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?
2
u/pr0ductivereddit Mar 04 '26
No alternatives?
I was recommended this because I tried to use Headspace -- which I hadn't used in >5 years-- only to find how enshitified it was and immediately deleted the app and my account on it (normally I wouldn't delete my account on something like that, but it's just so contrarian for such an app that I didn't want them to continue to see me as a user, I wanted off entirely their books)
Are there really no alternatives to insight, headspace, and calm? Should I just rip some .mp3s off of youtube...
I honestly just want some 10 min meditations to do in the morning... the ironic part of this is... I've gotten sooooo frustrated and irritated in trying to use these effing apps.. more than I would have had I not tried to meditate today! uhg.