AppBreakup
Submit an app

Insight Timer alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll meditation and mindfulness apps

Top picks

  • Calm logo

    Best overall

    Calm

    Yearly price (web): $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial

  • Headspace logo

    Best free option

    Headspace

    Family plan: $99.99 a year for up to 6 people

Common reasons people leave Insight Timer: quality varies widely between teachers, and size makes it hard to find a clear starting path. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Insight Timer, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Calm currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Calm logoCalmFree plan + paid$79.99/yr after a 7-day free trialNoiOS, Android, Web5 of 564.8
2Headspace logoHeadspaceFree plan + paid$99.99 a year for up to 6 peopleNoiOS, Android, Web6 of 661.8
3Plum Village App logoPlum Village AppFree—NoiOS, Android4 of 459.4
4Hallow logoHallowFree plan + paid$9.99/month or $69.99/year (US)NoiOS, Android, Web5 of 542.3
  1. Calm logo

    1. CalmTop pick

    Best for: People who want a large library of sleep stories, music and guided sessions in one paid app

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Insight Timer

    A curated library with polished sleep content, if the open model feels chaotic.

    Pros

    • Very large sleep library: Sleep Stories, soundscapes and music
    • Clear starter programs: 7 Days and 21 Days of Calm
    • Runs on phones, web, Apple TV and smartwatches
    • Family plan and a one-time lifetime option

    Cons

    • Most content needs a paid subscription
    • Prices differ between web, App Store and Google Play
    • Sleep-heavy library is more than some meditators need
    Visit Calm Compare with Insight TimerDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Calm a good Insight Timer alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Yearly price (web)
    $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial
    Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Sleep Stories
    500+ narrated Sleep Stories
    Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Devices
    iOS, Android, web, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Wear OS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starter programs
    7 Days of Calm, then 21 Days of Calm
    Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Breathing tool
    60-second Breathe Bubble
    Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Headspace logo

    2. Headspace

    Best for: Beginners who want structured courses and a tidy app, and students on the cheap plan

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Insight Timer

    A structured course path for beginners who want to be told what to do next.

    Pros

    • Structured beginner courses starting from Basics
    • Sleep, focus music and movement sessions in one app
    • Family plan for six and a low-cost student plan
    • 14-day free trial on the yearly plan

    Cons

    • Little free content without a subscription
    • App increasingly promotes coaching and therapy services
    • Courses can feel basic for experienced meditators
    Visit Headspace Compare with Insight TimerDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Headspace a good Insight Timer alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Family plan
    $99.99 a year for up to 6 people
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Student plan
    $9.99/yr for verified students
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Minimum age
    18+, with limited exceptions
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Part of Sword
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Student discount
    $9.99 a year for verified students
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Plum Village App logo

    3. Plum Village App

    Best for: People who want free guided meditation rooted in Thich Nhat Hanh's teaching.

    FreeiOS, Android

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Insight Timer

    Completely free like Insight Timer's core library, but focused on one Zen tradition instead of thousands of teachers.

    Pros

    • All content free, with no subscription
    • Practices from one coherent Zen tradition
    • Deep relaxations and practices for difficult feelings

    Cons

    • Much smaller library than Insight Timer
    • Teachings come from a single Buddhist tradition
    • No web or desktop version
    Visit Plum Village App Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Plum Village App a good Insight Timer alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Nov 8, 2026plumvillage.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Teachers
    Thich Nhat Hanh and monastic community
    Checked Nov 8, 2026plumvillage.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Library
    Hundreds of practices
    Checked Nov 8, 2026plumvillage.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Funding
    Donations
    Checked Nov 8, 2026plumvillage.app(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Hallow logo

    4. Hallow

    Best for: Catholics and Christians who want guided daily prayer, Scripture and faith-based meditation

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    42.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Insight Timer

    Catholic-focused guided prayer and Christian meditation, with a free version.

    Pros

    • Large library of guided Catholic prayers and Bible content
    • Free version includes Bible in a Year and the daily Rosary
    • Parish and school community features
    • Family plan covers up to six people

    Cons

    • Much of the library sits behind a paid subscription
    • Content is centred on Catholic tradition, less suited to other faiths or secular users
    • Subscriptions auto-renew after the trial unless cancelled
    Visit Hallow Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Hallow a good Insight Timer alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, hundreds of sessions
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.hallow.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $9.99/month or $69.99/year (US)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.hallow.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Family plan
    $119.99/year for up to 6 members
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.hallow.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    Yes, on individual plans
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.hallow.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Launched
    End of 2018
    Checked Nov 8, 2026hallow.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Insight Timer alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Calm logo

Best Insight Timer alternative for most people

Calm

A curated library with polished sleep content, if the open model feels chaotic.

Plum Village App logo

Best Insight Timer alternative for a free option

Plum Village App

Completely free like Insight Timer's core library, but focused on one Zen tradition instead of thousands of teachers.

Headspace logo

Best Insight Timer alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Headspace

A structured course path for beginners who want to be told what to do next.

Hallow logo

Best Insight Timer alternative for iPhone and Android

Hallow

Catholic-focused guided prayer and Christian meditation, with a free version.

Calm logo

Best Insight Timer alternative for working in the browser

Calm

A curated library with polished sleep content, if the open model feels chaotic.

Insight Timer alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Insight Timer?

Calm ranks first right now. A curated library with polished sleep content, if the open model feels chaotic. Headspace and Plum Village App follow it in our ranking.

Insight Timer vs Calm: what's the difference?

Both Insight Timer and Calm are free with paid plans. Verified prices: Insight Timer $9.99 a month (MemberPlus), Calm $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial. Both run on iOS, Android and Web.

Is Insight Timer free?

Insight Timer is free with paid plans. Paid tier: Member Plus, $59.99/yr; Starting price: $9.99 a month (MemberPlus); MemberPlus annual plan: $59.99 a year; Free plan: Yes. Checked on Insight Timer's own site, November 2026.

How much do Insight Timer alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked Insight Timer alternatives: Calm, $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial; Headspace, $99.99 a year for up to 6 people; Hallow, $9.99/month or $69.99/year (US). Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to Insight Timer?

Yes. Calm (free plan + paid), Headspace (free plan + paid), Plum Village App (free) and Hallow (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Insight Timer?

None of the 4 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Insight Timer?

The complaints we hear most: quality varies widely between teachers; size makes it hard to find a clear starting path; courses and offline listening need Member Plus.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Insight Timer, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.