Compare Insight Timer and Now VPN: Which App is the Best?
Now VPN is a free VPN service with fast connection speeds and unlimited data, though it comes with aggressive advertising that may impact the user experience. | 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. | |
| 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. | 6.3 | 7.9 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. | 6.5 Now VPN delivers a solid foundation of core VPN features that meet the basic needs of most users. The app's feature set is straightforward and focused on simplicity rather than advanced functionality, which aligns well with its target audience of casual VPN users. Key features we found most valuable include:
However, Now VPN lacks many advanced features that users expect from premium VPN services. There's no kill switch to protect against connection drops, no split tunneling to route specific apps through the VPN, and no specialized servers for streaming or torrenting. The server selection is limited compared to premium alternatives, and there's no way to manually choose specific server locations in the free version. While the core features work well for basic privacy and geo-unblocking needs, power users will find the feature set limiting. For users who need advanced features like kill switches, split tunneling, or specialized servers, alternatives like Proton VPN offer more comprehensive free tiers, while NordVPN provides extensive advanced features for premium users. We rate features at 6.5 out of 10—good for basic VPN needs but lacking the depth and reliability that serious users require. | 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:
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. Winner in this category |
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 6.0 Now VPN's performance presents a mixed picture that reflects the challenges of maintaining a free VPN service with heavy advertising monetization. While the app can deliver fast connections when working properly, reliability issues and the advertising model significantly impact the overall performance experience. Performance strengths include:
However, significant performance issues undermine the user experience:
User reviews reveal a pattern of performance degradation, with newer reviews showing more complaints about connection stability and speed issues. The app's heavy reliance on advertising revenue may be impacting server quality and maintenance, leading to the performance decline observed in recent reviews. For users seeking reliable performance, alternatives like Proton VPN offer more consistent free performance with better server maintenance, while NordVPN provides premium performance with dedicated servers and better reliability guarantees. We rate performance at 6.0 out of 10—good speeds when working but undermined by frequent connection drops and advertising interruptions that create an inconsistent and frustrating user experience. | 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:
Performance issues:
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. Winner in this category |
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 6.0 Now VPN's design philosophy centers on simplicity and accessibility, which works well for its target audience of casual VPN users. The interface is clean and uncluttered, with a prominent connect button that makes the core functionality immediately obvious to new users. Design strengths we observed include:
However, the design experience is significantly compromised by the advertising model. The 30-60 second unskippable ads that appear for basic actions like connecting or disconnecting create a jarring user experience that breaks the otherwise clean interface. Users frequently mention that the ads feel intrusive and disrupt the app's flow, making what should be a simple action feel cumbersome. Additionally, the forced rating prompts and persistent push notifications that cannot be disabled create a sense of being "pushed around" by the app rather than being in control. This undermines the otherwise user-friendly design and makes the app feel more like an advertising platform than a privacy tool. While the core interface design is solid, the advertising intrusions significantly impact the overall design experience. For users who value a clean, uninterrupted interface, alternatives like Proton VPN offer a more polished design without advertising interruptions, while Windscribe VPN provides a cleaner free experience with less aggressive monetization. We rate design at 6.0 out of 10—good core design principles undermined by intrusive advertising that compromises the user experience. | 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:
What needs improvement:
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. Winner in this category |
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 6.5 Now VPN's value proposition is fundamentally split between its free and premium tiers, creating a confusing experience where the free tier's value is undermined by its own monetization strategy. Value strengths include:
However, the free tier's value is significantly compromised by the advertising model:
The VIP pricing is particularly problematic when compared to alternatives. Premium VPN services like NordVPN and Surfshark VPN offer more comprehensive features, better privacy protection, and more transparent pricing for similar or lower costs. The VIP tier also doesn't address the fundamental privacy concerns that come with the free service. For users seeking genuine value, alternatives like Proton VPN offer a more generous free tier with better privacy protection and fewer restrictions, while Windscribe VPN provides a more respectful free experience with clearer upgrade paths. We rate value for money at 6.5 out of 10—good value in theory but undermined by advertising that makes the free experience feel more like a trial than a genuine free service, with expensive premium pricing that doesn't justify the upgrade. | 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:
Premium tier value:
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. Winner in this category |
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 7.0 Now VPN excels in basic usability with its one-tap connection approach, making it one of the most accessible VPN apps for beginners. The core functionality is genuinely simple and requires no technical knowledge to operate effectively. Usability strengths include:
However, the ease of use is significantly undermined by the advertising model and forced interactions. The 30-60 second unskippable ads that appear for basic actions like connecting or disconnecting transform what should be a simple one-tap action into a frustrating experience. Users consistently report that these ads make the app feel "pushy" and interrupt their workflow. Additionally, the forced rating prompts that prevent the app from functioning properly create an artificial barrier to usage. Users report being unable to use the app until they provide a rating, which goes against the principle of ease of use. The inability to disable push notifications also creates ongoing annoyance for users who prefer to control their app notifications. While the core interface is genuinely easy to use, the advertising interruptions and forced interactions significantly compromise the overall user experience. For users seeking a truly hassle-free VPN experience, alternatives like Proton VPN offer a cleaner free tier without forced interactions, while Windscribe VPN provides a more respectful free experience with fewer interruptions. We rate ease of use at 7.0 out of 10—excellent core usability undermined by advertising interruptions that make simple actions unnecessarily complex. Winner in this category | 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:
What makes it difficult:
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. |
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 5.5 Now VPN's security and privacy practices present a mixed picture that raises legitimate concerns for privacy-conscious users. While the app claims to offer secure connections and privacy protection, several factors undermine confidence in its privacy commitments. Security strengths include:
However, significant privacy concerns emerge from the business model and operational practices:
User reviews reveal additional concerns about the authenticity of the service, with some users warning about "bot reviews" and questioning whether the positive reviews are genuine. This lack of transparency about the service's legitimacy further undermines trust in its privacy practices. For users who prioritize privacy and security, alternatives like Proton VPN offer Swiss-based privacy protection with independent audits and transparency reports, while Windscribe VPN provides Canadian privacy protection with more transparent data handling practices. We rate security and privacy at 5.5 out of 10—basic security features present but significant concerns about data handling, jurisdiction, and transparency that compromise trust in the service. | 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:
Privacy concerns:
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. Winner in this category |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | Now VPN represents a classic example of how a promising free service can be undermined by its own monetization strategy. While the app delivers on its core promise of free, unlimited VPN access with simple one-tap connection, the aggressive advertising model and forced interactions create a frustrating user experience that often feels more like a trial than a genuine free service. The app's popularity (10M+ downloads, 4.7-star rating) reflects genuine demand for free VPN services, and many users do find value in its basic functionality. However, the recent rating decline (4.7 to 4.61 in last 100 reviews) and increasing complaints about connection stability suggest that the advertising model may be impacting the service quality. For users who can tolerate the ads and forced interactions, Now VPN provides a functional free VPN, but the experience comes with significant trade-offs. For users seeking a more respectful free VPN experience, Proton VPN offers better privacy protection and fewer restrictions, while Windscribe VPN provides a cleaner free tier with more transparent monetization. For those willing to pay for premium features, NordVPN and Surfshark VPN offer more comprehensive solutions with better reliability and privacy guarantees. | 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. |
| Our Recommendation | ||
