Insight Timer
Free meditation app with a huge library of guided tracks from thousands of teachers, plus a timer.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · iOS, Android, Web
Is Insight Timer free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
- Starting price:
- $9.99 a month (MemberPlus)
- Free plan:
- Yes
Checked on Insight Timer's site Nov 8, 2026
Full Insight Timer pricing and plansSwitch from Insight Timer to
All 4
CalmCompareYearly price (web): $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial
HeadspaceCompareFamily plan: $99.99 a year for up to 6 people
Plum Village AppFree
- Verified facts
- 8 of 8
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Insight Timer
Insight Timer started as a meditation timer and grew into one of the largest free libraries of guided meditation. Approved teachers publish their own tracks, so the app holds more than 200,000 guided meditations, talks and music tracks from over 18,000 teachers, covering sleep, breathwork, yoga nidra and many traditions. Most of it is free to play. The original timer is still there for unguided sits, with interval and ending bells and ambient sounds. There are also live events and community groups. A paid tier, Member Plus, adds courses, offline listening and extra journaling features. The app is made by Insight Network Inc. and runs on iPhone, Android and the web. The trade-off is the flip side of the open model: quality varies a lot from teacher to teacher, the sheer size can make it hard to know where to start, and there is less of a guided path than in Headspace or Calm.
Best for: People who want a large free library and a flexible timer without paying for a subscription.
Insight Timer pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Insight Timer's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paid tier | Member Plus, $59.99/yr | Nov 8, 2026 | insighttimer.com |
| Starting price | $9.99 a month (MemberPlus) | Nov 8, 2026 | help.insighttimer.com |
| MemberPlus annual plan | $59.99 a year | Nov 8, 2026 | help.insighttimer.com |
| Free plan | Yes | Nov 8, 2026 | help.insighttimer.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- 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
Why people leave
- Quality varies widely between teachers
- Size makes it hard to find a clear starting path
- Courses and offline listening need Member Plus
Insight Timer vs Calm, Headspace and Plum Village App
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Insight Timer | Calm | Headspace | Plum Village App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free |
| Verified price | $9.99 a month (MemberPlus) | $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial | $99.99 a year for up to 6 people | — |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Free app |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android |
Full Insight Timer vs Calm comparisonFull Insight Timer vs Headspace comparison
Top Insight Timer alternatives
See all 4- 1Calm64.8
A curated library with polished sleep content, if the open model feels chaotic.
- 2Headspace61.8
A structured course path for beginners who want to be told what to do next.
- 3Plum Village App59.4
Completely free like Insight Timer's core library, but focused on one Zen tradition instead of thousands of teachers.
- 4
Hallow42.3Catholic-focused guided prayer and Christian meditation, with a free version.
Why people left Insight Timer
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Insight Timer, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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Insight Timer: common questions
What is Insight Timer?
Insight Timer: Free meditation app with a huge library of guided tracks from thousands of teachers, plus a timer. Best for people who want a large free library and a flexible timer without paying for a subscription. Available for iOS, Android and Web.
Is Insight Timer free?
Insight Timer has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Yes (checked on Insight Timer's own site).
How much does Insight Timer cost?
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.
Is Insight Timer open source?
No, Insight Timer is not open source.
What platforms does Insight Timer run on?
Insight Timer is available for iOS, Android and Web.
What are the best alternatives to Insight Timer?
The highest-ranked Insight Timer alternatives right now are Calm, Headspace and Plum Village App. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
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.