Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
User consensusAlternativesIs it worth it?
The verdict on

Insight Timer

85
User verdict / 100 High confidence Loved, with caveats

Insight Timer is a highly-regarded meditation and mental health app, praised for its extensive free content and positive impact on users' well-being, though recent updates have introduced battery drain and UI issues for some.

4.9★ lifetime (442,530) Free + in-app purchases since 2009 by Insight Network Inc updated 0.1 mo ago recent negative 8% 50 reviews across 1 regions
Free Content Value Mental Health Impact Content Variety & Quality Battery Drain/UI Issues Subscription/Monetization
5★40
4★4
3★2
2★2
1★2
recent reviews across 1 regions, vs the 4.9★ lifetime average

Insight Timer offers a vast library of free meditations, sleep tracks, and talks, helping users with anxiety, sleep, and overall personal growth. While many appreciate its free offerings and community, recent updates have led to issues like battery drain and a cluttered interface.

What users like

  • Extensive free content including meditations, sleep tracks, music, and talksR4R5R7R9
  • Effective for improving mental health, reducing anxiety, and aiding sleepR1R8R13R25
  • User-friendly interface and easy to navigate for manyR8R10R12R14
  • Offers a wide variety of teachers and meditation types, catering to diverse needsR5R8R14R17
  • Helps users track meditation streaks and maintain consistent practiceR3R10R14R19

What users complain about

  • Recent updates cause the app to remain active all night, draining batteryR13R16R20
  • Some users find the app cluttered with too many optionsR30
  • Issues with subscription management and restoring purchases across devicesR37R46
  • Downloaded content may be deleted if a user stops paying for a subscriptionR6
  • Bugs reported where meditation sessions fail to load or stop prematurelyR11R22

Latest update · v20.25.0

What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):

The world's largest free mental health app just got even bigger! In the last week we've added 913 new free meditations for you to enjoy, plus 507 new free sleep tracks, music files, talks and podcasts. This version also includes a number of UI improvements requested by our growing community of 3 million monthly active members.

Recurring themes

Free Content Value positive
Many users highly value the extensive free library of meditations, sleep tracks, music, and talks, stating it's sufficient for their needs and a generous offering.R4R5R7R9
Battery Drain/UI Issues negative
Several recent reviews report that the app stays active all night, keeping the screen on and significantly draining phone battery, which contradicts the developer's claim of UI improvements.R13R16R20
Mental Health Impact positive
Users frequently credit the app with significant improvements in their mental health, including reduced anxiety, better sleep, trauma recovery, and overall well-being.R1R8R13R25
Subscription/Monetization mixed
While many appreciate the free content, some users express frustration with the monetization strategy, including difficulty canceling trials, lost downloads after stopping payment, and a perception that the app has become too focused on subscriptions.R6R37R40
Content Variety & Quality positive
Reviewers consistently praise the vast and high-quality selection of meditations, talks, music, and courses from numerous teachers, suitable for various needs and age groups.R5R8R14R17

Who it's for

Insight Timer is for individuals seeking a diverse range of meditation, sleep, and mindfulness content, especially those who appreciate a robust free offering R5R9. It's particularly recommended for people looking to improve sleep, reduce anxiety, or develop a consistent meditation practice R1R13R34. It may not be ideal for users sensitive to app battery drain or those who prefer a very minimalist interface without many options R13R20R30.

Evidence note: The recent reviews skew positive, aligning with the high lifetime rating, but a significant portion of the negative feedback focuses on recurring issues like battery drain and subscription management, indicating these are current pain points despite the overall positive sentiment. The developer's notes mention UI improvements, but recent reviews contradict this with reports of the app staying on all night and draining battery.

Frequently asked

Is Insight Timer truly free?
Yes, Insight Timer offers a substantial amount of content for free, including meditations, sleep tracks, music, and talks, with many users finding the free version sufficient for their needs R4R5R7R9.
Does the app help with sleep?
Many users report that Insight Timer significantly helps them with sleep, using it nightly for sleep tracks and finding they fall asleep faster and have better quality sleep R13R20R24R34.
Are there issues with battery drain?
Yes, several recent reviews indicate that the app, particularly after recent updates, tends to stay 'on' all night, keeping the phone screen beaming and draining the battery even when the phone is charging R13R16R20.
Is it easy to cancel subscriptions or manage purchases?
Some users have reported difficulties with canceling free trials and managing or restoring purchases, especially when switching devices R37R46.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 50 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R4] 5/5 · AU Best meditation app out there: I’ve been using Insight Timer since 2009, and that’s because it’s always held it’s integrity and mission as sacred. Love this app. It’s worth paying for, but so much available for free too.
  2. [R5] 5/5 · AU This app is a friend for life!: This app has been with me through some really difficult times, over many years, and always provided support and guidance and just the right meditation for each moment of need. I can’t thank the insight timer team and community enough. ❤️💚❤️ To have such an amazing selection of teachers and meditation types, sound healing and yoga available even for users who can’t a
  3. [R7] 5/5 · AU Great for timing meditations: Have had the paid version - don’t think it is necessary at all. Will stick to the free version as it offers enough for me.
  4. [R9] 5/5 · AU Best App: As a minimalist, the Free mode is ideal for my purposes.
  5. [R1] 5/5 · AU I never thought I’d fall in love with an app: I was recommended to get the app through my councillor, to try overcome some personal challenges and I can say, almost 50 days of daily practices, I am now 98% recovered from my initial trauma. I quit smoking, my anxiety has improved 90% and I’m at a place I thought I’d never be at this stage of my life. So grateful to this app.
  6. [R8] 5/5 · AU Grateful: I am grateful that I found Insight Timer. It is very user friendly & supportive. It has so many helpful meditations that cater for different moments and different experiences. I always feel better afterwards.
  7. [R13] 2/5 · AU App remains ‘on’ all night and drains battery: I use this app every night for the sleep tracks and it does help me go to sleep but when I wake in the morning the screen is still beaming with the ‘continue’ button and the phone interface has not locked or even dimmed all night. The interface has been beaming all night and my battery is only half full even tho the phone has been on charge all night
  8. [R25] 5/5 · AU Helps a lot: It helps my mum and I a lot since we have ADHD. 100% recommended it.
  9. [R10] 5/5 · AU The Only Meditation App You’ll Ever Need: Insight timer is the app I’ve returned to over many years of meditating. I’ve tried others but always come back to the simplicity of Insight timer. There are lots of advanced features but what I like best is keeping my streak of meditating going.
  10. [R12] 5/5 · AU Insight Timer is my Special Place: Having and utilising this app has become a significant part of my life and I appreciate its ease and contribution to my spiritual evolution.
  11. [R14] 5/5 · AU Insight Timer: I love the simplicity of the app, the accountability component plus the wide variety of meditation, music, courses that are on offer. Francesca
  12. [R17] 5/5 · AU A library of soul delight: So incredible grateful for insight timer. Such a beautiful library of soul delights. So many options and so many ways to nurture our souls . Absolutely love this app
  13. [R3] 5/5 · AU Amazing!: Love this timer, it’s helped me to track my days of meditation which has kept me more motivated to do it daily. I love the option of doing guided meditations as well
  14. [R19] 4/5 · AU good app: Insight Timer is a versatile meditation app designed to guide users through every stage of their mindfulness journey. From the initial stages of stress and anxiety to establishing a consistent practice, this app offers a wide range of features that cater to different needs. One of the app's standout features is its progress tracking, which is crucial for maintaining consistency and seein
  15. [R16] 5/5 · AU Love the app: Love the app and the endless variety of meditations and experiences. I don’t, however, love the new “stay on” function to end a meditation. This is proving problematic especially when using sleep meditations - I find myself disturbed from sleep by a bright light from my phone requesting something from me in order to close out the app. Otherwise, very happy with everything about this
  16. [R20] 2/5 · AU Love but new version keeps open all night: I’ve been a happy user for a long time. I mainly use the app to sleep. The new version keeps the app open all night as I don’t close it as I’m asleep. This never used to happen before. I’ve turned the refresh off on my phone but it uses up my battery being open all night. Please change back to how it was before
  17. [R30] 3/5 · AU Cluttered with noise: While the intentions of this app are great and the core functions work well it has become cluttered with options. I understand there are ways of customising it but I feel it has lost its initial purpose. Saying that I still use it regularly.
  18. [R37] 3/5 · AU PLEASE Cancel my free trial/subscription to Insight Timer: PLEASE cancel my 7 day trial. I used this app years ago and have just downloaded the latest version. I don’t remember seeing prominently in the information that it was a 7 day free trial and then a subscription. On the basis of that I want out now, even before my free trial concludes. I have tried on my iPad to follow the instructions abou
  19. [R46] 5/5 · AU Can’t restore purchase from Samsung to iPhone: I’ve just changed from a Samsung to an iPhone and logged into my app and when l did it started me on a new begging cycle again. I’ve been a full member paying for years and contacted the help centre and they described how to restore my purchase by 1. clicking on my profile icon to the left of the screen (it’s on the right) tick. 2. Tap settings on lef
  20. [R6] 1/5 · AU Great app: This app is was great, until you stop paying, then they delete all your downloads, which took hours to find! This app used to be free. Very scummy. Audible lets you keep your books!
  21. [R11] 4/5 · AU Bug: The timer pauses if the phone screen isn’t lit up. Very annoying.
  22. [R22] 4/5 · AU App review: Since the recent update to the IT app I am experiencing many problems. Meditation sessions will not load. Meditation sessions stop a few minutes into the session. I cannot leave reviews. I cannot meditate. A donation that I made after pressing the red donate button didn’t go through. A very frustrating app and ironic given it is supposed to help with stress. It adds to daily stress.
  23. [R40] 1/5 · AU Money, money, money: Promised a lot but quickly pivoted to monetisation. Don’t bother - you can get more on YouTube.
  24. [R24] 5/5 · AU Awesome!!!: This app is amazing! I use it every night! Thanks Inslight Timer crew!!
  25. [R34] 4/5 · AU insight timer: I have only used insight timer for a week and my sleep had already improved i’ve fallen asleep within half an hour compared to my ideal hour and half! great app i recommend it !

Synthesized from 50 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store