Best Meditation App review | Calm, Headspace & more
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
- Which is the best meditation app 2022? I am reviewing the best meditation apps to see which app I think will be the best for learning how to meditate. I am reviewing Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, and the Wake Up app.
See my 2023 review here • Best Meditation App re...
Intro 0:00
Calm 0:15
Headspace 2:39
Insight Timer 4:38
Waking Up 6:18
Best App 8:32
No App 9:05
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- Sonam
If you liked this review I have just published my 2024 updated recommendations czcams.com/video/nJGQDCEHEYA/video.html
I also have a 2023 extension of this video reviewing Balance, 10% Happier, Simple Habit, Bloom, Present & Oak czcams.com/video/6dzTCekoAHU/video.html
I really like the fact you are so critical about the major apps. A critical eye is needed here and you have it. Subscribed!
🙏😄 Thank you and welome
I absolutely love the way you approach this review.
Thank you! I will be taking another look at what’s available for the new year 😄
watching this video felt like meditation. this entire video is so calm haha!
Thank you! Your feedback helped me in how I edited my most recent video, which I’ve only just uploaded :) czcams.com/video/6dzTCekoAHU/video.html It’s a review of the other “alternative,” meditation apps :D
Nice. I started with "The Art of Meditation" by Daniel Goleman. Sam's course does a good job of continuing his work. Because of Insight, I've discovered Jennifer Piercy, Andy Hobson and The Yin Way.
I’ve reread parts of that boom many times on my own journey. And I haven’t seen any of these people! I’ll have to look them up 😃
Thank you for one of the most honest reviews of Calm! Calm I tried it and it’s definitely overrated. I practice meditation since 1970s before any smartphones or pass were invented. Thank you for the other options but they will not offer anything that I have not practiced yet!
Thank you! Doing it independently I think is DEFINITELY the best choice!
That's extremely arrogant to say. Unless you've done comprehensive research in all of the kinds meditation there are in eastern traditions.
Dude you are awesome. Im becoming more of a fan, every time I hear you talk. great reviews
Thank you friend! I’ll be posting an update to this video in the new year 😄
Liked to support your channel growth.
Thank you so much Oscar! 😄
This was a great overview. Thanks!
My pleasure :)
thank you so much for this
Thank you!
Thank you Im gonna trying insight timer for now
That’s a great app, with a lot of variety. You’ve made a great decision 🙌😄
Thanks for your info
Anytime 😄
It was so comfortable to listen! At first I thought it’s just another “millioner-youtuber”, because of the good quality of the sound an the picture and video structure. I was surprised with the amount of subscribers that you actually have, i believe your channel deserves not less than a million subs!! Have a good luck with it🍀🍀🍀
Your videos are really cool and personal, thanks
Thank you so much 😄 I really genuinely want to help people and also get pretty tired with people selling out and fast ideas! I’m making an updated one of these videos as we speak! So make sure you check back next week 😄
Great video brother!
Thanks friend! 😄
Thank you so much for the honest opinion. Kinda meets my thoughts and you're right. These apps focus more on snatching people's money rather than meditation itself. btw you just earned a subscriber!!
Thank you! It sounds like we definitely agree on this point!
Very nice video. Thank you.
Only hoping to help! 😄
I found the introductory course on Calm was fantastic. It was a 30 day course and was a good start.but otherwise I found the same that it was very mainstream. Went with Waking up last year and have loved it. Didn't like the initial price but as you mentioned they reached out to me and gave me a subscription for $49.99 CND. So worth it in the end I think. Love the video btw, excellent work
Thank you! I completely agree with your assessment :) I’m working on an update at the moment covering some of the alternative and smaller mediation apps. But, Waking Up hasn’t been knocked off its perch.
Waking Up genuinely changed my life, I don't think I would be who I am today without it
Same 😄
Sam does really focus on nonduality though. I'm not sure whether looking for the looker for 20 minutes every day is the best use of time for most people, especially beginners.
@@MrCmon113 I have issues with his certainty on determinism and the absence of free will
Great video. I've had the Waking Up app for a while now, but I find myself getting confused too often as to what to do at times, which makes the practice less sustainable for me, and that's for someone who is already understanding and on board with the concepts themselves. I still have a few videos to watch on this channel to understand some things better with that lol.
When I meditate by myself (with interval bongs. As in the sound.....), I can just slip into a mode where I'm just noticing things and that replaces all my thinking. With Sam, I'm deep in philosophical thought and riddle-solving lol (I know that's not the intention, but that's what happens, unless I just ignore a lot of things).
When I do it solo, my attention isn't on the nature of Self as much, but I think I could intentionally adjust that, and in a more seamless manner.
I think I'll primarily go solo, but then I also want the app because there's so much "theory" and "conversations", and there's also a bunch of other teachers who explain things differently, so it's not just Sam (even though I like a lot of his instructions and his voice is fine). It's such a nice and easy resource for learning more.
I got the app pretty early when it was like 65 AUD p/year, but I like the lifetime option because I hate subscriptions especially on a service I don't want to use all the time. I'm gonna email them and see if they can do lifetime for like, 200 AUD or something. I know it's free for a year if you email them, but just having lifetime would be nice and I don't mind putting some money towards it.
Oh, the free timer on the Insight Timer app actually looks really awesome... I'm going to check that out. The bell on Waking Up is very lacking.
Even this is comment is a great review! We are in similar position. I like what you say about getting the subscription out of the way. I didn’t think about that, but feel the same!
@@SonamHoani - I think I have finally settled on which bicycle I want to buy (to be more active, but mostly for the mind, so I can get out and take in my surroundings). I think this will be a great addition to be able to stop wherever and do some mindful meditating in nice locations, rather than always being in the same locations (not necessary, but I am excited about it!). Oh, and I feel solo mindful meditating lends itself to this quite well, rather than taking yourself out of the nice location with the sounds and stuff, with a guided session.
ESPECIALLY if they tell you to close your eyes, god damn I hate that lol. I set myself up perfectly to look at a nice sunset out the window, all for naught. Yesterday I just used the guided session as a general guide instead (then watched this video). But anyhoo!
@@Siberius- Meditating outside with a bike sounds so nice! When I first got into meditation I used to walk to parks and practice! I think it should get recommended more than it does! I LOVE this idea. I might consider it for myself too!
Now we're breathing in our visual field for 20 minutes...
I agree with the importance of nonduality, but an instruction like that is simply not actionable.
Tough issue to tackle because everyone is different and some apps may help this person but not that one. Still, you did an excellent job of objectively covering each one. I did subscribe to Headspace but I swapped it for Waking Up. I enjoy the wide array of series and talks that they offer and the daily is great. I also use the free Insight timer. Thanks again!
Thank you so much for your continued support Daniel! I was thinking the same as you and wouldn’t be surprised if this video turns out to be controversial… So I think of this video as mainly entertainment and covering some ideas. With a personal recommendation of what I do use! (The same as you :))
@@SonamHoani at the end of the day, if one knows how to meditate, just sit down and shut up and watch paint dry, your phone's timer is free to all... but I also get how some prefer guidance... but again, I think you did a great job on a tough subject... be good, or good at it🤣
🙌
I’ve been using Headspace for years, but it became overkill for me. Great video, homie. Thank you. 🙏🏻
(Same!) Happy to help :) 🙏🏻
What about 10% Happier? I have the book but haven't read it yet, have had a quick look at the app, but this was a great video for a beginner like me, so thank you so much and have subbed so I can learn more from you
Thank you so much friend! From memory, like all the apps (except insight timer) you hit a paywall fairly quickly. But, I do remember finding it a very good approach for anyone who might otherwise be a skeptic. It was grounded and I’d be likely to look into it without too many worries, especially if you’ve already been introduced to meditation with the book! I’ll have to give it another look though, along with some other indie apps that are out there :D
I LOVE headspace, it feels friendly and relaxing, I love it. It may not be “proper meditation” but it’s really helped my mental health
That’s the most important thing 😄
@@SonamHoani I find it amazing for sleep too! Especially the sleep casts
I’m happy to hear that 😊 Good sleep is very healthy for you! So whatever helps is good ☺️🙌 We have a lot of people out there these days that struggle letting go at night to wake up feeling rejuvenated and rested 🥱🛏️
Dude you are awesome. Im becoming more of a fan, every time I hear you talk. 👍🏻great reviews
Thank you friend! 🙏🙌😄🎉
indeed insight timer can take you to practice and you don't have to pay
Insight timer is great 😄
@@SonamHoani i have tried calm long time ago and stick to it as I thought it has no altrnatives but after finding insight timer
I stick to it and never looked for alternatives
That was my journey too!
@@SonamHoani I'm everyday there I set a reminder for daily practice from the app itself which sends me notification
Like" time to unplug yourself "
I didn’t know you could do that. I tend to have a set time I practice every day 😄
I used Calm for a few months and found it very helpful to get started with meditation. Once I got the habit going and started to feel more curious I downloaded Waking Up. I am learning so much from it. I love it!
Love it ❤
I started with Headspace about 6 years ago and I absolutely liked it, but now it feels rather noisy and overloaded with content. I ended up building my own app Kantan, that is free and tailored to unguided / semi-guided meditation that I practice most often.
I’ll see if I can find it 😄
Thank you. I’m over headspace. I look forward to trying out yours.
I never actually managed to find it on the App Store. Let us know how you go 😄
great video dude
Thank you! 😄
Waking Up changed my life, so glad I discovered it and read Sam's book of the same name.
Same for me!
That's the problem I face with Walking Up. Harris can't seem to separate his philosophy from the practice, & as there are too many errors in his philosophy. It feels I'm being forced to think a certain way while I just wanna be left alone to practice meditation. This same problem was the downfall of Headspace, but still most of the sessions in Headspace are just very valuable meditation practices & there's a guided/partial guided timer as well. Anyway, I'm trying
Petit BamBou for now.
@@L.I.T.H.I.U.M
The "philosophy" is what motivates the practice and the practice is what inspires and confirms the "philosophy". Can you hangboard without ever wanting to climb or thinking that climbing is good? Yes, but why would you?
@@MrCmon113 I think the science is what motivates it for me, I've got no problem with listening to some Eastern philosophy, but it should be separate from the practice.
I see it as a practice to observe emotions & thoughts without exaggerating them, replacing the judging mind with a more curious one. Which helps in all aspects of life & that's what the research backs. Even psychologists recommend those techniques to people with different issues.
Also, focus, sleep, less sadness are all somethings that come along & are welcome.
I personally like the apps let's meditate CZcams and insight timer to get my meditations fresh
I’ll have to look into that app! I support the other two too :D
an excellent review in approach execution 🙏☺️ thank you!
Thank you 🙏 Happy to help 😊
Thanks sir
Thank you 😄
Thank you
You are welcome! Thank you for your support 😄🙌
Best meditation is to focus on breathing just as Buddha prescribed ("“Breathing in a long breath, one understands, ‘I am breathing in a long breath.’). It's something that you can do at any time, even while walking or eating. But app creators and modern consumer culture can't capitalize on this simple yet powerful practice, where you don't need any app to meditate at any time. So they make you dependent on an app and earbuds.
🙌 I prefer to meditate independently. It’s the most personalised practice possible 😄
I have found really awesome breath work apps for free .. That are super easy to use . Might be a good simple starter
@ezrasmith4977 That’s a really smart idea. You might then just find a book about meditation and you won’t be missing out on anything 😃
That's the problem I face with Walking Up. Harris can't seem to separate his philosophy from the practice, & as there are too many errors in his philosophy, it feels I'm being forced to think a certain way while I just wanna be left alone to practice meditation. This same problem was the downfall of Headspace, but still most of the sessions in Headspace are just very valuable meditation practices & there's a guided/partial guided timer as well. Anyway, I'm trying
Petit BamBou for now.
You mean anatta? That's traditionally the entire point of mindfulness meditation.
Is headspace that bad?
It's the best if you keep yourself away from their opinion pieces disguised as meditation sessions. @@barneyy6942
Headspace is an easy place to start. But, it doesn’t need to cost you so much. You could also try Insight Timer 😄
It amazes me that more than one of these apps starts with a question: What do you want to focus on today? Of course I'm there to meditate, since it's a meditation app, so I look for "meditation" as a choice. Guess what -- it's not there! There are 5 choices, and none of them are "meditation". AND the screen doesn't allow any other choices, so if you want to use the app for meditation you're FORCED to say that you're interested in something you're NOT interested in! WTF?
I completely agree!
Subbed! I appreciate the honest review. I might give the good ones a try. Could you do one for Balance app or just have a look at it to see how it compares to the good ones? I got the free 1 yr subscription to it and so far it has helped me sleep better and with mindfulness, but I'm not sure if the hefty price is worth to get after the free subscription.
I’ll take a look! I’d love to explore the less known options!
I've reviewed Balance now! czcams.com/video/6dzTCekoAHU/video.html
At a point in my life where if I can’t finally calm my mind down I’ll lose everything. This year is my last chance to achieve my dream that I’ve been fighting all my life for but for this final step, I need to calm down my high anxiety disorder, the depression and bpd. If I can’t do this I’ll have to kill my lifelong and only dream that I thrive for. I hate throwing these words around but it is what it is. Doing a lot better than I was back in 2017 but yeah I hope meditation helps.
And all the other things too! Like food, sleep and movement are what I like think to about… I think they probably helped my depression more… and having something good to look forward too! But, meditation was definitely the cherry on top!
@@SonamHoani I mean hey it’s been what 13 years now? And out of everything, breathing exercises and meditation seem to be actually helping. Granted it’s just been two days but awareness is a great thing. Thank you for the insight and the phenomenal messages you send out! Have a beautiful life ahead of you ❤️
😃 Sincerely wishing you all the best too! Thank you for the positive vibes today!!!!
There's lots of medication for anxiety. If you only have one shot why risk it?
Hi brother. I bought the €69 subscription for Calm before I realize what a peace of crap it is. I uninstalled the Crappy Calm App with the subscription from my iphone. I was totally blown up by the Insight Timer. It yields dozens of results from search and makes searching for content a paradise !!!
Thank you friend! What a concise and effective review! 🙌 (🤣 …I agree!)
I've been having issues worrying about the Free Will lectures on the Waking Up app. I do have OCD so I have a tendency to overthink things. I think I might just be misunderstanding the definition of free will though. Has anybody worried about this and is there any tips to help understand it better. I guess, I feel like I make choices in my life, and have the option between different paths and is he saying that we don't make choices? I feel like we definitely do make choices and I don't think everything is pre determined, but I'm not sure if that is what he is trying to say.
Any tips on understanding Sam Harris's free will ideas better?
This idea definitely requires some difficult thinking. The good news and the calming news is that it doesn't change a lot about your life. In fact, regardless of whatever the truth of the matter is, most people (you're right) still feel like they're making decisions, so you can just continue on living your life. It only changes the way we understand some certain things. The claim is that is we pay closer attention to what it's like making decisions (which you can do with meditation) it is possible to notice that in the present moment decisions are very spontaneous and they don’t feel like they belong to you. I actually think if most people thought back on their day, they’d notice a lot of it happens fairly automatically. A lot of decisions don’t feel like they’re happening “from you.” It’s just that we’re taught to think that we have freewill, so when we first reflect it’s easier to say we made a choice. Getting rid of freewill doesn’t take anything away from life. You can still think about where you want to go and seem to try to do the things that need to happen to get you there. But, it does mean we can hold less grudges towards ourselves and others when things don’t happen the way we imagined it. All our thoughts about the way things might be are only thoughts. In reality there is only this one immediate moment with no one seperate from it to be able to steer it in any different direction. I hope this helps a little! It’s fairly difficult to get clear on it and I’m not sure where else’s might help, but here’s one video :) czcams.com/video/odTylzoa20E/video.html&pp=ygUUU29uYW0gaG9hbmkgZnJlZXdpbGw%3D
@@SonamHoani thank you for the response, it definitely helped clear things up for me along with the video :)
Definitely subscribing!
subbed
Thanks 😄
Insight Timer is Pro !! Truly marvellous !! Nothin like it !!
Calm is aesthetically very pleasing...something that one would like to have on Apple devices...Content is great... Headspace is good for hard core meditators with a lotta courses ..but the UI is a turn off ...n tends to bore one a bit ..
I really agree with your assessment!
It’s really funny how these companies have commercialised meditation with celebrities and in app purchases
Meditation has nothing to with voice or calmness
It’s a way of controlling your mind(which is almost impossible) but it’s not dead end.
No one can control there thought(unless you are guru) but certainly you can divert your thoughts to one one direction for longer period of time
It has much more to do with calmness than what you have described traditionally.
would love for you to add reviews of Aura and Breethe as well. also, would love for you to add a review of which one does a better job with sound therapy as a tool for mediation/relaxation/therapy. e.g, i'd love a simple well done guided mediation that slowly dissolves into biaural or theta music to aid in a transformative experience. which of these apps does the best for this? thanks :)
Thank you for your idea! I think I’d enjoy to this 🤔😄
Do you use earbuds or headphones when listening to the app?
Thank you for the question! Personally I just play it out loud in my room 😄
As an Indian I just suggest vipasanna is the way forward for anyone.
Is that an app, or do you just mean the practice?
When I sit down to meditate, the thing I DON'T NEED is a hundred choices and prompts and questions -- and worst of all, one more thing encouraging me to shlump down into pointless "socializing" with strangers. Insight Timer seems like it has become a TikTok imitator, with "teachers" pushing and shoving to get eyeballs and tips. SERIOUSLY?
I haven’t been on there in awhile. Perhaps you’d like the intentionality of Waking Up.
Exactly the point.
I just wanted basic tools to channelize my meditation that set. I came across app called Ekaant, which seems to do the job for me. New app but simple enough.
Interesting! I’ve never heard of that one. I’ll take a look :)
No offense but u mixed up some of the information in this video. U put a picture of the main screen of headspace on screen while reviewing the “waking up app” that u reviewed
Hello :) This was intentional. It’s showing headspace has some random content on it, which is contrary to waking up and what I’m saying at that point :D
Which one would be good for helping Focus
You could try searching focus on Insight timer!
@@SonamHoani thanks
Anytime :)
Wish you had reviewed the Balance app.
I’ll make an updated video :)
@@SonamHoani I look forward to it.
Thank you! 😄
@@SonamHoani Oops. I forgot to express my appreciation for the review. I wished you had included Balance because it was such a good review. Thanks for the honest review! I look forward to the next one.
Thank you! I will make sure to do one just for you :D
What about the Balance app? I've heard good things about it
I’ll have to try it. When I made this I decided not to do the smaller apps yet because none of them felt finished yet!
I've reviewed Balance now! czcams.com/video/6dzTCekoAHU/video.html
I would say that the one app that he didn't mention in the video is the best: medito. It was the first app I used for meditation and I really enjoy using it. There is quite a lot of content on it and it's completey free (in the UK at least), and with no ads.
Stay tuned! A lot of people are mentioning it so I will cover it :)
Meditation don’t need app to do, just sit and close your eyes and watch your breath.
I like where you’re coming from and I don’t tend to use apps for more than alarms. There’s a lot of other forms of meditation too. 🪷
Had anybody try Mindfulness for Apple Watch?
I’m not even sure what that is 😅 I’ll look into it!
@@SonamHoani Please try it and let us know your thoughts!!! 😃
I started a free trial of waking up. Tried a meditation where the man let out an overly loud cough in the middle of the audio track. He was speaking softly and then the cough nearly blew my ear drums. The orators vary so wildly in skill, but this was by far the worst. Couldn't believe the price tag they were asking with this kind of quality control.
Are you sure that was Waking Up?
I’m sorry but that is so funny
😂
Can we use waking up without subscription?
If you email them and ask :D
@@SonamHoani Thank you 😊💌
Anytime 😄
headsup you showed headspace GUI and courses when reviewing Waking up. kinda misleading to everyone thats seen this and never used either
This is intentional. The point I’m trying to make is that Headspace is doing the opposite of Waking Up, by showing them as an example of the unidealised presentation I’m talking about in that sentence at that time. :)
Is there an free app like those ?
Medito :) which features on my most recent review czcams.com/video/nJGQDCEHEYA/video.htmlsi=B-FdJfzLpUObPnHT
Medito is best@@SonamHoani
I get what you're saying about having too many ads and too much marketing stuff and too many endorsements, but I don't agree with your opinion that these apps should be free and meditation should be free for everyone etc, they are just businesses, and have costs and have gathered resources etc, why would spending time, staff, resources, development and ongoing maintenance and all this and make these apps free for u to use, that's an odd way of looking at it
As someone who uses Headspace and Waking Up app, I’ve recently discovered something disturbing. While doing a search for Breathwork in the Headspace app, I got this under my results, “how to overcome racism in police brutality. “ How is that type of divisive language even justifiable if your promoting peace? Then you have Sam Harris, who has lost his marbles too now. Always going on social media ranting about politics. I really wish these people would stop with divisive social justice garbage and actually promote a peaceful existence.
I actually agree with your sentiment here 😆 Perhaps some meditation might help the people behind some of these decisions on the apps pull back and present themselves with greater clarity, simplicity and peace.
Are you in the police force?
I am not
Dont try 7-Mind, it is Desaster
Thank you for your advice 😄 This is an updated video I made a few days ago, by the way czcams.com/video/nJGQDCEHEYA/video.html
How about Medito...
Heard a lot of positive reviews and its completely free with no premium membership either
It didn't come up in my app store when i made this video, but it keeps coming up these days. I'll take a look and thank you for the recommendation 😄
Mindbreath is an app I’d recommend, been using it for since covid.
I can quickly get into a mindful state anywhere. Plus the Hrv nervous system
tools are mind-blowing.
I have been meditating since years so a app that can help me in between my daily routine to be more mindful rather than teach me meditation is welcome.
I’d say give Mindbreath app a try, most functions are free though I have life subscription.
Thank you for your wonderful recommendation. It sounds like you’ve really managed to identify a practical solution for yourself and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do more of currently. I’ll take a look at the app! I see a few breath and meditation apps lately and because of the nervous system I think they’re extra accessible for a lot of people and that’s a great thing 😮💨😄
CE5 contact is funny enough a really good meditation app even though it was primarily made for ET contact
I’ll have to check that one out 😆 I haven’t heard it!
SCREW CALM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡
Mindbreath is an app I’d recommend, been using it for since covid.
I can quickly get into a mindful state anywhere. Plus the Hrv nervous system
tools are mind-blowing.
I have been meditating since years so a app that can help me in between my daily routine to be more mindful rather than teach me meditation is welcome.
I’d say give Mindbreath app a try, most functions are free though I have life subscription.
I will take a look! Thank you :)