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Plum Village App alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

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

Top picks

  • Insight Timer logo

    Best overall

    Insight Timer

    Starting price: $9.99 a month (MemberPlus)

  • Headspace logo

    Best free option

    Headspace

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

Common reasons people leave Plum Village App: much smaller library than Insight Timer, and teachings come from a single Buddhist tradition. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Plum Village App, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Insight Timer currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Insight Timer logoInsight TimerFree plan + paid$9.99 a month (MemberPlus)NoiOS, Android, Web8 of 868.8
2Headspace logoHeadspaceFree plan + paid$99.99 a year for up to 6 peopleNoiOS, Android, Web6 of 661.8
3Calm logoCalmFree plan + paid$79.99/yr after a 7-day free trialNoiOS, Android, Web5 of 559.4
4Waking Up logoWaking UpPaid—NoiOS, Android5 of 557.5
5Happier Meditation logoHappier MeditationFree plan + paid$99.99/yearNoiOS, Android4 of 455.9
  1. Insight Timer logo

    1. Insight TimerTop pick

    Best for: People who want a large free library and a flexible timer without paying for a subscription

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Plum Village App

    A far bigger free library from thousands of teachers across many traditions, plus a timer and live events.

    Pros

    • Most of a 200,000+ track library is free
    • Thousands of teachers across many styles and traditions
    • Customisable timer for unguided sessions
    • Live events and community groups

    Cons

    • Quality varies widely between teachers
    • Size makes it hard to find a clear starting path
    • Courses and offline listening need Member Plus
    Visit Insight Timer Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    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 Insight Timer a good Plum Village App alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Free content
    200,000+ tracks, mostly free
    Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid tier
    Member Plus, $59.99/yr
    Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Teachers
    18,000+
    Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid features
    Courses, advanced journaling, offline listening
    Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Company
    Insight Network Inc.
    Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $9.99 a month (MemberPlus)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    MemberPlus annual plan
    $59.99 a year
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.insighttimer.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 Plum Village App

    Paid, secular courses with a structured beginner path and sleep and focus content.

    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 Details 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 Plum Village App 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. Calm logo

    3. Calm

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

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    59.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from Plum Village App

    Paid app known for sleep stories and music alongside guided meditation.

    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 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 Calm a good Plum Village App 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)
  4. Waking Up logo

    4. Waking Up

    Best for: Analytical, secular-minded people who want to understand meditation, not just relax

    PaidiOS, Android

    57.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Plum Village App

    Teaching-led meditation with long courses and talks on philosophy, for people who liked Plum Village's dharma talks.

    Pros

    • Deep library of lessons and conversations, not just guided tracks
    • Secular approach with no belief system required
    • Free scholarship membership if cost is a barrier

    Cons

    • Annual subscription only, with no limited free tier
    • Less sleep and relaxation content than Calm
    • Philosophical focus may feel heavy for beginners after quick stress relief
    Visit Waking Up Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    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 Waking Up a good Plum Village App alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Nov 6, 2026wakingup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pricing
    Annual subscription
    Checked Nov 6, 2026wakingup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Scholarship
    Free membership if you can't afford it
    Checked Nov 6, 2026wakingup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2018
    Checked Nov 6, 2026wakingup.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Library
    600+ hours of audio
    Checked Nov 6, 2026wakingup.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Happier Meditation logo

    5. Happier Meditation

    Best for: Beginners and sceptics who want meditation explained by teachers, not just guided audio.

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android

    55.9

    score / 100

    Why switch from Plum Village App

    Meditation courses from many well-known teachers, including Buddhist teachers, presented in a plain, practical style.

    Pros

    • Courses explain the reasoning behind each practice
    • Wide range of established meditation teachers
    • Three courses free without subscribing
    • Practical topics such as anxiety, focus and parenting

    Cons

    • Full library needs a yearly subscription
    • Fewer sleep stories and soundscapes than Calm
    • Mobile only, with no desktop app
    Visit Happier Meditation Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    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 Happier Meditation a good Plum Village App alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Subscription
    $99.99/year
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tenpercent.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Three courses
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tenpercent.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2014
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tenpercent.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Origin
    Dan Harris's book 10% Happier
    Checked Nov 8, 2026tenpercent.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Plum Village App alternative for…

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

Insight Timer logo

Best Plum Village App alternative for most people

Insight Timer

A far bigger free library from thousands of teachers across many traditions, plus a timer and live events.

Headspace logo

Best Plum Village App alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Headspace

Paid, secular courses with a structured beginner path and sleep and focus content.

Calm logo

Best Plum Village App alternative for iPhone and Android

Calm

Paid app known for sleep stories and music alongside guided meditation.

Insight Timer logo

Best Plum Village App alternative for working in the browser

Insight Timer

A far bigger free library from thousands of teachers across many traditions, plus a timer and live events.

Plum Village App alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Plum Village App?

Insight Timer ranks first right now. A far bigger free library from thousands of teachers across many traditions, plus a timer and live events. Headspace and Calm follow it in our ranking.

Plum Village App vs Insight Timer: what's the difference?

Plum Village App is free to use; Insight Timer is free with paid plans. Only Insight Timer runs on Web.

Is Plum Village App free?

Plum Village App is free to use. Price: Free. Checked on Plum Village App's own site, November 2026.

How much do Plum Village App alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked Plum Village App alternatives: Insight Timer, $9.99 a month (MemberPlus); Headspace, $99.99 a year for up to 6 people; Calm, $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial; Happier Meditation, $99.99/year. 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 Plum Village App?

Yes. Insight Timer (free plan + paid), Headspace (free plan + paid), Calm (free plan + paid) and Happier Meditation (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Plum Village App?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Plum Village App?

The complaints we hear most: much smaller library than Insight Timer; teachings come from a single Buddhist tradition; no web or desktop version.

How is this list ranked?

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