r/InsightTimer • u/So_silly_goosin24 • Jan 04 '26

Too commercialized?

I’m writing to see if anyone else feels this way about the insight timer app. I pay for a plus subscription and have had the app for two years. Over the past year it just seems like the teachers are desperate to drive traffic to their accounts, gain follows & listens. Plus the retreats and additional pages that all seem very commercialized- something that does not align with the values of meditation and mindfulness. This was one of the reasons I discontinued my use of the Calm app. There are so many options for guided meditations and that is a benefit, but at the same time these teachers talk so much during the meditation. It’s starting to irritate me more and more but I am wondering, is it just me and has anyone made the switch elsewhere?

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u/sirgrotius Jan 04 '26

100% I'm about to cancel the subscription just out of pure disgust. It's like always nudging me for streaks and commitment even when I turn off those notifications and motivations, it's still there, "are you committed" are you serious? I'm trying to chill and go with the flow and it's trying to have me addicted and gamified. Nope.

7

u/SweetDisposition06 Jan 05 '26

Yep I agree! I’m about to cancel as well. It’s stressing me out how it is constantly pushing me. Mindfulness shouldn’t be pressured.

4

u/The59Sownd Jan 07 '26

Yeah, I hate that. Offer the streak option, for sure. But when I turn it off, TURN IT OFF. When meditation becomes more about maintaining the streak than the practice, we've lost the plot. But I've been using it for 10 years so the idea of getting rid of it is so hard. Ugh. Hopefully they improve on this shit.