Compare Motivated and Insight Timer: Which App is the Best?

	Insight Timer	Motivated
	Insight Timer offers the largest free meditation library available, with over 100,000 guided sessions from expert teachers. While the app suffers from UI bloat and intrusive prompts, its exceptional content variety and generous free tier make it a top choice for dedicated meditators. Meditation	Motivated is a comprehensive habit tracking app that focuses on building lasting habits through its unique strength-based system, offering beautiful organization tools and extensive customization options. Habit Tracker Productivity
Key Features	100,000+ Guided Meditations – Access an enormous library of free meditations covering every practice type imaginable, from secular mindfulness to Buddhist traditions, with new content added daily Sleep Content Library – Thousands of sleep meditations, music tracks, soundscapes, and bedtime stories to help with insomnia and improve sleep quality Customizable Meditation Timer – A simple yet powerful timer with interval bells, ambient sounds, and complete customization for unguided practice Expert Teachers – Learn from over 11,000 meditation teachers, psychologists, and neuroscientists from top institutions like Stanford, Harvard, and Oxford Discussion Groups – Join thousands of community groups organized by practice type, religion, interests, or life circumstances for peer support Progress Tracking – Track your meditation journey with detailed stats, milestones, and streak counters to build consistent habits Offline Downloads – Premium subscribers can download meditations for offline listening without internet connection 1,000+ Premium Courses – In-depth structured courses covering topics like better sleep, stress reduction, and building specific meditation skills (requires subscription)	Habit Strength Meter – Focus on building lasting habits rather than just maintaining streaks with a unique strength-based tracking system Smart Collections – Organize habits by time of day (morning, afternoon, evening) or custom categories for better workflow management Interactive Widgets – View and complete habits directly from your home screen for quick access and motivation Rich Text Notes – Add detailed notes to each habit for planning routines, tracking progress, or capturing thoughts Customizable Interface – Choose from over 550 custom icons and unlimited color options to personalize your experience Flexible Goal Setting – Set custom completion goals and repeat intervals without affecting your statistics Smart Reminders – Set custom notifications and opt-in for morning/evening summaries to stay on track Bad Habit Tracking – Special mode that auto-completes habits at day's end for easier bad habit monitoring
Our Rating	7.9	8.3
Total users	0	0
Total ratings	0	0
Average rating	— ⭐	— ⭐
Entry Level Price	Free	Free
Android	Downloads	Downloads
iOS
Features	9.2 Insight Timer's feature set is genuinely impressive, particularly when you consider how much is available for free. The star of the show is undoubtedly the meditation library—over 100,000 guided meditations covering virtually every tradition, style, and need you could imagine. During testing, we easily found content for specific moods, time constraints, and practice levels. Key features that stood out include: Meditation Library: Unmatched variety with daily additions from 11,000+ teachers Sleep Content: Extensive collection of sleep meditations, music, and soundscapes Customizable Timer: Sophisticated yet simple timer with interval bells and ambient sounds Community Features: Discussion groups covering topics from atheism to transcendental meditation Progress Tracking: Comprehensive stats showing streaks, total time, and milestones Live Events: Real-time group meditations with practitioners worldwide The meditation timer deserves special mention—it's one of the most flexible we've tested, with options for interval bells, ambient background sounds, and complete customization. This alone could justify using the app, even if you ignore the guided content entirely. However, we encountered some frustrations. The search and filtering system feels inadequate given the massive library size. Finding specific meditations you've saved can be surprisingly difficult, and there's no effective way to organize favorites into custom playlists. The sleep feature also has a significant flaw: it auto-plays random music after meditations end, which multiple users report as genuinely disruptive when trying to fall asleep. Despite these issues, the sheer breadth of content is remarkable. We rate features at 9.2—excellent core functionality with room for better organization and refinement.	8.0 Motivated has some really cool features that make it stand out from other habit trackers. The best thing is probably the habit strength system - instead of just counting how many days in a row you did something, it shows you how strong your habit actually is. This is way more motivating when you're trying to build good habits. Here's what we liked most: 1. Habit Strength Percentage: This is the main thing that makes Motivated special. Instead of getting upset when you miss a day and break your streak, you can see your habit strength percentage. It's like having a progress bar for your habits - way better than just counting days. 2. Lots of Different Habit Types: You can track pretty much any kind of habit - daily stuff, weekly goals, or monthly targets. The app handles all of them without any problems. 3. Notes for Each Habit: You can add notes to your habits, which is really useful. We used this to plan our workout routines and keep track of what we're reading. It makes the app feel more like a personal planner. 4. Time-Based Organization: You can group habits by time of day - morning, afternoon, evening. This is actually really helpful for building routines. 5. Tons of Customization: There are over 550 icons to choose from and you can pick any color you want. It's fun to make each habit look different and personal. But there are some downsides too. The free version feels pretty limited - basic stuff like widgets is locked behind premium, and some users feel like it's a "paid app pretending to be free." We also noticed you can't easily mark a habit as missed on a specific day, which several users have asked for. Compared to Habitive which offers unlimited free habits, or Loop Habit Tracker which provides exceptional privacy features, Motivated's freemium model can feel restrictive. However, for users who want the unique habit strength tracking system, the premium features provide genuine value. Overall, we'd give features an 8.0/10. The core stuff works great and the habit strength idea is really smart, but the free version restrictions and some missing features keep it from being perfect.
Performance	7.5 Performance on Insight Timer is generally solid with some notable exceptions that affected our experience and appear frequently in user reviews. The app handles its massive content library reasonably well, though we encountered occasional hiccups that shouldn't exist in a mature app with millions of users. Performance strengths: Content Loading: Meditations and music tracks load quickly on good connections Timer Reliability: The meditation timer runs accurately without draining battery excessively Offline Playback: Downloaded content (premium feature) plays smoothly without internet Background Audio: Continues playing reliably when switching apps or screen locking Performance issues: Startup Delays: The app can take several seconds to open, particularly when loading mandatory splash screens and quotes Occasional Crashes: Some users report the app freezing on startup or during playback, requiring reinstallation Sleep Mode Bugs: The auto-play feature after meditations fails to stop, continuing to play unwanted content Search Lag: Searching the massive library sometimes results in noticeable delays Sync Issues: Cross-device synchronization occasionally fails to update progress or saved content During our testing period, we experienced one instance where a meditation stopped unexpectedly, and the app wouldn't let us rewind without a premium subscription—frustrating when you've just been kicked out of a focused state. This exact scenario appeared in multiple user reviews. The most significant performance concern relates to app bloat. The Android version's recent rating decline from 4.7 to 3.87 (last 100 reviews) correlates with complaints about increased crashes, blank screens on startup, and general sluggishness. Multiple users mentioned the app "used to be fast" before recent feature additions. Battery usage is reasonable during active meditation but increases when using background music or sleep features throughout the night. The app respects system audio focus and doesn't conflict with other media apps. We rate performance at 7.5—adequate for daily use but showing signs of strain from feature additions and requiring attention to stability issues.	8.8 The app performs seamlessly, allowing you to track habits without any lag or interruptions. The habit completion functionality is quick and accurate, enabling you to mark off your daily habits effortlessly. Performance strengths we observed: Fast App Launch: The app opens quickly and is ready for use almost immediately. We never experienced long loading times or delays Smooth Interactions: All user interactions feel fluid and responsive. Marking habits complete, navigating between screens, and customizing settings all work smoothly Efficient Data Handling: The app handles multiple habits and extensive tracking history without any noticeable performance degradation Reliable Widget Performance: Home screen widgets update promptly and accurately, providing real-time information without draining device resources Stable Operation: We encountered very few crashes or bugs during our testing period. The app maintained consistent performance throughout However, we did notice some minor performance issues: Widget Updates: Some users have mentioned occasional delays in widget updates, though this didn't significantly impact our experience Date Picker Performance: The month-by-month scrolling in the date picker can feel sluggish when trying to set dates far in the past Large Data Sets: When dealing with very long habit histories, some operations may take slightly longer, though this is expected behavior The best part is that the app works entirely offline. So, you can track your habits from any device, even without an internet connection. Overall, Motivated delivers excellent performance that enhances rather than hinders the habit tracking experience. The app feels fast and reliable in daily use. We rate performance at 8.8/10 - very good performance with just minor areas for improvement.
Design	6.8 Design is where Insight Timer's evolution becomes most apparent, and unfortunately, not in a positive direction. The app has transformed from a clean, simple meditation timer into a feature-heavy platform, and the interface struggles to balance all these elements gracefully. What works well: Visual Consistency: The color scheme and typography remain pleasant throughout Teacher Profiles: Well-designed pages showcasing meditation teachers and their content Timer Interface: The core timer screen maintains a calm, focused aesthetic Dark Mode: Thoughtfully implemented for evening meditation sessions What needs improvement: Information Overload: The home screen tries to show everything at once—courses, live events, challenges, community posts, and recommendations all competing for attention Inconsistent Navigation: Finding specific features requires learning where they're hidden in the increasingly complex menu structure Marketing Intrusion: Premium course promotions and retreat advertisements feel out of place in a meditation app Forced Modals: Splash screens, daily quotes, and commitment prompts interrupt the experience with slow fade animations The design challenges stem from feature creep rather than poor aesthetic choices. The app tries to be a meditation timer, content library, social network, learning platform, and marketplace simultaneously. This creates visual clutter that works against the calm, focused experience you'd expect from a meditation app. Several longtime users specifically mentioned that the app "used to be beautiful" before recent updates added more promotional elements and mandatory interactions. We experienced this firsthand—opening the app often means dismissing quotes, surveys, or upgrade prompts before reaching your saved meditations. We rate design at 6.8—acceptable visual aesthetics undermined by cluttered information architecture and intrusive elements that detract from the core meditation experience.	9.2 The design is really clean and easy to use. You can start tracking habits right away without getting confused by a complicated interface. We really liked the customizable colors and how everything looks. What most users seem to love is the dashboard and how habits are organized in a grid. It's super easy to find what you're looking for and navigate around. Motivated's design is genuinely impressive - it's one of the cleanest, most intuitive habit tracking interfaces we've tested. The app strikes that perfect balance between being visually appealing and functionally clear, which is exactly what you want in a productivity app. What we particularly loved about the design: Clean, Premium Feel: The interface has this polished, premium quality that makes it feel like a high-end app. Users consistently mention the "beautiful UI" and "simple yet feels like premium" experience Intuitive Color System: Being able to assign custom colors to each habit creates a beautiful, personalized dashboard. We found ourselves actually looking forward to filling in our daily habits because the visual feedback was so satisfying Modern Iconography: The 550+ custom icons are well-designed and meaningful. We could easily find icons that perfectly represented our habits, making the app feel more personal and engaging Consistent Visual Language: Every screen follows the same design principles - clean spacing, clear typography, and logical information hierarchy. Navigation feels natural and intuitive Beautiful Widgets: The home screen widgets are thoughtfully designed and match the app's aesthetic perfectly. They're both functional and visually appealing We also noticed some design elements that users frequently praise. The percentage-based habit strength display is not only functional but also visually motivating - seeing your habits turn from red to yellow to green as you build consistency is genuinely satisfying. However, there are a couple of design quirks. The date picker for setting habit start dates requires scrolling month by month, which we found cumbersome when trying to set a habit that started years ago. Some users have mentioned this as well, suggesting it could be more user-friendly. While HabitKit offers the most elegant GitHub-style visualization and Habitive provides a clean, distraction-free interface, Motivated's design excels in creating a premium, motivating environment. The visual feedback system is particularly effective for maintaining user engagement. Overall, the design is excellent and clearly a major strength of the app. We rate it at 9.2/10 - it's beautiful, functional, and genuinely enhances the habit tracking experience.
Value for Money	9.5 From a pure value perspective, Insight Timer is outstanding. The free tier alone offers more content than many premium meditation apps, making it one of the best deals in the category. No ads, no hard paywalls on essential features, and genuinely useful free content—this is increasingly rare. Free tier value: Tens of thousands of guided meditations at no cost Full meditation timer with all customization options Community features and discussion groups Progress tracking and statistics Sleep content and ambient sounds No advertisements interrupting practice Premium tier value: 1,000+ structured courses for deeper learning Offline downloads for travel and poor connectivity Advanced playback controls (rewind, fast forward, repeat) High-quality audio streaming Resume playback feature The free version proved entirely sufficient for building a consistent meditation practice in our testing. At €1.99-€219.99 (depending on billing period), the premium subscription offers genuine convenience improvements rather than unlocking critical functionality. This pricing strategy respects users who can't afford subscriptions while providing meaningful upgrades for those who can. Compared to Calm and Headspace, which require subscriptions for most content, Insight Timer delivers exceptional value. Even compared to the completely free Medito, Insight Timer's massive library and teacher variety justify its freemium model. The only deduction comes from the increasingly aggressive marketing for premium features and paid courses. While the core app remains free, the promotional elements can make it feel like you're being pushed toward purchases. Some users report this creates pressure that detracts from the meditative experience. We rate value for money at 9.5—exceptional free offering with fair premium pricing, slightly diminished by promotional tactics.	7.8 Motivated can be used for free without signing up, providing access to a range of offline features. However, the free version feels quite limited - basic features like widgets are locked behind premium, which some users find frustrating. What we found valuable about the app's pricing: Lifetime Purchase Option: The availability of a one-time lifetime license is excellent and provides great long-term value compared to subscription models. Many users appreciate this option Comprehensive Free Tier: The free version includes all essential habit tracking functionality, allowing you to fully evaluate the app before committing to premium Quality Premium Features: Premium features like unlimited habits, widgets, and advanced analytics provide genuine utility rather than just cosmetic enhancements No Hidden Costs: The app is transparent about pricing with no surprise charges or hidden fees However, we also encountered several value concerns that users frequently mention: Premium Gating: Several users have described it as a "paid app masquerading as a free app" with a "predatory paywall" that's "forced into your face at every opportunity" Feature Limitations: Some users feel that "some basics features that other apps would have free are paid for this app" Regional Pricing Concerns: Some users in certain regions have mentioned that the lifetime premium price could be more affordable for their local currency For users seeking the best free experience, Habitive offers unlimited free habits with no paywalls, achieving a perfect 10.0 value rating. Meanwhile, HabitNow provides comprehensive features with a one-time premium upgrade, earning a 9.5 value rating. The pricing plans are reasonable, making it a cost-effective solution for serious habit trackers. However, the heavy restrictions on the free version and the perception of aggressive premium gating affect its overall value proposition.
Ease of Use	6.5 Ease of use is perhaps Insight Timer's most polarizing aspect, with experiences varying dramatically between new users and those returning after time away. The app can be genuinely straightforward for daily meditation, but getting to that daily routine involves navigating several obstacles. What makes it easy: Quick Play: Once you've found favorite meditations, replaying them is simple Timer Setup: Creating custom timer sessions is intuitive and saves your preferences Teacher Following: Following favorite teachers ensures their new content appears in your feed Basic Navigation: The main tabs are clearly labeled and logically organized What makes it difficult: Onboarding Overload: New users face extensive questionnaires about goals, preferences, and commitment levels Forced Interactions: Regular users report having to click through multiple screens—commitment prompts, surveys, daily quotes—just to start meditating Hidden Settings: Options to disable certain features are buried or non-existent Content Discovery: With 100,000+ meditations, finding the right one without good filters is overwhelming Interrupted Sessions: Several users reported technical issues where meditations stop unexpectedly, requiring premium features to rewind The most common complaint we found echoes across hundreds of reviews: "I just want to meditate, but the app won't let me." Users who haven't opened the app in days or weeks face particularly aggressive re-engagement tactics—mandatory surveys asking about their absence, prompts to set new goals, and multiple screens before reaching the main interface. One user summed it up perfectly: "Used to be a simple timer. Now I need to click through commitments, ads for classes, and questionnaires that impede my meditation every single time." This sentiment appeared repeatedly in our review analysis, especially from longtime users who remember the simpler early versions. For someone using the app daily with established favorites, it functions reasonably well. For anyone else, expect friction. We rate ease of use at 6.5—adequate once you learn to navigate the obstacles, but frustratingly complex for what should be a calming experience.	8.5 We can't think of a simpler habit tracking app to start with than this one. The best part? It works seamlessly right out of the box, no account needed. Installing it is a breeze, and you can easily add the app to both Android and iOS devices. Once installed, the interface appears clean and intuitive. The process is easy to grasp and you'll be tracking habits in minutes. Several aspects make the app particularly user-friendly: Quick Setup: Creating new habits is incredibly straightforward. We could name our habit, pick an icon and color, and start tracking in just a few taps. No complicated configuration needed One-Tap Tracking: Marking habits as complete is as simple as tapping the corresponding tile. This makes daily tracking effortless and encourages consistent use Clear Visual Feedback: The color-coded system provides immediate visual confirmation. We could instantly see which habits we'd completed and which ones still needed attention Intuitive Navigation: All the core functions are easily accessible. We never felt lost or confused about where to find what we needed Smart Organization: The time-based collections (morning, afternoon, evening) make it easy to maintain structured daily routines However, we did encounter some usability issues that users frequently mention in reviews. The date picker for setting habit start dates is quite cumbersome - you have to scroll month by month, which we found frustrating when trying to set a habit that started years ago. Several users have mentioned this same issue. We also noticed that while the collection system works well, some users have requested more advanced categorization options. The current system is good but could be more flexible for users with many different types of habits. For users who prioritize simplicity, Habitive offers an even more streamlined experience with its 3-click setup process. Meanwhile, HabitNow provides more comprehensive scheduling features for users who need advanced organization tools. That's why we rate it 8.5 out of 10. It's extremely user-friendly, though some features might take a little time to fully appreciate.
Security & Privacy	8.0 Insight Timer takes a reasonably solid approach to privacy, though not exceptional compared to privacy-focused alternatives. The app can be used entirely without creating an account, which is excellent for those concerned about data collection. However, most users will eventually create accounts to sync progress and save favorites. Privacy strengths: No Account Required: Core meditation and timer features work without registration Transparent Permissions: Only requests necessary permissions for notifications and audio playback Data Control: Users can export their data and delete accounts through settings Optional Features: Social and community features are opt-in rather than mandatory Privacy concerns: Data Collection: Once registered, the app tracks detailed usage statistics and meditation habits Third-Party Analytics: Uses standard analytics tools to monitor user behavior Community Features: Discussion groups and social elements introduce data sharing with other users Marketing Data: User information appears to inform premium upgrade targeting and course recommendations The privacy policy is reasonably clear about data collection practices, though it's lengthy and covers the typical bases for a modern app. Your meditation habits, session lengths, and content preferences are tracked and used to improve recommendations. This data isn't sold to third parties, but it is used internally for product development and personalization. Compared to Medito, which achieves higher privacy scores through its nonprofit, open-source model, Insight Timer is more typical of commercial meditation apps. It's better than apps that require accounts immediately, but not as privacy-focused as some alternatives. We rate security and privacy at 8.0—solid practices that respect user data without achieving the highest standards of privacy-focused apps.	7.5 In the Security & Privacy category, we give Motivated a solid 7.5/10. The fact that you can use this tool without needing an account sets it apart from some competitors. What we observed about privacy and security: Local Data Storage: The app stores your habit data locally on your device, which is good for privacy. Your personal information isn't automatically uploaded to external servers Minimal Permissions: Motivated only asks for essential permissions like notifications for reminders. It doesn't request access to unnecessary device features No Account Required: You can use the app without creating an account, which means you're not sharing personal information with the developers Transparent Policies: The app provides clear links to privacy policies and terms of service, though these are hosted externally However, we also noticed some privacy concerns that users have mentioned: Premium Features: Some premium features like cloud backup could potentially involve storing your data on external servers, though this is optional Analytics Usage: The app may use third-party analytics tools, which could potentially track your usage patterns Limited Privacy Controls: Compared to some privacy-focused alternatives, users have fewer options to control how their data is handled For users who prioritize maximum privacy, Loop Habit Tracker offers exceptional offline-first privacy with a 9.8 rating in this category. Similarly, Habitive keeps all data local without requiring accounts, achieving a 9.0 privacy rating. Based on our testing and the user feedback we've seen, we rate security and privacy at 7.5/10. The app provides basic privacy protection but doesn't go as far as some competitors in terms of transparency and user control over data.
Conclusion	Insight Timer presents a fascinating contradiction: it offers arguably the best free meditation content library available while simultaneously frustrating users with an increasingly cluttered experience. The core value proposition remains exceptional—tens of thousands of guided meditations, a flexible timer, and genuine expertise from world-class teachers, all without mandatory subscriptions or advertisements. However, the app's evolution from simple meditation timer to comprehensive wellness platform has introduced friction that works against its core purpose. Forced surveys, commitment prompts, marketing for courses and retreats, and UI complexity detract from what should be a calming, focused experience. The declining Android ratings (3.87 in recent reviews vs. 4.7 overall) tell a clear story: longtime users are frustrated with the direction. Despite these challenges, we found Insight Timer valuable for our daily practice. The content quality and variety are unmatched, and once you establish your favorite teachers and meditations, the app functions well enough. The premium subscription feels optional rather than necessary, which is refreshing in this category. If you're seeking the most polished, distraction-free meditation experience, Calm or Headspace might serve you better despite their subscription requirements. If you want completely free, no-strings-attached meditation with a cleaner interface, Medito is worth considering. But if you value content variety above all else and can tolerate some interface frustrations, Insight Timer delivers exceptional value. Just be prepared to click through a few extra screens to get to your meditation.	We have been using Motivated for our habit tracking needs and can confidently say it's a solid tool for anyone who's serious about building better habits. Its user-friendly design and powerful features make it a good choice for students, professionals, and anyone looking to improve their daily routines. The free version is functional, but if you need more advanced features, the premium options are worth considering. If you're serious about staying organized while building habits, we recommend giving Motivated a try. Just be aware that some key features require a premium subscription. For users who want unlimited free habits, Habitive is the best option with its completely free, ad-free experience. Those seeking elegant design might prefer HabitKit with its beautiful GitHub-style visualization. If you need comprehensive scheduling and timer functionality, HabitNow provides the most complete solution. However, if you value the unique habit strength tracking system and don't mind the freemium model, Motivated offers a compelling approach to building lasting habits.
	Install Insight Timer	Install Motivated
Our Recommendation