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I've been using Headspace and the 10% Happier apps for about a year (I started with Headspace, canceled subscription, and tried 10% later). I think they're very

I've been using Headspace and the 10% Happier apps for about a year (I started with Headspace, canceled subscription, and tried 10% later). I think they're very helpful. They're especially helpful for beginners who want to try meditation. I'm reading some comments here and see some people mention how easy it's to meditate. I'm wondering if they actually meditate or know what it is. Before I started meditating, I too had similar thoughts. But I had some misconceptions of meditation before I tried these apps. These apps helped me to start my meditation on the right path. After a year, I don't think I need these apps anymore. The guided meditations are distracting themselves because the teacher jumps in at random points to remind you of things that you already know. I do like the teachings they do before an after meditations. Sometimes, they are helpful and insightful. I think these apps are fine for beginners. Once you get used to meditating for 20+ minutes every day, you probably won't need them anymore.

superasn 8y ago
But as a beginner who wants to start too, my question is it better to use a paid app with monthly subscription than to listen to the same guided meditation on mp3 or youtube?
- meowzero 8y ago
  It's up to you. All these apps have few several free sessions you can try out. Heck, download all the meditation apps and try all their free sessions. Those are probably enough to help you get started. I didn't mind paying for subscriptions. They do get into different techniques and insights that the free content don't give you. Although I never tried insight timer; that app seemed to give you a lot more content for free.
- wool_gather 8y ago
  One important thing that you get with the subscription, which could be harder-to-impossible to find free, is a progression of instruction. A 10-day series might remind you just in time about some detail you were forgetting, or provide insight on a difficulty you're likely to have encountered, or introduce a new technique and guide you through simple->full versions of it.
- endr777 8y ago
  Davidji has a nice Soundcloud channel
- mercer 8y ago
  As others have mentioned, being properly guided with the help of a nice UI does make a difference. I'll add that actually paying for a service helped a bit too, though. didn't want my money to go to waste...

superasn 8y ago

But as a beginner who wants to start too, my question is it better to use a paid app with monthly subscription than to listen to the same guided meditation on mp3 or youtube?

meowzero 8y ago
It's up to you. All these apps have few several free sessions you can try out. Heck, download all the meditation apps and try all their free sessions. Those are probably enough to help you get started. I didn't mind paying for subscriptions. They do get into different techniques and insights that the free content don't give you. Although I never tried insight timer; that app seemed to give you a lot more content for free.
wool_gather 8y ago
One important thing that you get with the subscription, which could be harder-to-impossible to find free, is a progression of instruction. A 10-day series might remind you just in time about some detail you were forgetting, or provide insight on a difficulty you're likely to have encountered, or introduce a new technique and guide you through simple->full versions of it.
endr777 8y ago
Davidji has a nice Soundcloud channel
mercer 8y ago
As others have mentioned, being properly guided with the help of a nice UI does make a difference. I'll add that actually paying for a service helped a bit too, though. didn't want my money to go to waste...