I wanted to meditate. Not join a cult.

Every app wanted me to commit to a 30-day journey. Learn about chakras. Watch videos about “manifesting abundance.”

I just wanted to sit quietly for 5 minutes.

Here’s what I found.

Headspace

Best beginner course. Andy’s voice is calming.

$70/year. Free tier is basically a demo. Pushes you toward long courses.

Verdict: Good if you’ll pay. The Basics course is legit.

Calm

Sleep stories are amazing. Daily Calm is nice.

$70/year. More about sleep than meditation. Matthew McConaughey costs extra. Yes, really.

Verdict: Get this if you can’t sleep. Not for meditation.

Insight Timer

Massive free library. Community features.

Overwhelming. Quality varies wildly. Half the meditations are woo-woo nonsense.

Verdict: Best free option if you can filter through the garbage.

Ten Percent Happier

Practical. Skeptic-friendly. Good teachers.

$100/year. Lots of video content you won’t watch.

Verdict: Best for people who think meditation is weird but want to try it.

Waking Up (Sam Harris)

Intellectually rigorous. No spiritual fluff.

$100/year. Sam’s style isn’t for everyone. More philosophy than beginner-friendly.

Verdict: Great if you want to think about consciousness. Not where beginners should start.

The Dirty Secret

These apps make money by making meditation seem complicated.

Courses. Journeys. Programs. Levels.

Here’s what meditation actually is:

  1. Sit down
  2. Close your eyes
  3. Focus on your breath
  4. Mind wanders. Notice it.
  5. Return to breath
  6. Repeat

That’s it. Everything else is premium content.

What I Actually Wanted

Open app. Pick a timer (2 min, 5 min, 10 min). Maybe get some guidance. Close app.

No 40-day commitment. No courses. No journey.

Just sit down and breathe.

Meditation

That’s what I built.

Sessions from 2 to 30 minutes. Guided when you want it. Unguided when you don’t.

Streak calendar to keep you consistent. Ambient sounds when you want them.

No courses. No commitment. Just calm.

Join the waitlist — launching soon.

Related reads:

— Dolce