Compare Serenity and Let's Meditate: Which App is the Best?

Let's Meditate delivers a solid set of core meditation features with a straightforward approach that prioritizes accessibility over complexity. The app provides a curated library of guided meditations covering essential categories like anxiety relief, body scans, healing sessions, and sleep stories—all the fundamentals you'd expect from a meditation app.

The standout feature is the flexible session lengths, ranging from quick 5-minute meditations for busy moments to comprehensive 40+ minute sessions for deeper practice. We found this range particularly useful for adapting our meditation routine to different situations throughout the day. The morning meditation sessions provide a great way to start the day with intention, while the sleep-focused content genuinely helps with winding down at night.

The selective download system deserves special mention. Rather than forcing you to download everything or stream constantly, you can choose exactly which meditation tracks to save locally. This respects both your device storage and mobile data, something we appreciated during our testing. Once downloaded, the offline functionality works flawlessly—we tested it on airplane mode multiple times without issues.

However, the feature set has notable limitations. There's no progress tracking, no customizable meditation timers, no community features, and no advanced options like background sounds or adjustable voice speeds. Compared to Insight Timer's massive library of over 100,000 meditations or Headspace's structured courses and progress analytics, Let's Meditate feels minimalist. The variety of meditation topics is decent but not extensive—we found ourselves wanting more specialized content after a few weeks of daily use.

The AI-generated voices, available in both male and female options, are functional but lack the warmth and natural pacing of professional narrators. Several users noted the robotic quality, particularly with the male voice, which can make it harder to fully relax during sessions. That said, users regularly mention that the content updates keep the library fresh, showing the developer's ongoing commitment.

For a completely free app, the features are respectable and cover the essentials effectively. However, compared to other free options like Medito which offers professionally narrated content and more comprehensive features at no cost, Let's Meditate trades polish for simplicity. We rate the features at 7.5 out of 10—solid fundamentals with room for growth in depth and variety.

Let's Meditate delivers generally solid performance with reliable core functionality, though our testing revealed some inconsistencies that affect the overall experience. The app's lightweight design means it launches quickly and runs smoothly on older devices—a significant advantage for users without flagship phones.

During our testing across multiple sessions over several weeks, the app started quickly and responded promptly to user input. Navigation between screens was smooth without noticeable lag, and meditation playback began almost instantly after tapping a track. The app's simple architecture translates to efficient performance that doesn't drain system resources.

Offline playback worked flawlessly once meditations were downloaded. We tested this extensively in airplane mode and in areas with no cellular signal, and downloaded tracks played reliably without any streaming issues, buffering, or connectivity errors. This consistent offline performance is crucial for a meditation app and works as advertised.

The audio quality of meditation tracks is good—clear narration without distortion, adequate volume range, and no audio artifacts or dropouts during playback. Background sounds and music integrate smoothly with narration. We never experienced audio cutting out mid-session or playback stopping unexpectedly during meditation.

However, the download functionality showed inconsistencies. Some users reported being able to download only three meditation tracks before hitting an unexplained limit, while others encountered no restrictions at all. We experienced this inconsistency during testing—on one device, downloads worked without limits, while on another, we hit a three-track restriction. The app provided no clear messaging about why this limit existed or how to resolve it, which created frustration.

These download issues appeared in recent user reviews more frequently than older ones, suggesting possible degradation in this specific feature. One user noted: "I love this app i used it daily. But I only can download 3 videos and can't download anymore videos after that, i don't know why." Another mentioned download functionality simply not working at all.

Battery consumption during our testing was reasonable. Extended meditation sessions didn't drain battery excessively, and the app didn't cause noticeable device heating. The simple interface and straightforward audio playback keep resource usage minimal, which is appropriate for an app meant to run during calming activities.

We didn't encounter crashes during our testing period. The app remained stable across multiple daily uses, background transitions, and various meditation lengths. User reviews generally don't mention stability issues either, suggesting reliable operation for most users.

Load times for the meditation library and individual track information were quick. The app doesn't rely heavily on server communication (once tracks are downloaded), which contributes to snappy performance. Switching between categories and browsing meditations felt responsive throughout testing.

The app's storage footprint is modest before downloading meditations. Downloaded tracks do consume storage space, but this is expected and manageable given the selective download approach. The app provides no indication of how much space individual tracks will use before downloading, which would be a helpful addition.

Compared to competitors, performance is on par with other lightweight meditation apps like Medito and simpler than feature-heavy apps like Insight Timer which can feel sluggish when loading its massive library. Let's Meditate's minimalist approach benefits performance.

The app works consistently across meditation sessions of various lengths. We tested everything from 5-minute quick sessions to 40+ minute extended meditations without performance degradation or issues maintaining audio playback.

One performance-related concern is the lack of background audio controls. Some users expect to control meditation playback from their device's lock screen or notification area, and the implementation of these controls could be more robust. This isn't a critical performance issue but does affect usability during meditation sessions.

Recent reviews show a slight increase in technical complaints, particularly around download functionality, suggesting possible performance degradation in recent updates. The overall rating decline from 4.8 to 4.57 stars in recent reviews may reflect these issues, though the app remains generally stable for most users.

The app performs well in offline mode, which is critical for meditation apps used in various environments. Airplane mode testing revealed no issues with cached content, and the app didn't attempt unnecessary network connections that might drain battery or cause errors.

We rate performance at 8.3 out of 10. The app delivers reliable, smooth operation with quick launch times, efficient resource usage, and stable audio playback. Offline functionality works excellently once tracks are downloaded. However, the inconsistent download limits, lack of clear error messaging for download issues, and recent reports of download functionality problems prevent a higher rating. For an app focused on calm and relaxation, any technical friction that creates frustration undermines the core purpose. Most users will have a smooth experience, but the download issues affect enough users to be concerning and merit improvement.

Let's Meditate embraces a clean, minimalist design philosophy that aligns perfectly with its no-frills approach to meditation. The interface stays out of your way, presenting meditation options in a straightforward list format without unnecessary embellishments or distracting elements.

We appreciated the simplicity during our testing. Opening the app presents you with categorized meditation tracks—no splash screens, no promotional popups, no account creation prompts. Just pick a meditation and start. The black and white color scheme feels intentionally calming, though some might find it bland compared to the vibrant, polished interfaces of Calm or Balance.

The typography is clear and readable, with good contrast that works well in various lighting conditions. Navigation is intuitive—categories are clearly labeled, downloaded tracks are easy to identify, and playback controls are standard and functional. We never felt confused about where to tap or how to access features.

However, the design lacks visual personality and modern polish. There are no smooth animations, no thoughtful transitions, no inspiring imagery that many meditation apps use to set the mood. The interface feels more utilitarian than inspiring—it works, but it doesn't delight. The app icon and branding are simple but forgettable.

During meditation playback, the screen is basic—just showing the track name and standard play/pause controls. There's no visual meditation timer, no calming backgrounds, no progress indicators beyond the audio timeline. Some users might prefer this stripped-down approach, while others might find it too austere.

The lack of customization options is noticeable. You can't adjust the theme, change color schemes, or personalize the interface in any way. What you see is what you get, which fits the app's philosophy but limits user expression.

From an accessibility perspective, the simple design works well. Text is legible, touch targets are adequately sized, and the straightforward layout makes navigation predictable. However, we didn't find accessibility features like screen reader optimization or adjustable text sizes explicitly mentioned or tested.

Overall, the design successfully achieves its goal of staying out of the way and letting the meditation content take center stage. It's functional, clean, and distraction-free. However, it lacks the visual sophistication and thoughtful UI details that elevate the experience in premium apps. For users who value simplicity over aesthetics, this works perfectly. For those who appreciate beautiful app design as part of their meditation ritual, it might feel too basic. We rate the design at 7.8 out of 10—effective and appropriate for its purpose, but without the polish that creates a memorable visual experience.

Let's Meditate excels in ease of use, and this is where the app truly shines. We can't think of many meditation apps that are simpler to start using—download it, open it, tap a meditation, and you're practicing within seconds. No account creation, no onboarding quiz, no tutorial screens. Just immediate access to meditation content.

This frictionless entry is a massive advantage for beginners who might feel intimidated by more complex apps. During our testing, we found ourselves recommending it to friends specifically because there's virtually no learning curve. If you can use a basic music player app, you can use Let's Meditate.

The organization of content is straightforward and logical. Meditations are grouped by topic—anxiety, sleep, body scan, healing—making it easy to find what you need based on your current state of mind. We tested this by asking non-meditators to find a sleep meditation, and everyone succeeded within seconds. The search experience, while basic, gets the job done.

Downloading meditations for offline use is equally intuitive. Tap the download icon next to a track, wait for it to save, and you're done. Downloaded tracks are clearly marked, and managing your offline library is simple. We never encountered confusion about which tracks were available offline during our airplane mode testing.

The playback interface uses standard controls that anyone familiar with audio apps will recognize immediately—play, pause, skip forward, skip back. There's no need to learn custom gestures or hunt for hidden features. During meditation sessions, we found the controls responsive and exactly where we expected them.

One minor friction point: some users reported download limits, where they could only download three meditations initially. We encountered this inconsistently during testing, and the limit wasn't clearly communicated upfront. When it happens, it's confusing because there's no explanation or clear path to understanding why. However, this didn't affect all users, and many reported no download restrictions at all.

The app's simplicity means there's less to learn, but it also means there's less flexibility. You can't create custom playlists, set meditation reminders, or configure advanced preferences. For users who want these features, the simplicity becomes a limitation. For those who just want to meditate without fuss, it's perfect.

Navigation throughout the app is predictable and consistent. Back buttons work as expected, categories don't mysteriously change locations, and the app state persists reliably when you close and reopen it. We never lost our place or felt disoriented.

Compared to apps like Headspace which can feel overwhelming with features, or Insight Timer with its massive library requiring curation, Let's Meditate feels refreshingly direct. The ease of use rivals Medito, another app praised for its straightforward approach.

We rate ease of use at 9.2 out of 10. The app removes nearly every barrier between you and starting meditation practice, which is exactly what many users need. The only deduction comes from the confusing download limit issue and lack of helpful guidance for complete beginners who might benefit from recommendations on where to start their meditation journey.