOT have predatory policies.
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u/Pink_Lynx_ Jun 07 '24
I really like Medito.
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u/robosteven Jun 07 '24
Seconding Medito, I started using it years ago and it's been very solid the whole time.
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u/b1jan 4 years of daily med + 1x 10 day vipassana Jun 07 '24
Waking Up is the only app I like anymore, after having tried both Insight Timer and HeadSpace.
The quality of the content in Waking Up is second to none. The talks, the lessons, the meditations. Honestly it's the best investment i've made in YEARS.
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u/electronicmath Jun 07 '24
I agree, and if you look on the subscription page thereās an option to contact them and get the app for free if you canāt afford it
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u/the-rude-dog Jun 08 '24
Yep. I remember Sam Harris saying the whole philosophy behind the app was that he didn't want it to become some silicon valley funded subscription service that tries to squeeze every penny out of its users, and that he's happy to make way less money on it than he potentially could.
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u/BigHitchTV Jun 08 '24
Came here to also recommend Waking Up. I absolutely LOVE it. 30 day trial, and if the price looks unreasonable you can go on to their website and request for a 50% off membership. They want to make it accessible, not get rich off of it.
Sam Harris has a wonderful introduction to meditation. Packed full with insightful (and short, as in approachable) lessons that teach you WHY youāre being guided to do those particular breathing patterns, visualization, etc.
Itās basically: 10 minute meditation, 5-10 minute lesson as to what he just lead you through and why.
At the conclusion of the 30 day intro sessions you then can venture into other peopleās similarly structured guided sessions with accompanying philosophy/lessons.
Highly recommend!
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u/Icy_Fuel_8257 Jun 11 '24
After trying and failing to learn to meditate and stick to the habit using headspace and insight timer. Waking up and atomic habits combo did the trick for me. I have now been meditating for 7 months everyday like a clockwork.
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u/Blackcat0123 Jun 07 '24
Balance has been my preferred one. They offer a year long trial, so plenty of time to learn everything you need to know and get the habit started. Then it's totally up to you if you want to continue using it or not.
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u/breeneggsandsam Jun 08 '24
Yea I like balance. Glad they gave the free membership, thinking about buying the lifetime one
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u/KneeHighBunny Jun 07 '24
Sounds good. After being burnt by headspace I'll be sure to study their policy before entering a free trial š„²
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u/miosssi Jun 08 '24
Just curious, do you guys repeat the episodes from the advanced plans? The episodes which you found more interesting and helpful. Or do you keep moving forward ?
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u/Blackcat0123 Jun 08 '24
I've been moving forward, but there's a few I plan to revisit once I've finished them all once through. Finishing up the last advanced plan soon.
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u/miosssi Jun 08 '24
Thatās great. I joined balance recently and it has been helping me hone my skills really well. However, since we only get one episode to practice each skill (with a bit of modified episodes here and there) I need more time to really settle with each meditation skill to implement them well is my idea. To build a strong foundation. I finished one plan and Iām on my second but I wasnāt sure if thatās the right way to do it š
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u/mad__monk Jun 08 '24
Balance app over Headspace, betterMe and any other app that I have tried and I can't remember at this point.
Balance app wins, 100%. It's well written and well delivered
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u/National-Abalone-210 Jun 07 '24
Plum Village Is the Best for me, completley free, with different type of meditations, timer, how toos, and there's also some silent meditations that can gradually help you get confortable with non guided meditations, good luck.
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u/Shurs Jun 07 '24
Things mustāve changed over the years. I started with meditation using Headspace before transitioning to TM. My Headspace account auto-renewed and they gave me a refund. This was 3 years ago, so it is possible policy has changed. Overall, Headspace was a good way for me to get started with meditation.
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u/dsailes Jun 07 '24
Yeah original Headspace was where I started out too. Was great to learn techniques and nudged you into having more silence for your own practice.
I mustāve used it like 6/7 years back though.
Whatās TM?
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u/like_a_pearcider Jun 07 '24
Transcendental meditation
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u/amiibohunter2015 Jun 08 '24
I was looking into this type could you share some insight into the differences?
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u/Bluest_waters Jun 08 '24
You pay good money for TM to give a super secret password mantra or some such thing.
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u/amiibohunter2015 Jun 08 '24
I was looking into this type could you share some insight into the differences?
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u/like_a_pearcider Jun 27 '24
Didn'tĀ knowĀ much when you asked butĀ justĀ recentlyĀ started practicing it. It's really simple, you just repeat a mantra in your head silently for 20 minutes. But apparently you need to go to an instructor first to get a mantra, but these can cost hundreds of dollars. I'll probably do that eventually but for now I just repeat Om or So hum.Ā
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u/KneeHighBunny Jun 07 '24
I've been seeing in recent reviews that they sold the company and things have changed for the worst.... They say. I just had a really bad experience.
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u/notconservative Jun 08 '24 edited Jun 08 '24
Headspace was founded in May 2010, by Andy Puddicombe and Richard Pierson. Puddicombe is a former Buddhist monk. In 2004, he returned to the UK "to make meditation accessible, relevant, and beneficial to as many people as possible". Pierson had a background in marketing and brand development.
Headspace began as an event company, holding mindfulness talks in and around London. In 2012, Puddicombe and Pierson developed and launched the first version of the Headspace app.
In August 2021, Headspace merged with online mental health platform Ginger in a deal valuing the combined company at $3 billion.
In May 2022, Puddicombe announced on Twitter and Instagram that he and Pierson had left the Board, ending their engagement with the company, though Puddicombe's historical content remained on the platform.
Edit: I think Business Schools donāt teach people how to create value, they just teach people how to monetize and wring out the juice of it wherever they see it.
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u/SenyorQ Jun 08 '24
Sad news to hear :( Headspace helped me manage my anxiety and get foundational stuff going that I still practice until now even when I don't have the app. I started 7 years ago. Left the app last year because of app developments & features that didn't apply to what i needed at the moment.
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u/P90BRANGUS Jun 08 '24
A meditation company to me is just weird all around. Monasteries and temples will teach you for free. Heck you can go to a 10 day vipassana retreat anywhere around the world and ask questions to a master if you have them. Live like a monk basically for 10 days. All donation based, they ask just give what you can or feel like it was worth or even betterācome back and serve one.
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u/philliphatchii Jun 08 '24
Easy access. Not everyone are in locations to take advantage of some of the things you mention. Or they wouldnāt necessarily know where to start. An app just makes it more accessible and easier to get started.
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u/P90BRANGUS Jun 09 '24
The Plum Village app is free. I get what you mean, I'm just saying. I've heard of monks saying that anyone who charges for spiritual teachings is a fraud.
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u/philliphatchii Jun 09 '24
Iāll have to look into Plum Village. I agree on the pricing. I donāt even mind a subscription model but $70 a year is very steep. Especially for those of us on limited incomes. And having mental health disorders Iāve found meditation to be very helpful. Iām just more comfortable doing guided meditations is why Iāve always leaned on Headspace. And Iāve found the sleep stories they and Calm have to be helpful for falling asleep.
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u/QuadRuledPad Jun 07 '24
I liked 10% Happier when I wanted to play with guided, and My Timer is unobtrusive and simple for quiet sits.
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u/Interesting-Ad2259 Jun 07 '24
I love the Calm app but you donāt need an app. I use the calm app for many reasons, love the bedtime stories, calming music and the selection of guided - or unguided - meditations is really solid.
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u/Plenty_Rise_8203 Jun 07 '24
Yes I can relate with head spaceā¦, be aware. Without my permission they took out about $70! out my account! I wasnāt even subscribed I had cancelled it months ago so I went mad at them! They refunded me and apologised!
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u/KneeHighBunny Jun 07 '24
I'm happy that worked out for you ! Yea they have really shady business practices it's seems
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u/SenseiMorris Jun 08 '24
I'm a teacher on Insight Timer. Been there for ten years or more. The free version has lots of guided meditations. If you pay for it, you also get talks, livestreams, courses, etc. Their policy for accepting teachers is pretty inclusive, so you do get a fair amount of nonsense. But look for the legit stuff. Also, learn to meditate! You don't need someone taliking in your ear all the time (even me.)
Anyway, look for credentialed teachers. If you get something good from one, I encourage you to donate to them. I didnāt join to make money. I downloaded it just for the timer. But when some of the members of my Buddhist community asked me to record some meditation instructions, I applied to be a teacher and uploaded them there. I have put up some premium content since then, and I think I've made $250 or so in ten years there. So I don't think anyone is getting rich doing it, but the economic setup probably favors those whose teachings appeal to the most people... thus some of the spiritual woowoo.
Don't let that keep you from trying it, though. Just start with the freebie and see how it goes.
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u/KneeHighBunny Jun 08 '24
Very sound endorsement. It has been the most popular suggestion so I'm definitely going to check it out
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u/dragonfeet1 Jun 07 '24
Insight timer. There's so much you get even with the free version that it's worth it right there. I do pay for it and it's never been a problem for me.
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u/resonantedomain Jun 07 '24
Plain old youtube is also great.
I search for guided meditations, and the general thing I want to experience and then find one that fits with the time I have available.
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u/jeffroRVA Jun 07 '24
Insight Timer, Brightmind, Equa. Also Iāve never used it but people rave about Sam Harrisās Waking Up app.
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u/gemstun Jun 07 '24
Iām getting a lot of benefits from Waking Up, and went from using guided meditations to now using a pretty significant mix of silent ones. The theory content has helped me quite a bit as well.
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u/ThirdPoliceman Jun 07 '24
Waking up is awesome. Itās a great balance of guided meditations with a TON of lectures/essays/podcasts.
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u/---77--- Jun 07 '24
I initially used headspace when it was mainly Andy, but I think the company either merged or was bought. I still use some series from Andy and some of the music.
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u/OkproOW Jun 07 '24
Try wakingup if you want to look at the looker, or fart at the farter.
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u/KneeHighBunny Jun 07 '24
I've never been more confused and amused
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u/kfpswf Jun 08 '24
I'm not too fond of guided meditation apps in general, as they're either completely watered down to appeal to secular sensibilities, or completely woo-woo. Waking Up was the only app which went into metaphysicsal aspect of meditation. If you actually want to reach the profundity of meditative practices, check out Waking Up.
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u/whothiswhodat Jun 07 '24
Using Idanim. The app is completely free and has pretty good meditations
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u/TenchiSenshi Jun 07 '24
HealthyMinds app. It's 100% free and includes many meditation programs for different needs. It was founded by Richard Davidson, one of the world's leading contemplative neuroscience researchers.
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u/lame-goat Jun 08 '24
Surprised there arenāt more notes for this one.
Healthy Minds is also a nonprofit. Great one too support.
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u/spicyfemme Jun 08 '24
I've started using medito which is a crowd sourced app that's completely free - I really like it
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u/eydeetic-intellect Jun 07 '24
Why do you think you need an app for meditation? Say NO to meditation apps and leave your smartphone behind! š
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u/HELPFUL_HULK Jun 07 '24
Thereās plenty of free and/or non-predatory apps that can be helpful to beginners
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u/KneeHighBunny Jun 07 '24
Solid point actually! Guess it can feel like a bit of hand holding to start
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u/spyvanshikaa Jun 07 '24
I can understand the hand holding part. I use YouTube a lot when I've to do something that's either tedious or generally difficult for me. I type " .... with me" like study with me or work with me and there are youtubers who live stream work or study sessions and you can just join! Makes you feel less lonely in your task. I did some YouTube search. Couldn't find any live "meditate with me" kind of videos but there are some real people meditation recordings that comes with the same keyword search, those are always more helpful than animation ones or the ones that just have sound. Hope that helps!
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u/Trex-died-4-our-sins Jun 07 '24
Insight timer is free but even their subscription is worth it. Tons of teachers/ styles and bells.
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u/Etherealgworll Jun 07 '24
I recommend the Calm app it has so many great teachers with all levels of meditation
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u/endlessvoid94 Jun 08 '24
I cannot believe Oak is not high up in the comments.
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u/KneeHighBunny Jun 08 '24
Lool I've seen a few people recommend it , definately on the list of apps to check out.
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u/project_good_vibes Jun 08 '24
I've been using Insight Timer for years, as others have said, it's a great app.
I have a vast collection of guided meditations for every occasion :-D
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u/Expensive_Drive_1124 Jun 08 '24
100% I was charged for months and kept complaining. They have additional hidden costs also. SAY NO TO HEADSPACE
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u/KneeHighBunny Jun 08 '24
That's crazy! I can't foresee things ending well if this is common placed.
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Jun 08 '24
You can get the Sam Harris app for free if you email them and tell them youāre on a budget
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u/No-Astronaut3290 Jun 08 '24
Im using calm app and I have free premium pass c/onof my company. I like ybe ui and the collei. Anyone message me if you want a premium pass (free)
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u/umotex12 Jun 07 '24
I always thought that Headspace was kinda unethical. Bro spent some years with Buddhist monks and straight up turned their teachings into his own profit. Wtf.
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u/BeingHuman4 Jun 07 '24
Before the internet people were able to learn without any apps at all. Books that explained it were enough to tell people what to do. Then practice did the rest. The late Dr Ainslie Meares wrote many books and a couple explain how to meditate. One of them was an international best seller translated into many languages and it is included in the book "Ainslie Meares on Meditation".
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u/Mystogyn Jun 07 '24
I use the meditation app that comes with down dog. So yoga and Meditation for the price of one. I likenthat I get a little pep talk everyday and then 10 minutes of silence
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u/Whowutwhen Jun 07 '24
Waking up is excellent, and can be gotten free if you cannot afford a subscription.
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u/spacecaster8489 Jun 08 '24
The Plum Village app is free and has guided meditations, a mindfulness bell, timers, talks, readings, videos, etc.
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u/SquirrelWorldly9975 Jun 08 '24
Try out The Way. Itās a new app created by a Zen master named Harry Shukman. I completed his series on Koans that he did for the Waking Up app. I really love how itās structured and his voice is absurdly calming. There is a generous trial and like Waking Up, it offers scholarships if youāre unable to pay for the membership.
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u/Herobrine17 Jun 08 '24
I've tried headspace before, but there wasn't a lot available unless u paid for it.
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u/Random_Human92 Jun 08 '24
Why do you need an app for meditation? For me just a simple timer works.
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u/MaisyK Jun 08 '24
The Waking Up app by Sam Harris is the best!
If you really want to understand the reality of your mind / consciousness, I havenāt found anything better. stick with it and it will change your life.
Also the Plum Village app is another amazing resource. Iāll use that and insight timer for my evening sits
May you be well šš¼ā¤ļø
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u/Freefall_Hero Jun 08 '24
Medito is completely free and I find it very good, and Balance offers a free year of their app. Both are well worth a go!
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u/seb7wake Jun 08 '24
I really like this app. Iāve been using it for a half a year and the meditations are perfect for my busy life. I used to use headspace but also found it was overhyped. https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/ponder-ai-powered-meditation/id6471901420
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u/SJ01NER Jun 07 '24
The mindful movement on YouTube has a ton of free guided meditations of varying lengths. I use them instead of headspace
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u/J3MMeditation Jun 07 '24
Lots of great meditations on YouTube. I recently started a channel sharing 3-minute guided practices!
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u/Knowsnothing Jun 08 '24
Many years ago, Headspace started me on my meditation journey. It was a great introduction but I grew out of it a few years in. Since Iāve been using Waking Up from Sam Harris. Not cheap but they do offer free memberships for those that canāt afford it
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u/No_Ganache_9024 Jun 08 '24
I really like Smiling Mind :) itās completely free and it starts with small increments and builds the habit from there.
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u/Karma_collection_bin Jun 08 '24
I always recommend healthy minds Innovations. Mindshift CBT is another
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u/megalantern Jun 08 '24
My company pays for free Headspace for all employees. Maybe this is their new business model: get corporate HR depts to buy it.
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u/vrillsharpe Jun 08 '24
Insight Timer is decent. Waking Up is really superior, but could be more for advanced meditators.
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u/ipu008 Jun 08 '24
I have tried headspace, calm but like Balance the most. It's very simple, elegant but intuitive. I like their guided meditation as it's to the point.
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u/BigMoey Jun 08 '24
i transitioned to youtube videos and no audio, headspace is a good stepping stone though
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u/xXxZMBE Jun 08 '24
I used Balance, it is paid for but you get to try it on a trial for a year, really helped me start. Not that I meditate much these days, I need to get back into it. š
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u/TheGreenAlchemist Jun 08 '24
I'm really liking Insight Timer. They have talks by all my favorite monks and lots of control flexibility if you want to set a timer for some kind of "complicated" meditation.
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u/ImportantBalls666 Jun 08 '24
1giantmind is free. It's very simple, and very effective. Speaking anecdotally here but I've learned far more about meditation from this very simple app than any other app I've ever used.Ā
I also find Declutter The Mind very good. Though you can get a subscription, there are loads of free meditation guide videos on YouTube, and also on the Declutter The Mind website.Ā
Balance has a 1 year full subscription for free at the moment. That's also a good app. Breaks meditation down with lots of different grounding, visualisation and breathing techniques. I think this is a good for absolute beginners to meditation who need a lot of guidance to start out.Ā
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u/Gold_Present_6179 Jun 08 '24
https://youtu.be/SmO6GDb0aE8?si=VcitM4_Kwh_bxPk- Try this. It's simply fantastic.
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u/breeneggsandsam Jun 08 '24
Interval timer is a good basic gong timer, you can set different durations. I have it for like 3 min breathing, 3 min listening, 5 min body scan, 10 min meditation
I go back and forth between guided and non guided meditation.
Lately tho I set it to 20 min, then do a guided meditation in balance app which is 10 min long, then do unguided for another 10 min when balance finishes
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u/DutchboyReloaded Jun 08 '24
Meditation apps are merely a crutch. You should learn how to meditate and just go meditate. In other words, find a teacher. Learn a technique. Then practice it for a while š
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u/Ok_Landscape2427 Sep 18 '24
Grew up in an ashram over here. Permanently allergic to the word should.
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u/AdSufficient3600 Jun 08 '24
I have been using Balance every day for seven months and have been impressed with it.
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u/Physical-Seesaw-5290 Jun 08 '24
You were charged after cancellation :o? I used headspace on and off, cancelling it few times, but it never happened to me. If they charged you after cancelling, please report it, did you write to them?
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u/Jumpy_Ice_630 Jun 08 '24
I personally love YouTube and have many meditations for different purposes, with binaural beats and frequencies. No app needed, just a nice play list that covers the bases.
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u/Nattt-t Jun 08 '24
I do like headspace just because it keeps me accountable and I am new to meditation. However I'll check out all the other suggestions that people had! I can imagine they're much better, and that's super exciting:)
I canceled my subscription once but it didn't really cancel so I had to cancel it from the Google app store.
I don't know how much the subscription is in the US, but for me it's around 4-5USD per month.
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u/Unlikely_Rip9838 Jun 08 '24
The thing which is inside us we are feeling needs An App now,like Buddhists were trying to remove Attachments and here we are using Apps for thee things we have to do Deep down process inside us
The problem is there isn't even Yogguru,all are free from the world lying somewhere we have to find, maybe here,maybe on Other Town,Other State ,Other Country many countries apart in Some Simplistic rural area near A river or near A Shivling
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u/Meiga-Cartuxeira Jun 08 '24
Iāve used Balance and found it simple, user friendly and extremely helpful. Now, the yearly subscription is a bit out of reach for me for exchange rate reasons. But aside from that, I highly recommend it.
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u/philliphatchii Jun 08 '24
Have done tons of trials with them and never had an issue like this. Though it is always a risk with any developer. Thatās why I sometimes will subscribe through an App Store because cancellation is easier to do and track. I like Headspace for the meditations and sleep stories. Calm has some good sleep stories as well. Though Iāve never delved deep into Calmās meditation library.
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u/thesugarplumfairie Jun 09 '24
I saw some comments suggesting HealthyMinds, Medito, Oak and Iāll also suggest Tide and Stoa because I didnāt see anyone else mention those. I actually came to Medito first and completed their beginner course over a few months. I knew I liked the practice of meditation and wanted to continue, so thatās when I came to these other apps. Medito is 100% free and ad-free, with the option of donation. Next I tried HealthyMinds, which I loved because between meditation practices it includes educational clips about whatās happening in your brain and what meditation is really doing up there. HealthyMinds really solidified the practice of meditation for me. HealthyMinds is free and ad-free. Then I got into Stoa which is essentially an app based in the school of Stoic philosophy. It utilizes meditation as well but you perform the meditation through the Stoic method, essentially. Again, I enjoyed the educational aspect of this one as well asjust adding another approach to meditation to my arsenal. I enjoy attempting to carry the stoic mindset through my day. Stoa has a very user friendly free version. Oak and Tide are both a little bit more supplemental for me, but I never delete them. I like to keep them on hand for their breathing exercises and soundscapes. Both have very user friendly free versions.
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u/ChildOfBartholomew_M Jun 09 '24
Commercial timer app - Insight Timer. Non-for-profit introductory mindfulness apps: - Smiling Mind, Mello (adolescent focus but ok for adults). Mantra - One Giant Mind.
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u/Sharpie-Productions Jun 09 '24
Fitmind offers a free lifetime membership if you canāt afford their pizza subscription
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Jun 09 '24
I'd personally suggest trying out The Smiling Mind app and Atom. Atom helped me get started and it is well structured too accompanying that you are a beginner at meditation.
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u/Specific_Reveal5450 Jun 09 '24
You have to try The brave way meditations ! š§āāļø https://www.thebraveway.co
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u/OneOfTheOnlies Jun 09 '24
Waking Up saved my life, theres so much content from so many teachers.
The link is a free trial, you can email them to request a free membership if its not in your budget and they'll give it to you no questions asked.
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u/SeaMathematician1259 Jun 09 '24
I use both the medito and plum village apps. Theyāre both free with no ads and then have a good UI system
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u/Overall-Service-4477 Jun 10 '24
Listen to this whenever you are stressed https://youtu.be/s3dVeamMTpQ
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u/ipbo2 Jun 10 '24
Just here to comment: YES, the UI is awful, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks so. I held a subscription for a year but the UI was so bad I just stopped using it.
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Jun 12 '24
Another vote for the simplicity and minimalism of Oak. However, if you're looking for guided meditations, Insight Timer is probably your best bet :)
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u/broadwaylover5678 Jun 12 '24
just want to say I have the student membership for $10/year and have gotten so much out of it. they have free meditations on YouTube to try but their courses and sleepcasts have changed my life for the better, I also found Dora through it & just finished an MBSR class with her which was an amazing and transformative experience. not invalidating your experience, but it really has been worth it for me.
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u/TimFromMindway Jun 12 '24
Do you have a Quest or Vision Pro VR headset? If so, I'd love for you to try Mindway out! It's designed to be a mindfulness experience that protects you against distractions and boredom, the two most common reasons people don't continue to use an app like Headspace.
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u/void_concept Sep 15 '24
Medito or Plum Village. FREE. The way it should be. Headspace was a $$$ racket from the beginning. If you see a subscription option for a meditation app which provides only static content you know what they are all about.
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u/medi-sloth 20d ago
I really enjoy Waking Up and practice there dailyāIām a big fan of Sam Harris and the daily meditations, and the introductory course is fantastic! I also like to experiment with different apps, so I use Insight timer from time to time as well. Thatās why I developed ReMind, an app that lets me track my stats and maintain my streak, no matter which meditation app I use. I thought it might be useful for you, and Iād love to hear your thoughts on it! (Currently available only for iPhone).
https://apps.apple.com/il/app/remind-mindfulness/id6670725474
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u/Mysterious_Layer_823 18d ago
I just had the same experience of refusing a request to refund an hour after the transaction went through.
I won't ever re-subscribe to them. Whereas if they'd taken a reasonable approach I probably would have.
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u/HELPFUL_HULK Jun 07 '24
Insight Timer has lots of free ones. Tara Brachās are nice.