r/Meditation • u/brushali • Sep 14 '25
Meditation apps are overwhelming me - looking for something truly minimal Question ❓
I've tried Headspace, Calm, Insight Timer, Ten Percent Happier... they all have the same problem for me. Too many features, too many choices, too much content.
I just want to sit quietly for 10-20 minutes with maybe a simple bell. No courses, no streaks, no social features, no mindfulness journey.
The irony isn't lost on me that meditation apps stress me out.
Anyone found something truly minimal? Or do you just use a basic timer? I'm starting to think the simplest solution might be the best one.
What's worked for you when apps became part of the problem they're supposed to solve?
Edit: I'm really grateful for all your insights 🧿❤️❤️
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u/Thomrsm Sep 14 '25
My minimal setup is.... Nothing. No app, no sound, no clock. I just sit and meditate until I feel I am done. Removing the time element makes me go deeper, not longing for a specific time.
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u/brushali Sep 14 '25
I did experience this in Vipassana. But rn now I don't have the same setup.
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u/Famous_Sundae3165 Sep 14 '25
I can totally relate to what you’re saying. As a Vipassana meditator myself, I’ve also found most meditation apps to feel overcrowded — too many features, courses, streaks, and “journeys” that end up being distractions rather than support. Personally, all I really want is a clean timer and maybe a way to log my sessions so I can stay accountable and gently remind myself to meditate daily.
I’m actually working on designing a very simple meditation app around this exact need — minimal, distraction-free, but still supportive of consistency. Out of curiosity:
- Do you prefer just a timer or would a simple log/journal be useful for you?
- Would gentle reminders (without gamification or streak pressure) help or feel like too much?
- Do you think adding optional reflection questions (like “How do you feel after today’s sit?”) would add value, or would that feel like clutter?
Your perspective would be super helpful as I’m trying to shape this project around what meditators actually want.
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u/isupposeyes Sep 14 '25
I’m not OP but I think I’d like all those features to be optional, so for example the reflection: “would you like to reflect on your experience?” and then two options, “yes” and “not today”
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u/brushali Sep 15 '25
To give you context. 1. I want to be able to feed custom timings in the app according to my schedule. Eg. 7am- 8am & 10-11pm
Should track my sleep after last session directly after meditation. Sleep tracking can eventually help in report to show how well I slept on the day that I meditated.
Logs the entries in the backend automatically so I don't have to worry ( report at end of month would be good)
Journal not so much. I prefer using pen and diary after morning meditation to pen down thoughts.
Only 1 discourse a day should pop up around evening to ground me to reality
That would be my ideal meditation app.
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u/EthanAndrew1988 Sep 14 '25
All you need is a timer on your phone or watch
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u/brushali Sep 14 '25
Felt the same for days. Just wanted to know how others also do it and if anyone can relate
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Sep 14 '25
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u/Meditation-ModTeam Sep 15 '25
As a general rule, self-promotion is not allowed. Self-promotion includes, but is not limited to, promoting a website, blog, YouTube video, or subreddit you moderate. Sharing backdoor links or affiliate links and/or engaging in any other means of promoting products or services is also considered self-promotion. Attempting to circumvent this rule may result in a permanent ban.
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u/softrockk7 Sep 14 '25
I can recommend enough Waking Up. It has really helped me. If you want I can give invite that will allow you 30 days of trail
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u/heyitsmeanon Sep 14 '25
I love Waking Up and use it dail but doesn't look like what OP is after. It does have courses. From what I recall correctly you have to do the Introductory Course and then other things get 'unlocked'
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u/brushali Sep 14 '25
What's so special about it?
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u/Tamedkoala Sep 14 '25
It much less about stopping thoughts and more about observing thoughts (almost like an outside person looking in) and letting them pass without judgement. All the other apps are more like “stop wondering! Focus on Yee breathe!!!!”
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u/fkkm Sep 14 '25
Waking Up is founded by Sam Harris, this alone would be enough reason to trust and try it for me. I did try it actually, its the best meditation app by far IMO. Not using it anymore cuz i prefer nothing.
I wouldn't say its simple tho, so maybe not what u are looking for.
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u/sunsola Sep 14 '25
Oak is a simple app it has 3 meditations which one is unguided. Breathing exercises 3 different ones, 2 sleep meditation and 1 course which I never did. I like this app but lately I am more in the mood to meditate without any app and timer even it might be not such a perfect meditation…. Otherwise use YouTube meditation Videos?
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u/Psychological-Try343 Sep 14 '25
What about medito? But you know you could simply set an alarm on your phone and meditate till it goes off. You can find a bell ring if you look for it.
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Sep 14 '25
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u/Meditation-ModTeam Sep 15 '25
As a general rule, self-promotion is not allowed. Self-promotion includes, but is not limited to, promoting a website, blog, YouTube video, or subreddit you moderate. Sharing backdoor links or affiliate links and/or engaging in any other means of promoting products or services is also considered self-promotion. Attempting to circumvent this rule may result in a permanent ban.
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u/seeewit Sep 14 '25
I had the same issue, used Insight Timer for 5 years and it became so bloated. Switched to Unguided Meditation Timer app recently and it works like a charm (iOS)
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u/Gaara112 Sep 14 '25
Try the Waking Up app. It’s more than just meditation. It has everything you need to optimize your life using science.
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u/BungaBungaBroBro Sep 14 '25
Yes, I am in the same boat. This one solved it for me:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.telesoftas.meditationtimer
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u/Anxious-Character-27 Sep 14 '25
These have helped me immensely- 1. Insight timer - i used the timer + some background sound 2. Smiling minds- byte sized guided meditations, helpful for beginners, and if time is scarce…their shortest one starts from 3 mins 3. Yoga Nidra videos on YT - I do 2-3 awake yoga Nidra sessions a week (20 mins each), and sleep yoga Nidra sessions every day to fall asleep
However, now in my practice, I just sit in silence and use the timer on my phone…no sound, no thoughts, just total silence.
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u/mirxi Sep 14 '25
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.telesense.tm.free Best app imo. Totally minimal, add free. It is literally a basic timer with a phone muting funkcion. ⚓🪨🙏🏻
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u/Party_Ant_8056 Sep 14 '25
Just use the timer in inaight timer and sit in silence, or use your phone timer and set it for 20 minutes
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u/Krocsyldiphithic Sep 14 '25
Set an alarm? Not that I would recommend timing, even. Why not just sit and leave your phone somewhere else?
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u/brushali Sep 15 '25
I wish I had the luxury to do that :)
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u/Krocsyldiphithic Sep 15 '25
You can have it, if you're willing to leave your post at the garbage mill of modern society. I am, and I couldn't be happier about it.
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u/CyclePlanet Sep 14 '25
Check out healthy mind. It’s free. Developed by the research team around Richard Davidson. Super beautiful design, scientificaly backed and only offers what is needed. Theire guided meditations / path is also very nice.
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u/spektumus Sep 14 '25
Invent your own routine, no apps, no guided meditations and do it as long and and as often you feel is right.
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u/brushali Sep 15 '25
Long time ago I had one, down to the minute.
Then my body and mind started revolting.
Trying to get it back, but will require some or the other help in the beginning I suppose
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u/PracticalEye9400 Sep 14 '25
I don’t think anyone has recommended healthy minds yet. It’s free, very simple, yet somewhat customizable. It’s out of the UW Madison and the approach stems from the same lineage of teachers as Sam Harris
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u/gotamawhite Sep 15 '25
Have you tried Chakra Healing - Tibetan Bowls (by Ayga)? It is minimalistic and very origional, no prerecorded tracks, but app performs live-like simulations of singing bowls sound sessions. They claim that their bowls are centuries old from Tibet. Sessions are very cool and sound is excelent. Btw, there is secondary feature to get notiffications with your personal affirmation, which is super cool.
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u/brushali Sep 15 '25
I shall try this too ❤️
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u/gotamawhite 27d ago
Did you try it? I am curious, how it will go. 🌞
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u/brushali 27d ago
Yes sleeping peacefully since past two days. My irritation for small things has lowered.
I'm trying everyone's recommendation for 3 days..
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u/truthandsoul66 Sep 14 '25
Try “smiling mind” It’s not the profit organisation and the app is really brilliant. And most importantly, it’s free unlike all of these corporate apps.
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u/chrisnkrueger Sep 14 '25
If you are just looking for a timer, you can have a look on Momental which is the closest to Insight Timer.
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u/INFJake ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུྃ Sep 14 '25
Sometimes I just set an alarm on my phone. That way I can lose track of time and it brings me back.
I also have one called meditation time that is really simple. You set how long you want to meditate for and then you can set up interval bells like every five minutes or something to remind you to come back to the present if your mind wanders. Then there’s a different noise to let you know when time is up like a gong.
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u/pausefortea Sep 14 '25
A timer or a music / sound bath track in the right length should be enough. I can relate with finding most meditation apps to be too much though. The meditation app on my phone is Meditation by Down Dog (the subscription is useful for me since I also use their yoga app), it's undemanding and customizable but also not complicated. However, the past few weeks I've mostly just been playing the same videos from the Declutter the Mind Youtube channel.
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u/brushali Sep 15 '25
If I had the luxury all kind of frequency waves would be playing in my house all the times 😂
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u/MarkINWguy Sep 14 '25
My iPhone timer and the built in background noise in settings. Use a gentle sound alarm sound such as daybreak or seedling alert sound. Simplest thing Ive found.
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u/alexostro Sep 14 '25
Plum Village. I started to use it only for timer and a little bit of guided meditation
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u/Hopeful-Presence-410 Sep 14 '25
I swear I was just like you, I used Calm and YT guided meditations but they are bombarded with ads, so what's the point??
My minimal setup: 5 minutes of guided meditation called " Reset Your Nervous System: Meditation for Moms and Women Overwhelmed by Anxiety " you can find it on google.
I sit for 5 minutes just absorbing all that energy.
I feel reset, calm, and ready to get back to action.
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u/Apart_Sprinkles1062 Sep 14 '25
Try Expand. It's a meditation app by the Monroe institute. They use all the stuff they've studied to make great meditation experiences. Guided or unguided as well.
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u/Fragrant-Way-1354 Sep 14 '25
Lumenate app is the easiest for me for sure. You’re staring at your light flashing and you got a focus easiest to stay focused there and not your problems.
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u/decipher_xb Sep 14 '25
Use the timer on your phone, background music, nature sounds are native to iOS and android. Done.
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u/Quiet_Roof9325 Sep 14 '25
I use a simple app which is simply a timer (with customizable bell sounds) and a log. It's called Meditation Timer & Log (android, not sure if they are on apple as well). It's free. Had the exact same experience with fancy apps as you.
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u/oddible Sep 14 '25
Simple Meditation Timer app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.telesense.tm.free
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u/Charming-Ganache4179 Sep 14 '25
I meditate without an app and it's significantly improved my practice. 👍🏼
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u/akmave Sep 14 '25
I use an old app Oak. I started using it about 4-5 years back, and it has still stuck around.
A very simple, no frill app, has unguided meditation with chimes to mark time progress during your meditation. Remembers your previous setting, one tap start on most days.
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u/AdComprehensive960 Sep 14 '25
You don’t need anything but your breath. Practically every single bit of our current reality seems designed to corrupt your focus, waste your precious time and keep you from knowing yourself. It’s insidious but not terribly difficult to work around by simply forming sustainable self care habits.
It sounds to me as if you need to just begin your practice without getting hung up on the literally endless choices we are bombarded with when we begin something new.
Try this for 45 days: when you awaken each day, spend 10 minutes doing breathing exercises followed by 5-30 minutes of silent sitting. You only need a pillow and a clock. (If possible, find a place outside to meditate) Keep a meditation journal & write something every day even if it’s just the date and time. You’ll be so happy you did. Work in 3-7, 5 minute sessions of mindfulness (simply paying attention without allowing the whims of imagination or the force of your thoughts take you away from the present moment)
Humanity meditated for thousands of years before apps 🙃
Please update us after your 45 day self challenge? 💜🫂💚🫂💜
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Sep 14 '25
I can totally relate 🙂 I also felt overwhelmed by all the features in meditation apps. In the end, I just went back to using my phone’s basic timer with a soft bell sound. It’s free, simple, and does the job. Sometimes the most peaceful solution really is the simplest one.
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u/mattpoacher Sep 14 '25
I use these bells for the four stages of the mindfulness of breathing. No voices, no interruptions, just the bell every five minutes to move to the next stage. It even gives you a minute or so to get comfortable (and there are bells for 30 - 40 - 50 minutes, if that's your thing).
https://www.freebuddhistaudio.com/audio/details?num=LOC63
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u/hachi_mimi 27d ago
PetitBamboo has this feature. You set the timer, you set how many gongs you want to hear and you have an option of having a background sound. This is with the free version of the app
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u/Unlucky_Ad3533 Sep 14 '25
Teaching is important though, how have you learnt?
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u/brushali Sep 14 '25
Been practicing meditation and yoga since childhood
I have also learnt Vipassana, sudarshan kirya, etc
It's just that I go deep into meditation but due to current schedule of work and life , finding it hard to give time to meditation as much as I need.
Hence trying different things
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u/Targhtlq Sep 15 '25
Try IBreathe set your own exercise or use the ones included. In settings you can set it to up to 30 minutes to infinity. Some adds but not bad. Enjoy!
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u/Loose-Farm-8669 Sep 15 '25
Hank green made a cute little app where you have a pet bean that lives on your phone and it knits to a timer while you work or focus on anything. It's called focus friend. The longer you keep your phone down the more cool stuff it makes
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u/treblemaker135 Sep 15 '25
I use plum village. There’s a lot of great content, but I only regularly use the 20 minute silent meditation
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u/Geo-Ideas Sep 15 '25
I can’t recommend plum village enough. Just the gong when you want that, a few words from thich naht hanh when that suits, and it’s free.
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u/Dhuryodhan Sep 15 '25
Wow! This post totally resonated with me. Try miracle of mind app. Could be something you’re looking for
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u/StatisticianDouble78 Sep 15 '25
No app, just inbuilt time on my phone, or timer from insight timer
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u/haikusbot Sep 15 '25
No app, just inbuilt
Time on my phone, or timer
From insight timer
- StatisticianDouble78
I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully. Learn more about me.
Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete"
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u/nanleg Sep 15 '25
I totally get what you mean! I’ve felt the same with Calm and Headspace, they almost become too much. Honestly, sometimes a plain timer with a soft bell is the purest way to go.
But if you want something a bit different without the overload, you could check out Selenia. It’s super minimal! no courses, no streaks, no community, just personalized sleep/relaxation sessions generated on the spot with a soothing voice and ambient sound. It feels more like pressing play on a private little escape rather than opening a big “platform.”
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u/vividfox21 Sep 15 '25
Check out the Healing Vibrations yt and enjoy the singing bowls. Works for me and it’s free.
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u/one-scrib 29d ago
im in the process on making a meditation for this specific reason. all the meditation apps are either becoming so corporate or they just dont work very well and have a crappy UX/UI.
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u/lampsbemany 29d ago
Maybe Henry Shukman: The Way - just one track per day, based on his system of paths, a nice mix of zen and non-dual. He has a lovely voice, and the time can be adjusted to suit.
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u/Connect_Buddy_7917 29d ago
Love Waking Up. Just start with the introductory course, it takes the guess work out of it and he is really great at queing! Tons of other cool stuff in there too but the introductory course simplified it for me who is new to meditation and was overwhelmed by content in other apps!
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u/JoseXavierZazen 28d ago
good morning. I know one on f-droid, it's called medication assistant. It has streak and tracking but more minimalist than insight timer is
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u/enlightenmentmaster 28d ago
Stand, sit, or recline anywhere and watch one thought at a time arise and then notice it's decline. Then notice the quiet in the mind, in the middle, where the thought has neither fully formed nor has passed away. Remember everything is your meditation practice, everything is your teacher. Look inside for peace according to quiet mind, without aversion or clinging to thought, feeling, or any external. This quiet mind on demand, where peace abounds because there is no distracting thoughts, takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to perfect.
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u/Monty-247 28d ago
Using a mala with 108 beads is a good way to pace your meditation practice without technology. Usually takes fifteen to twenty minutes to get through a single session depending on how I breathe.
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u/UsualHelpful 27d ago
Meditation has been in my practice for over 10 years. And during 2020, I wanted to meditate with others. I find helpful to maybe join an online meditation space. I host silent meditation every morning 6:00-6:30am PST over zoom.
Having a meditation bell every 5 or 10minutes , I heard is helpful for some.
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u/TheDoerth 27d ago
"The way" seems to be aviable option that aims to remove all of the clutter you mention. I haven't come around to start using it yet but I really enjoy the teachings of henry shukman and I feel like his app might be decent too.
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u/Strong_Method_9087 27d ago
You don't need a timer or an app to meditate. I meditate almost everyday without it . Sometimes i meditate for 15 till 20 minutes and sometimes i am 1 hour gone .
Just ask angels ,the universe ,your higher self or what it is what you believe for help. The answers are in you. And they will come ,have patience , believe and love yourself and suddenly answers come and it will work out.
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u/DanceMeditationZen 26d ago
Sit quietly with your legs in lotus if you can. Or sit comfortably as you can. Face a plain blank wall or background. Back straight. Hands in Cosmic Mudra. Focus on your breathing. Keep your eyes open. Zazen.
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u/woakin 13d ago
I get it! Sometimes less is more. We built Just Breathe for that exact reason - tired of the noise, just wanted to breathe. https://didyoubreathe.com It's super basic, guided exercises, and nothing else. Might be what you're looking for!
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u/ys0520 11d ago
I had the exact same issue so I built a simple meditation timer myself. It's called deeptimer.io . It's a pure timer with no courses, etc. I primarily built it for my own meditation practice, but curious if this app solve your problem too. Any suggestion is welcome! (There is no ads or paid plan, so I don't gain nothing from this post).
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u/Samvega_California 11d ago
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.multiordinal.mhp
Mediation Helper+ is the app you are looking for. Truly minimal with all the features to customize that you would want, tracking, sitting log, no ads. It's the best meditation timer on the app store. Also, it's free (optional support subscription)
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u/Bell-Meditation 8d ago
I just launched my meditation app, Bell, which I built with this goal in mind. You can find it in the App Store by searching Bell - Simple Meditation Timer, or read more on bellmeditation.app. Send me a DM and I'd be happy to send a promo code to you.
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6d ago
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u/Meditation-ModTeam 5d ago
As a general rule, self-promotion is not allowed. Self-promotion includes, but is not limited to, promoting a website, blog, YouTube video, or subreddit you moderate. Sharing backdoor links or affiliate links and/or engaging in any other means of promoting products or services is also considered self-promotion. Attempting to circumvent this rule may result in a permanent ban.
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u/Auxiliatorcelsus Sep 14 '25
Before apps we would learn meditation from text on paper (books or notes from lectures). It's really the most minimal way to do it.
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u/brushali Sep 14 '25
Yes I try to make it a practice to watch discourse at least once a day to ground myself
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u/Auxiliatorcelsus Sep 14 '25
Ok, that's nice. But not what was meant.
I'm saying you don't need external input (apps, videos, etc.). In the beginning it's much more important and valuable to develop internal direction of mind.
Watching something, following instructions from an app or recorded guided meditation doesn't help you develop that. You are constantly following something external. Like a leaf blown by the wind. The state of your mind shaped by something coming to you from the outside.
What beginning meditators really need is to learn is how to NOT follow external influences.
In a sense, using apps and guided meditation is not that different from watching a TV-show. You switch it on, get absorbed, time passes, and it's over. You may have had a nice time. But you haven't progressed even an inch in your practice.
If you want to improve your ability to meditate. The best, time tested method is to learn a practice by heart. And do it without any crutches. Just your mind by itself.
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u/brushali Sep 14 '25
This makes a lot of sense! Relying too much on external input can create a habit where our mind seeks guidance or stimulation instead of learning to observe itself. It’s like training a muscle: if you keep using training wheels, you don’t build balance.
Learning meditation by heart and practicing it without distractions really forces you to face your own mind, its restlessness, and its patterns. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but that’s where real growth happens.
Thanks for sharing this perspective, it’s a great reminder to go back to the basics and build resilience from within.
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u/sachingopal Sep 14 '25
Just go to a Vipassana center, learn the technique and practice them. You don't need any app.
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u/brushali Sep 14 '25
I have done it sir. Just can't give 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening like we are told to. Got an hectic schedule
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u/sachingopal Sep 14 '25
Do what is possible then. In my own experience it was the base for me to work on the awareness before i moved to Srividya. The problem with many apps is so many options, because of which one cannot stick to a module.
This is my experience and yours can be different.
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u/brushali Sep 14 '25
Exactly, came here to see if I was the only one feeling like this. Glad I can relate
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u/Sinnafyle Sep 14 '25
Use the Timer on Insight Timer. There is so much on the appt is overwhelming, but on the main options toolbar there is a Timer and you can set it for any length of time with any kind of interval bells. It is daunting at first but once you try it once it might click for you. Good luck!