Customer Reviews (100)

Sean Berry • 2025-03-10T04:04:32.737Z

Excellent!

Harriette Smith • 2025-02-11T22:55:06.128Z

Love the app. Love Monroe institute. Leaving a review so someone can answer me about where to find where downloaded mediations save. I can't find them anywhere. Assuming it's in the app as I can't find them in my phone's files either. Thanks for the great app ! Hi I can't reply to your response. Thankyou. Yes I understand that but as I mentioned I can't find the downloaded section in the app anywhere which is why I checked phone files. Pls let me know where it is thankyou ! 😊

Eric D Frazier (Frazier) • 2025-02-08T20:11:05.109Z

LIFE CHANGING, FANTASTIC AND WONDERFUL

Summary of Key Insights

The "Expand: Beyond Meditation" app by the Monroe Institute receives mixed reviews, with a generally positive sentiment skewed by significant usability issues and pricing concerns. While many users praise the app's content, the Monroe Sound Science, and its potential for life-changing experiences, technical problems, subscription issues, and limitations on free content are significant drawbacks. The app boasts a 4.02 average rating based on the provided data, but the distribution of ratings reveals a polarized user experience. 52% of reviewers gave 5-star ratings, indicating strong satisfaction among a segment of users, while 16% and 14% gave 1-star and 2-star ratings, respectively, highlighting considerable dissatisfaction among another group.

Key Strengths:

  • Effective meditation content and sound science technology.
  • Potential for deep relaxation, healing, and personal growth.
  • Positive user experiences with specific features like the timer.

Key Weaknesses:

  • Frequent crashes and performance issues.
  • Subscription and billing problems, including unwanted renewals and difficulty canceling.
  • Limited free content behind a steep paywall.
  • Lack of offline access for most content.
  • Narrator voice quality issues for some users.
  • Search Functionality and App Loading Issues

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not specified, assuming a recent timeframe given the version number and active user engagement.
  • Analysis Methods: Sentiment analysis (categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral), keyword extraction (identifying frequently mentioned terms and issues), and thematic analysis (grouping related complaints and suggestions). The analysis also considered the star rating associated with each review to gauge the intensity of sentiment.

Key User Pain Points

  • App Crashes & Performance Issues: Many users report frequent crashes, especially during meditation sessions, disrupting the experience and leading to frustration. Some users also report app loading issues.
  • Subscription & Billing Problems: Users complain about automatic renewals without notification, difficulty canceling subscriptions, and being charged despite not having access to premium content.
  • Paywall Restrictions: A significant portion of content is locked behind a paywall, which users find frustrating, especially given the Monroe Institute's non-profit status. Users feel that a more generous free tier or a trial period for premium content would be beneficial.
  • Lack of Offline Access: The inability to use the app offline is a major limitation for users who want to meditate during travel or in areas with limited internet connectivity.
  • Narrator Voice Quality: Some users find the narrator's voice distracting or unsuitable for meditation, hindering their ability to relax and focus.
  • Search Functionality: Some users report that the search function does not work well.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Offline Access: The most frequently requested feature is the ability to download and listen to meditations offline.
  • Lifetime Purchase Option: Many users would prefer a one-time purchase option for premium content instead of a recurring subscription.
  • More Free Content: Users want a more generous free tier, especially for "Beyond the Physical" meditations.
  • Playlist Feature: The ability to create playlists or chain meditations and timers together.
  • C1 Tones Option: An option to include C1 tones at the end of Focus 10 and higher meditations for safety and grounding.
  • Account Deletion Option: An in-app option to delete user accounts.
  • Ability to turn off background music: Some users want to be able to turn off the background music in guided meditations.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Effective Content & Sound Science: Users consistently praise the quality of the meditations and the effectiveness of the Monroe Sound Science technology for inducing relaxation and expanded states of consciousness.
  • Life-Changing Potential: Many users describe the app as life-changing, helping them with relaxation, healing, personal growth, and spiritual exploration.
  • Timer Function: The timer function, especially for Focus meditations, is highly appreciated for its flexibility and customization options.
  • Monroe Institute Reputation: The reputation of the Monroe Institute lends credibility to the app and its content.
  • Responsiveness to Feedback: Some users noted that the Monroe Institute reached out to resolve issues.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix App Crashes & Performance Issues: Immediately address the frequent crashes and performance problems reported by users. This should be the top priority to improve user experience and prevent frustration.
  • Address Subscription & Billing Problems: Streamline the subscription process, provide clear renewal notifications, and simplify the cancellation process. Implement a system for handling billing disputes and refunds promptly.
  • Implement Offline Access: Enable users to download and listen to meditations offline. This is a highly requested feature that would significantly improve the app's usability.

Medium Priority:

  • Offer a More Generous Free Tier: Provide access to a wider range of free content, especially for "Beyond the Physical" meditations, to attract new users and demonstrate the value of the app. Consider a free trial period for premium content.
  • Improve Narrator Voice Quality: Explore options for improving the narrator's voice quality, such as using different narrators or applying audio filters to smooth out the voices.
  • Add a Playlist Feature: Allow users to create playlists or chain meditations and timers together for a more seamless experience.
  • Improve Search Functionality: Ensure the search function works effectively.

Low Priority:

  • Add C1 Tones Option: Include an option to add C1 tones at the end of Focus 10 and higher meditations for safety and grounding.
  • Add Account Deletion Option: Provide an in-app option to delete user accounts for privacy and control.
  • Offer a Lifetime Purchase Option: Consider offering a one-time purchase option for premium content to cater to users who prefer this model.
  • Ability to turn off background music: Give users the option to turn off background music in guided meditations.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Personalized Meditation Plans: Develop AI-powered personalized meditation plans based on user goals, preferences, and progress.
  • Community Features: Enhance the community features to allow users to connect with each other, share experiences, and participate in group meditations.
  • Integration with Wearable Devices: Integrate the app with wearable devices to track biometric data during meditation sessions and provide personalized feedback.
  • Gamified Meditation: Incorporate gamification elements to make meditation more engaging and motivating, such as rewards, challenges, and progress tracking.
  • Monroe Institute Certification Program: Offer a certification program for users who want to deepen their understanding of the Monroe Institute's techniques and principles.
  • Develop an AI narrator voice option: Allow users to choose an AI generated voice with different accents/tones.

Trends and Observations

  • Polarized User Experience: The distribution of ratings indicates a polarized user experience, with a significant number of highly satisfied users and a substantial group of dissatisfied users.
  • Technical Issues Impact Sentiment: Technical issues like crashes and performance problems have a significant negative impact on user sentiment, even among users who appreciate the content.
  • Pricing Concerns: Pricing is a recurring theme in negative reviews, with users feeling that the app is too expensive, especially given the limitations on free content.
  • Desire for Control: Users express a strong desire for control over their subscription, account settings, and meditation experience (e.g., offline access, customizable audio).
  • Offline Access is a Must-Have: This feature is repeatedly requested, indicating its critical importance to user satisfaction.

Conclusion

The "Expand: Beyond Meditation" app has the potential to be a leading meditation app, given its unique content and the reputation of the Monroe Institute. However, technical issues, subscription problems, and pricing concerns are hindering its success. By addressing these issues and prioritizing user-requested features, the Monroe Institute can significantly improve user satisfaction and attract a wider audience. The focus should be on stabilizing the app, providing a more transparent and user-friendly subscription model, and offering greater flexibility and control over the meditation experience. Addressing the high priority issues will likely convert more free users to paying subscribers.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.monroeinstitute.expand&hl=en