Customer Reviews (500)

Polyglotyo! • 2025-03-28T14:22:28-07:00

I downloaded this during my yoga teacher training in 2020 because we were told to meditate at least 10 minutes every morning and I didn’t know how. Whenever I used this app regularly since then, little miracles seemed to keep happening where my interactions became more compassionate and thoughtful, I felt more in control of my actions and my destiny, and I was able to reach a meditative state super fast in savasana or just sitting outside. I can’t wait to jump back in after all these years. I’m glad I can pay for a membership now but it was still available to me when I really couldn’t. Amazing

Gratitude1212 • 2025-03-27T14:21:43-07:00

The Waking Up app has been an absolute game-changer! It has been truly transformative. I’m immensely grateful to Sam, the entire Waking Up team, and everyone who has contributed to the app for providing such a wealth of knowledge to the public. Their approach to mindfulness, meditation, and self-awareness has not only deepened my understanding of Eastern Philosophy and meditation, but has also enhanced my overall well-being. This app has become an essential tool in my journey toward personal growth, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Will Divine • 2025-03-26T09:11:05-07:00

There really are no words to describe what Waking Up has given me. I recommend this app to anyone and everyone that is ready to grow, expand, or embrace “new” states of consciousness.

Summary of Key Insights

The Waking Up app enjoys overwhelmingly positive sentiment, with users consistently praising its transformative impact on their lives, particularly its ability to foster mindfulness, reduce anxiety, and promote a deeper understanding of consciousness. Key strengths include the comprehensive content, Sam Harris's guidance, the app's structure, and the availability of scholarships. Weaknesses primarily revolve around occasional technical issues, concerns about pricing, and a perceived lack of diversity in content creators. The app is seen as more than just a meditation tool, but a life-changing resource for personal growth and philosophical exploration.

  • Overall Sentiment: Highly positive
  • Key Strengths: Transformative content, effective guided meditations, clear explanations, variety of teachers, scholarship program.
  • Key Weaknesses: Occasional technical glitches, high price point, perceived lack of diversity in content creators, some find Sam Harris's style divisive.
  • Quantitative Metrics:
    • Overall Rating (Implied): High, based on the review analysis
    • Score Distribution: 5-star (85.8%), 4-star (3.6%), 3-star (2.6%), 2-star (2.4%), 1-star (5.6%). Calculated from the provided review percentages.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame of Reviews: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be a collection of recent reviews.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Qualitative assessment based on review content.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identification of frequently used words and phrases to determine key themes.
    • Thematic Analysis: Categorization of reviews based on recurring topics, opinions, and suggestions.

Key User Pain Points

  • Technical Issues:
    • App crashes, especially during meditations (mentioned by multiple users).
    • Audio playback errors and inconsistent behavior (stopping unexpectedly, music continuing without voiceover).
    • Download failures for offline content (requiring app reinstallation).
    • Inability to use the app offline even when content is downloaded.
  • Pricing Concerns:
    • High subscription cost (particularly the annual fee).
    • Lack of a more affordable monthly subscription option.
    • Perceived high price relative to content quality/quantity by some.
    • Misleading advertising regarding "free" access.
  • Cancellation Issues:
    • Difficult or impossible to cancel subscriptions through the app or mobile site (predatory practices).
    • Auto-renewal without reminders.
  • Bugs and Errors:
    • Moments scatter after app updates.
    • Unwanted Push Notifications: Receiving marketing emails after unsubscribing from email lists.
  • Technical Incompatibilities:
    • App not supported on older devices (e.g., iPad mini 4).

Frequently Requested Features

  • Transcription of Audio Content: Many users want transcriptions for further review and accessibility.
  • Apple Health Integration: Track mindfulness minutes in Apple Health.
  • Home Screen Customization: Ability to customize the app's home screen with preferred courses.
  • Note-Taking Feature: Integration with note-taking apps like Notion or an in-app note-taking feature.
  • Captions: Option for captions on all audio content.
  • Parenting Course: Lessons and guided courses on mindful parenting.
  • Monthly Subscription: Option to pay monthly instead of annually.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Transformative Content: Users report significant positive changes in their lives, including reduced anxiety, increased mindfulness, and improved relationships.
  • Effective Guided Meditations: Sam Harris's voice and guidance are widely praised, as is the combination of theory and practice.
  • Comprehensive Approach: The app offers a broad range of content beyond just meditation, including lectures, conversations, and lessons on various topics.
  • Variety of Teachers and Perspectives: Users appreciate the diverse range of voices and teachings available within the app.
  • Scholarship Program: The availability of scholarships for those who cannot afford the subscription is highly valued.
  • User-Friendly Design: The app is generally considered easy to use and navigate.
  • Ad-Free Experience: Users appreciate the absence of advertisements.
  • Emphasis on Understanding: The app explains the "why" behind meditation, not just the "how."
  • Excellent Customer Service: Positive feedback regarding the responsiveness and helpfulness of customer support.
  • Thought Provoking Content: Users feel the conversations and meditations make them think about everything.
  • Accessibility: The scholarship program, generous free trials, and the ability to add minutes to meditations are all appreciated.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

  • High Priority:

    • Fix Technical Issues: Address app crashes, audio playback errors, and download failures to improve app stability and reliability.
    • Improve Subscription Management: Provide a clear and easy way to cancel subscriptions within the app to avoid user frustration and negative reviews.
    • Address Push Notification Issue: Stop sending marketing emails after unsubscribing.
    • Address Accessibility Issues: Fix playback issues with headphones.

  • Medium Priority:

    • Consider a Monthly Subscription Option: Offer a more affordable monthly subscription to increase accessibility.
    • Improve Content Diversity: Actively seek out and include more content from diverse creators, including women and people of color.
    • Implement Apple Health Integration: Add the ability to track mindfulness minutes in Apple Health.
    • Improve Offline Functionality: Ensure the app is fully functional offline when content is downloaded.

  • Low Priority:

    • Add Transcription Feature: Provide transcriptions of audio content for accessibility and review.
    • Allow Customization of Home Screen: Enable users to customize the app's home screen with preferred courses.
    • Integrate Note-Taking Functionality: Add a note-taking feature or integrate with existing note-taking apps.
    • Develop a Parenting Course: Create content specifically focused on mindful parenting.
    • Add Captions: Option for captions on all audio content.
    • Improve Introductory Course Access: Make the introductory course easier to find within the app after initial use.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Mindfulness App with a Focus on Diverse Voices: A meditation app that specifically prioritizes content created by women, people of color, and individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
  • Subscription Management Tool for Mobile Apps: An app that helps users easily manage and cancel subscriptions across various mobile apps.
  • Mindfulness and Productivity App Integration: Integrate mindfulness exercises and techniques with productivity tools to enhance focus and well-being.
  • Localized Content for Mindfulness Apps: A service that provides translations and culturally relevant content for mindfulness apps in different languages and regions.
  • Affordable Mindfulness App: A simple, high-quality mindfulness app with a focus on affordability and accessibility, offering a free tier or a very low-cost subscription option.

Trends and Observations

  • High Satisfaction with Core Content: The fundamental meditation techniques and Sam Harris's guidance are highly valued.
  • Growing Interest in Deeper Understanding: Users seek not just relaxation but a deeper understanding of mindfulness and consciousness.
  • Value Placed on Accessibility: The scholarship program and the ability to add minutes to meditations are particularly appreciated.
  • Demand for More Practical Applications: Users are interested in applying mindfulness principles to specific areas of their lives, such as parenting and productivity.
  • Some users are turned off by Sam Harris's personal views: Some negative reviews are solely based on disagreement with Sam Harris's political views.
  • Technical issues impact user experience: App crashes and playback errors lead to user frustration and negative reviews.

Conclusion

The Waking Up app is a highly regarded resource for mindfulness and personal growth, with a strong emphasis on education and practical application. While technical issues and pricing concerns need to be addressed, the app's transformative content, effective guidance, and commitment to accessibility make it a valuable tool for those seeking to deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them. Addressing the prioritized action recommendations will further enhance the user experience and solidify the app's position as a leader in the mindfulness space.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/waking-up-meditation-wisdom/id1307736395?uo=2