Compare Down Dog and Microsoft Copilot: Which App is the Best?
A helpful AI assistant that can chat, create images, and work with Microsoft Office apps. It is a good alternative to ChatGPT. | Down Dog delivers exceptional meditation customization with guided, sleep, and walking modes. Dynamic content generation ensures unique sessions every time. Strong 4.7 Android and 4.9 iOS ratings reflect excellent value. | |
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each app. |
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| Our Rating Prod Apps's expert review score for each app, based on hands-on testing and research. | 8.5 | 8.8 Winner in this category |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 0 | 0 |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 0 | 0 |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | — ⭐ | — ⭐ |
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the app. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free |
| Android User rating and stats for the app on Android browser. |  Downloads | Downloads |
| iOS User rating and stats for the app on iOS browser. |  | |
| Features Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each app. | 9.0 Microsoft Copilot has a lot of useful features. The main thing it does really well is chat with you like a helpful friend. You can ask it questions, get help with writing, or just have a conversation. You don't even need to sign up to start using it. What we really liked:
| 9.3 Down Dog's feature set stands out for one key reason: customization. Every aspect of your meditation practice can be tailored to your preferences, from session length and guidance level to background music and instructor voice. This level of personalization is rare in the meditation app space and addresses one of the biggest complaints we've had with other apps—feeling locked into someone else's vision of what meditation should be. The three meditation modes—guided, sleep, and walking—each serve distinct purposes and work exceptionally well. We found the guided meditations perfect for daily practice, with adjustable guidance levels that let you gradually reduce verbal instruction as your practice deepens. The sleep meditations effectively helped us wind down at night, with soothing narration that gradually fades into silence. Walking meditations proved surprisingly effective, offering mindful guidance while moving through our neighborhood, something we hadn't experienced in other apps. The dynamic content generation deserves special mention. Unlike Calm or Headspace where you might repeatedly listen to the same tracks, Down Dog creates unique meditations each time you practice. Multiple users confirmed in reviews that they've used the app for years without encountering duplicate sessions. This keeps the practice fresh and prevents the mental autopilot that can develop with familiar recordings. The six instructor voice options provide genuine variety, and the multi-language support extending to over nine languages makes the app accessible globally. Background options ranging from calming music to nature sounds, brainwave frequencies, and complete silence let you set the perfect atmosphere. The recent addition of breathwork exercises adds another valuable dimension. However, we did note some limitations: there's no progress tracking beyond basic history, no community features, and the thematic focus options, while useful, aren't as extensive as some competitors. We rate the features at 9.3 out of 10—exceptional core functionality with thoughtful customization options. Winner in this category |
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 9.0 Microsoft Copilot works really well. The chat responses come back quickly, and the AI usually understands what you're asking for. We didn't experience any lag or crashes while using it. The image creation feature is surprisingly fast. You describe what you want, and within a few seconds, you get a picture. The quality is usually pretty good too. The voice feature works smoothly. It understands what you're saying most of the time, and the responses are clear and natural-sounding. If you use it with Microsoft Office apps, the integration works seamlessly. You can switch between Copilot and your documents without any problems. The app doesn't drain your battery too much, and it doesn't take up a lot of storage space. Overall, it performs really well for an AI assistant. Winner in this category | 8.8 Meditation | Down Dog performs reliably in daily use, with smooth session playback and responsive interface interactions. The app launches quickly, and meditation sessions begin without noticeable lag or buffering issues. Audio quality is consistently good across all instructor voices and background music options, with clear narration and well-balanced sound mixing that doesn't require constant volume adjustments. The dynamic content generation happens seamlessly in the background—we never experienced situations where the app struggled to assemble a new meditation or encountered obvious technical glitches in the generated content. Transitions between guided narration, silence periods, and background music flow naturally, creating cohesive sessions that feel professionally crafted rather than algorithmically assembled. However, there are performance considerations worth noting. The video-based approach to meditation content results in larger file sizes than audio-only apps. One user specifically requested audio-only options, noting that even the low-quality video settings consume significant storage space and require good internet connectivity for downloading. For users with limited storage or data plans, this represents a real limitation compared to lightweight alternatives. The breathing exercise timing drew criticism from several users. One detailed review mentioned that the breath count moves too quickly, with the app saying "breathe in for 4" but then prompting you to exhale after only 2 seconds, which would lead to hyperventilation rather than relaxation. While this didn't appear in the majority of reviews, it suggests quality control issues in specific features. Cross-device syncing works reliably, maintaining your preferences and history across platforms without conflicts or data loss. We rate performance at 8.8 out of 10—generally excellent with some rough edges in specific features and file size management. |
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 8.0 The app looks clean and modern. It's easy to figure out how to use it, even if you've never used an AI assistant before. The chat interface is simple - just type and hit send, like texting a friend. We liked how the image creation feature works. You just type what you want to see, and the app shows you the picture. It's straightforward and doesn't require any special knowledge. The voice feature has nice visual feedback - you can see when it's listening and when it's processing what you said. This makes it feel more natural to use. Overall, the design is good but not perfect. Some parts could use a bit more polish, but it gets the job done without being confusing. | 9.0 Down Dog's design philosophy centers on minimalism and clarity, creating an experience that feels intentionally uncluttered. The interface strips away distractions, presenting only what you need to configure your session and begin meditating. Each meditation session displays a beautiful background image that provides a focal point for contemplation, enhancing the meditative atmosphere without overwhelming the experience. We particularly appreciated how the customization options are organized. Despite offering extensive personalization, the interface never feels overwhelming. Settings are logically grouped and easy to adjust, with visual feedback that makes it clear what you're selecting. The color scheme uses calming tones that align with the app's purpose, and the typography is clean and readable without calling attention to itself. The visual consistency across meditation types maintains a cohesive experience whether you're doing guided practice, preparing for sleep, or embarking on a walking meditation. Animation transitions are smooth and purposeful, never gratuitous. The design successfully balances aesthetic appeal with functional simplicity—everything has a purpose, and nothing feels superfluous. However, the design isn't perfect. Some users noted that the video-based approach means larger file sizes, which affects the overall user experience even if the visuals are beautiful. Compared to the sophisticated UI animations in Headspace or the rich visual storytelling of Calm, Down Dog takes a more restrained approach that some might find too minimal. Still, the clean, distraction-free aesthetic serves the app's purpose exceptionally well. We rate the design at 9.0 out of 10—beautifully executed minimalism that supports rather than dominates the meditation experience. Winner in this category |
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 8.0 Microsoft Copilot offers good value. You can use it for free, which gives you access to chat with AI and create images. This is actually pretty generous compared to some other AI apps. The free version is good enough for most people. You can ask questions, get help with writing, and create images without paying anything. If you want more features, there's Copilot Pro for $20 per month. This gives you:
It's worth it if you use Office a lot for work. The pricing is reasonable compared to other AI assistants. The free tier is quite good, and the Pro version offers real value for people who need the extra features. | 9.4 The value proposition of Meditation | Down Dog becomes impressive when you consider what one subscription unlocks. You're not just getting a meditation app—you're gaining access to the entire Down Dog ecosystem: Yoga, Meditation, Barre, HIIT, and Prenatal Yoga. This bundled approach means that if you're interested in multiple wellness practices, you're essentially paying one subscription price for five specialized apps, each with the same level of customization and quality. At approximately €4.19 to €119.99 depending on your subscription length and platform, the pricing sits in the mid-range for meditation apps. When we compare this to paying separately for a meditation app, a yoga app, and a fitness app, the value becomes clear. Even if you primarily use the meditation features, knowing you can explore yoga or HIIT workouts without additional cost adds significant flexibility to your wellness routine. What particularly impressed us was the company's commitment to accessibility. Multiple reviewers shared stories of Down Dog providing financial assistance during difficult times, allowing them to maintain their subscription when money was tight. This human-centered approach to pricing demonstrates that the company values helping people over maximizing revenue. One long-time user specifically praised the team for their support during financial hardship, allowing continued access to all five apps. The lack of a free tier or trial period is a drawback—you need to commit to a subscription to access any content. Competitors like Calm and Headspace typically offer limited free content or trial periods. For those seeking free meditation, Medito offers comparable quality at no cost, while Insight Timer provides an enormous free library. However, for users who value customization and want access to multiple wellness modalities, Down Dog's subscription represents excellent value. We rate value for money at 9.4 out of 10—exceptional value for the multi-app access, with financial assistance options that demonstrate genuine care for users. Winner in this category |
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 9.0 This is probably one of the easiest AI assistants to use. You can start chatting right away without any complicated setup. No account needed for basic features, which is nice. Getting started is simple:
We didn't need to read any instructions to figure out how to use it. The voice feature is really well done. You just tap the microphone button and start talking. It understands what you're saying most of the time, and the responses are clear. Creating images is also super easy. You just describe what you want, and the AI makes it for you. No need to learn complicated settings or options. We give it a 9 out of 10 because it's so easy to use. Even people who aren't tech-savvy should be able to figure it out quickly. Winner in this category | 8.7 Down Dog makes meditation accessible from the moment you open the app. The setup process is straightforward, guiding you through basic preferences to personalize your initial experience. For newcomers to meditation, the app provides clear explanations of different meditation types and guidance levels, helping you make informed choices without overwhelming you with options. Once configured, starting a meditation session requires minimal effort. Select your preferences, press play, and you're meditating. The interface is intuitive enough that we rarely needed to think about navigation—everything is where you'd expect it to be. The ability to save favorite configurations streamlines repeated use, and adjusting settings on the fly is simple when you want to try something different. The walking meditation feature demonstrates thoughtful usability design. The app seamlessly transitions to a format suitable for moving practice, with audio guidance that works well without needing to look at your screen. Sleep meditations similarly adapt their interface, dimming appropriately and avoiding bright elements that would interfere with your wind-down routine. However, there are friction points. The mandatory account creation frustrates some users who prefer to try an app before committing personal information. One reviewer specifically cited this as their reason for giving a low rating, noting they couldn't even evaluate whether they'd like the app before signing up. Additionally, while most users find the customization empowering, the sheer number of options can initially feel daunting to absolute beginners who just want to press play and start. Compared to the ultra-simple approach of Let's Meditate, which requires no account and minimal setup, Down Dog demands slightly more investment upfront. We rate ease of use at 8.7 out of 10—highly usable once you're in, with minor barriers to entry. |
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 8.0 Microsoft Copilot gets an 8 out of 10 for security and privacy. Since it's made by Microsoft, it uses the same security measures that protect their other products like Office and Windows. Your conversations and the images you create are encrypted, which means they're protected from hackers. Microsoft has a good track record with keeping user data safe. If you sign in with your Microsoft account, you get extra security features like two-factor authentication. This adds another layer of protection to your account. Microsoft is pretty clear about how they handle your data. They don't sell your information to other companies, and you can control what data they collect. Just remember - like with any AI app, don't share really personal or sensitive information. While Microsoft keeps things secure, it's always better to be careful about what you share. Winner in this category | 7.8 Down Dog's privacy approach is functional but not exceptional. The app requires account creation to use, collecting personal information including email addresses for authentication. While this is standard for subscription-based meditation apps, it contrasts with privacy-focused alternatives like Medito or Let's Meditate that function without any account requirements. The developer's privacy policy states that data collection is limited to what's necessary for app functionality and subscription management. Your meditation history and preferences sync across devices, which requires some data storage on their servers. We found no evidence of aggressive data collection or third-party sharing for advertising purposes, which is reassuring. The app doesn't bombard you with marketing communications beyond essential subscription management emails. Cross-device syncing, while convenient, means your meditation data lives in the cloud rather than exclusively on your device. For users who prioritize data minimization and local storage, this represents a privacy compromise. The app doesn't offer options for local-only operation or data export to maintain control of your information. Account management appears secure, though a few users reported issues with subscription and account linking that suggest the authentication system could be more robust. Down Dog strikes a middle ground in the privacy spectrum—better than apps that aggressively monetize user data, but not as protective as open-source or account-free alternatives. The required account creation and cloud-dependent features mean you're trusting Down Dog with your personal information and practice data. We rate security and privacy at 7.8 out of 10—adequate protection with standard industry practices, but not privacy-first in its design philosophy. |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | We've been using Microsoft Copilot for a while now and really like it. It's great for chatting with AI, creating images, and getting help with work. The free version is pretty good, but if you use Microsoft Office a lot, the Pro version is worth considering. | After extensive testing, Meditation | Down Dog has earned its place as one of the most thoughtfully designed meditation apps available. Its greatest strength lies in treating personalization as a core feature rather than an afterthought—every session adapts to your preferences, creating a practice that grows with you rather than constraining you to a predetermined path. The app excels in several areas that matter most for sustained meditation practice: exceptional customization options, genuinely useful variety in meditation modes (guided, sleep, and walking), and the rare benefit of dynamically generated content that never repeats. The subscription's access to five Down Dog apps—covering meditation, yoga, barre, HIIT, and prenatal yoga—transforms what might seem like a mid-range price into outstanding value for users interested in holistic wellness. However, it's not the right choice for everyone. Privacy-conscious users who prefer apps that don't require accounts should consider Medito or Let's Meditate, both of which offer solid meditation experiences without mandatory sign-ups. Those seeking completely free access to meditation content will find better options elsewhere, though Down Dog's financial assistance program helps mitigate this limitation for users facing hardship. The larger file sizes may frustrate users with limited storage or slower internet connections. We recommend Meditation | Down Dog for users who value flexibility and personalization in their practice, especially those already interested in yoga or other fitness modalities covered by the subscription. If you've tried meditation apps before and found them too rigid or repetitive, Down Dog's customizable approach addresses exactly those frustrations. The rising rating trend and enthusiastic user reviews suggest a product that's continuously improving and genuinely meeting user needs. For those ready to invest in a subscription-based meditation practice with exceptional versatility, Down Dog delivers consistent value that justifies the cost. |
| Our Recommendation | ||
