Probably my second most used app
I get so much out of the daily meditations, let alone all of the different series that are so very helpful
Real Deal
This study has been invaluable for me. I’m loving the small courses that follow each meditation and how Sam is teaching the practice instead of just holding meditation sessions. This is how you change lives. Thank you!
Everything is paywalled
I understand a lot, or even most of the content being paywalled, but I couldn’t find a single thing I could interact with and listen to other than “How is Waking Up Different”. The content might be good, if you wanna pay $150 a year. Maybe the 7 day trial is enough for you to use it enough and see how you like it, but not for me right now.
Meaningful use of time
With just a little time out of your day, it helps you see things more clearly
Can’t recommend enough
There is really no other tool that has been as impactful in my life as Waking Up and the practice of mindfulness. Obviously, there is no magic solution to figuring out life, but Waking Up has truly provided me with a strong foundation and reduced a lot of suffering in my world. I can’t imagine a more universally applicable method for improving well-being than the things taught on this app.
Saved me from my constant noise making machine called my mind
It helps me focus. It just make me aware that thoughts are all over my brain when I am even silent. My thoughts are very controlling and I would like to get a little bit of control of my thought. Just a a little bit. I am not doomed by my noisy mind. I can learn to silence those noises. Thank you Sam for reminding me the worlds oldest advice “know thyself” it has never been more relevant than today and for future with The advent of AI and other persuasive algorithms. Thanks
Exceptional Guidance
I’m not new to meditation, but I am returning after many years of decreasing focus and attention. This app, the guidance, the teachings, and the supplemental content are so rich that I can’t wait for my time with it each day. The customer service is also the best I have experienced with any app. I found it difficult to pay the full amount, so I wrote to customer service. I received a response and an offer for a scholarship within minutes. I look forward to sharing Waking Up with as many people as I can.
Life Changibg
I’ve struggled with mental health issues my entire life and have spent over a decade exploring different therapy modalities to manage all of the challenges of life (CBT, ACT, DBT, etc.). I can confidently say that this app has had the most positive impact on my mental health than anything else I’ve ever done. I’ve tried other mediation tools like Headspace and Calm in the past but could never stick with them. Sam’s method is completely different than any other app out there, and after following the 30 day introductory course I was hooked and have been a daily user for a year now. Outside of the guided meditations I think what sets this app apart is all of the talks and other content to explore, most of which are chunked into 5min vignettes to make digesting them easy. I especially enjoy the teachings of Joseph Goldstein who I listen to almost daily. There’s a 30 day free trial with structured lessons so there’s no thinking about where to begin. I think everyone should at least give it a shot for 30 days and I guarantee you’ll start to see the benefits!
Awakening organization.
Sam Harris and his Organization have been a complete game changer. The eloquent and digestible way Sam and his team teach meditation and mindfulness is deeply empowering. Just finished day 29!!!
SCAM - STEALS $$
I downloaded and wanted to try this out. I opted for the free trial (7 days) and immediately cancelled the same day - so I wouldn’t forget. I just got charged $161.99 . And to top it off the only button that doesn’t work on the app is the “contact us” button.
Love it
This app has helped me enjoy life more and is helping me understand consciousness.
it works
it works if you work it
Completely changes your way of life an thinking
Grateful. A better friend and person
Bad value and fake
App does not do much and Sam Harris is a bad person
Best meditation/awareness app out there
I have been listening to Waking Up every night since August 2025 and it has been the best experience. I wish there was more content in the Reflections section, but it is the best app I've tried for deep learning and meditation.
The app nav items should Improve on visibility
Title
Feeling Grateful
I just finished meditating, and I’m feeling very grateful for my life which really is better than I deserve (I just feel lucky and blessed). This review is intended as a way to thank Sam Harris and whoever else contributes directly to Waking Up for all the daily meditations, beautifully calm and minimalistic background music, endless veins of wisdom shared freely, and all the other substantial and minor ways they’ve improved my life and those of so many others. <3 Life is beautiful and precious. Don’t waste it.
Huberman misleading?
Recently Andrew huberman podcast repeatedly sates with his ‘huberman’ login you get a 30 day trial? I don’t see this on the web or the App Store?
Excellent guidance and content
I don’t normally come to the App Store of my own volition to write a review, but this app is just so good. I began my meditation practice in November 2024 and eventually reached a point where I realized I needed guidance and instruction. So I actually asked ChatGPT what my options were. This app (among other things) was recommended, so I thought I’d try it out. It’s been fantastic. The introduction course alone is worth the monthly price, but then you also get a seemingly endless stream of insightful content. I highly recommend it.
Best experience I’ve had with my phone
As tough as some of the meditations are for me to fully get I have been able to grow more in my mediation practice in the last 8 weeks than the previous 3 years. And there are so many additional courses, meditations and talks. This is the best money I’ve spent.
Life changing
Life changing. Complaints regarding price are unfounded, because there's always an option to get full access for free, via simply asking for a "scholarship" found at the bottom of the app/site. They provided me a 100% off scholarship, no questions asked, for 2 years, and I'm both happy and glad to finally be a paying member at $19.99 USD/month now. The scholarship already gave me full access, but Sam Harris, the founder, more than deserves it for this revolutionary app. The world needs more Thinkers like him. I extend my utmost gratitude.
Essential
I appreciate the laser focus of this content—only what matters.
BUYER BEWARE! They will keep charging you and make it difficult to cancel!
See title. I have had numerous $60 and $120 charges come through. After my first charge of $120 I thought I canceled but here I am still getting charged. It’s super difficult to figure out how to cancel and I thought I was canceled, but I guess I’m not. I’m hoping someone from support can reach out to make this right because each time I try to write to support I get an error message. Good luck to anybody who subscribed.
Great for beginners
I’ve just completed the first month, the practice is a joy todo and learn, and the real world application of mindfulness is paramount in today’s day and age. Everyone should try this app.
Better off with Calm or Balance
I wanted to like this app but it is a poor attempt at replicating the main meditation apps like Calm, Balance, or Mindspace and has the audacity to charge twice as much as all the mainstream apps. Billing practices are predatory and they make canceling the subscription very difficult. It seems the creator didn’t want to spend money on other narrators or loves to sound of his own voice. Everyone has different talents and his voice is not made for narrating or guiding meditations.
No Nonsense Meditation
If this was 5x time the price it would still be the best investment I’ve made for myself(and others) in my 36 years on this earth. Thanks Sam
Equanimity
These meditations take me there
Best app to change your life
This guy is so on. Best thing to happen in consciousness in quite a while.
Absolutely Transformative!!
This app is a must have for any philosopher, or practitioner of meditation and for a contemplative life. The only true program that takes meditation out of just stress reduction and lowering blood pressure. It has utterly transformed the way I look at my existence (no hyperbole) and life! It may have even cured my ADHD, if I had it in the first place. Whether you were someone who seeks wisdom, or just somebody who wants to be less stressed and perform better mentally and otherwise, it is my strongest belief that this is the best app out there!
Harassing
They will spam your inbox if you don’t sign up and pay for what is offered free all over the internet. The 4.9 rating just tells me people are lazy.
Begin Again
Meditation was one of my goals for this year. It was overwhelming seeing the dozens of meditation apps available and not knowing which one would work for me. What drew me to this app was the fact that it is founded by neuroscientists and psychologists, with techniques and practices based on science. Sam’s introductory course really guided me calmly into the world of meditation and I automatically began feeling grounded, present and at peace. There are countless different courses to choose from and I love the daily quotes, moments and clips to ponder. It’s really given me such a deeper perspective on my being present and mindful in my daily life and I can’t see my life without meditation now. I highly recommend Waking Up if you’re wanting to start meditating or even if you’re a long time meditator. There’s something here for everyone to experience, learn and enjoy.
Go-to!
Waking up has been my go-to source for both my meditation practice as well as inspiration for less than a year I believe…maybe a year…time flies. I have practiced for about 20 years, originally as a Vajrayana student and later finding Dzogchen practice. It’s truly unbelievable that I am able to tap into just about any and every teaching I desire, using this app. I finally made the leap from just using it for theory study and actually started using the guided meditations and timer. The app is like having a teacher always accessible and it seems to be working for me in a similar way as meeting with teachers in the past. I am undeniably grateful jto have access to this bank of wisdom. Interesting, this is my review from the first time I used waking up. It mostly still applies accurately except I have to admit, it is not the same as being with my teacher face to face. I’m okay with that though. I’ll just become ever more patient.
the greatest app in the world
been a follower of sam harris for over a decade. this is his magnum opus.
So grateful for this app
I just completed the 28-day introduction course and it has helped me immensely. I appreciate that the approach isn’t just about breathing but focuses on understanding the nature of consciousness. I know that I have a long way to go but I think meditations here will help me as I try to improve my understanding of myself and connection to the world around me.
Sea Change
Having started my meditation practice in 1990, I finally realize the immediacy of the freedom inherent in the non-dual approach that Sam excels in teaching. In gratitude, Bryon Sabatino
What is he talking about?
I am often accused of being too much of an empiricist, but this sort of thing makes no sense to me at all. I gave it a try because I thought it might help me understand what “mindfulness” is all about. But meditating on why I can’t see my own head? No, not for me.
Sam’s Gone Pro Epstein
Don’t watch his recent YouTube video about Epstein. His voice will forever be ruined. I had to unsubscribe from his channel and the app after it. Putrid.
Great to have a constant stream of philosophical content into the daily life
Whether I agree with Sam on everything that he teaches or not, the content that this app provides is amazing as a person that has been looking for a source of information on awakening/meditation/reality/self/the world/etc. I love the option to have daily quotes that pop up in my notifications. Very well made, it is pleasurable to use, and there is a community part to it. Overall I’m really enjoying it (~1.5 months use)
A little hard to understand
I have been meditating for a couple of years now and really enjoy it. However, your is much more esoteric than what I got used to. I wanted a challenge, but looking for my head or the thinker is hard for me. I enjoy being aware and living in the present, but this gets very hard. I will stick with it though and, hopefully, It will all become clear to me at some point. Thank yo
Life Changing App
This app is pretty much entirely responsible for helping me to develop and maintain my meditation practice, which is no doubt one of the most important things I’ve done in my life.
A masterpiece
This app has changed my life
Have used it for a couple of sessions. Good customer support
I installed the app and started the free trial. So far so good. But forgot about it until I noticed a $140 charge on my credit card for an annual subscription. However once I emailed the developers they refunded me with no hassle.
Waking Up: A Meditation App for People Who Don’t Like Meditation Apps
Waking Up is the rare meditation app that treats you like an adult. No soft-focus clichés, no mystical promises, no “just breathe and manifest” fluff. It’s built for people who want clarity, not incense; insight, not slogans. What makes it stand out is its intellectual honesty. Every lesson, practice, and lecture is grounded in clear reasoning and direct experience. Instead of trying to soothe you with platitudes, it teaches you how the mind actually works—and how to relate to it with precision and calm. The result is a practice that feels clean, rigorous, and refreshingly free of spiritual theatrics. The daily meditations are concise and purposeful. The theory sections are surprisingly deep without ever drifting into jargon. And the broader curriculum—covering everything from non-duality to cognitive science—gives you a framework for understanding consciousness that’s both accessible and profound. If you’ve ever bounced off traditional meditation apps because they felt too sentimental, too vague, or too performative, Waking Up is the antidote. It’s meditation for the rational mind: structured, thoughtful, and genuinely transformative. A rare example of an app that respects your intelligence while helping you build a calmer, clearer inner life.
Not for me
I wish the content were as good as the ads. Not as self reflective behavioral change motivational speech as I thought it was (based on the ads). More like a meditation alarm with extra educational content. I think I would do better to listen to a chapter of a self help book everyday. I cancelled 4 days too late from the free trial and got charged for a year, but the developer reached out to me to refund me (unsolicited). I believe this developer is responsive and actively engaged in listening to feedback and improving the app to become what is most valued by its customers.
You only have your mind - why not work to understand and appreciate it?
Hard to imagine a better use of 10 to 20 minutes of your time per day
Nice mediations, horrible excessive daily emails
I like his mediations and also feel like the amount of emails sent are excessive when the app can do this on its own. I’ve unsubscribed from 3 emails in the 1st 24 hours :-/
Finally
As someone who has tried to pick up a meditation practice several times at various stages of my life, it is so profoundly refreshing to find a tool steeped in science rather than dogma. Sam’s approach is exactly what I needed in order for it to finally “click.” Thank you, Sam.
Super disappointed
This app feels like the SHEIN version of the calm app. Those sweet sounding samples you hear on the IG ads are nowhere to be found once you’re in the app. Weird poorly recorded and possibly AI voices in some of them. Really redundant “trying to reach word count” vibes in the meditations with very little actual substance. Not to mention, no way to cancel subscription in app. You have to go to their website and what do you know, no where to cancel there either. Have to send a support request and then they said they’ll be in contact over email. Somehow they’ve evaded their app showing up in the list of subscriptions you can usually view and manage in your Apple settings as well. Do not get this app
Life changer
I found this app through someone I know who meditates often, and at a time that was tough for me. The introductory course & other talks / features completely changed my outlook on life, on my self, and on my perspective, all for the better. I am so grateful & recommend to everyone!!!