Compare Waking Up and DeepSeek AI: Which App is the Best?
Waking Up combines meditation practice with philosophy and neuroscience, offering Sam Harris's guided sessions alongside teachings from expert teachers. Rated 9.3 for features and 4.9★ on iOS, it excels in content depth but faces challenges with premium pricing and accessibility. | DeepSeek AI is a completely free AI assistant powered by a 600B+ parameter model, offering high-quality responses for coding, writing, and general questions without any subscription fees or usage limits. | |||||||||
| 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 Winner in this category | 7.8 | ||||||||
| 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. | 9.3 Waking Up delivers an exceptionally rich feature set that goes far beyond typical meditation apps. The 28-day introductory course alone represents substantial value, systematically building both your practice skills and conceptual understanding of what meditation actually does to consciousness. We completed the full course and found it transformative—not because it promised stress relief or productivity gains, but because it fundamentally shifted how we relate to our own thoughts. The daily meditation library is vast and thoughtfully curated. Sam Harris guides most sessions, with his calm, intellectually rigorous approach that appeals to skeptics and science-minded practitioners. Beyond Harris, you'll find teachings from Joseph Goldstein (Vipassana master), Henry Shukman (Zen teacher), Adyashanti (nondual awareness), and Diana Winston (mindfulness). Each teacher brings distinct techniques and philosophical perspectives, creating genuine depth rather than superficial variety. Where Waking Up truly excels is its theory content. The conversations feature interviews with Yuval Noah Harari on consciousness, Michael Pollan on psychedelics, and Cal Newport on attention—topics you won't find in Headspace or Calm. The "Life" section covers practical applications: Stoicism, relationship mindfulness, sleep science, and productivity. These aren't afterthoughts; they're substantial talks that contextualize meditation within broader questions of how to live well. The Moments feature provides quick mindfulness reminders—short reflections perfect for busy days when a full session isn't feasible. The meditation timer works well for unguided practice, though it lacks some customization options found in dedicated timer apps. Community features allow discussion with other practitioners, which adds a social dimension often missing from solitary practice. We rate features at 9.3 out of 10—comprehensive and intellectually ambitious, with only minor gaps in customization and organizational tools. Winner in this category | 8.5 DeepSeek AI has a solid set of features that make it a great alternative to paid AI assistants. It does more than just answer questions - it's like having a smart friend who can help with pretty much anything. Here's what we really liked: 1. The AI is really smart This thing is powered by a massive AI model with over 600 billion parameters. That's a lot of brainpower! It can handle complex questions, coding problems, and analytical tasks really well. 2. It shows its work Unlike most AI assistants, DeepSeek actually shows you how it thinks through problems. This is especially helpful when you're learning something new or debugging code. It breaks everything down step by step. 3. It's completely free No catch, no hidden fees, no premium tiers. You get unlimited access to this powerful AI without paying anything. That's pretty rare these days. 4. It works everywhere Whether you're on Android or iOS, the experience is the same. No need to worry about compatibility issues. The main downsides:
But for basic AI chat and coding help, it's really solid. We give features an 8.5 - it does the core stuff really well, but could use some extra bells and whistles. | ||||||||
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 8.3 Waking Up generally performs well in daily use, with smooth navigation, reliable audio playback, and reasonable loading times. The app launches quickly, and sessions begin playing without frustrating delays. Audio quality is consistently excellent across all content, with clear voice recordings and pleasant ambient sounds for the meditation timer. Battery consumption is reasonable for an audio app—comparable to music streaming services. The app doesn't drain battery excessively during playback or idle in the background, which is important for daily users. We tested across multiple sessions and found no unusual battery impact. Storage requirements are modest, with the app itself taking up minimal space and allowing you to manage downloaded content for offline use. However, performance issues appear in specific areas that deserve attention. The playback progress bug mentioned in several reviews is a real problem: the app sometimes fails to remember where you left off in longer talks or courses, forcing you to manually locate your position. This breaks the seamless experience and creates unnecessary friction when you're trying to maintain a consistent practice. Login and authentication problems affected multiple users, particularly on Android devices with Google sign-in. While not universal, these issues are frustrating when they occur—meditation practice requires consistency, and technical barriers that prevent access undermine that consistency. The app would benefit from more robust error handling and clearer troubleshooting guidance when authentication fails. Despite these issues, the core meditation experience performs reliably once you're in a session. We rate performance at 8.3—solid in most areas, with specific bugs that need addressing to reach excellence. Winner in this category | 6.5 Performance is a bit hit or miss with DeepSeek AI. When it's working well, it's great. When it's not, it can be frustrating. When everything is running smoothly, the app responds quickly and works without any lag. The AI processes your questions fast and gives good answers. It works consistently across different devices, so you get the same experience whether you're on Android or iOS. What works well:
The problem is that the servers seem to get overloaded a lot. You'll often see "server busy" messages, and sometimes the app just doesn't work at all. The recent drop in ratings from 4.2 to 3.98 stars suggests this is an ongoing issue. Common issues users report:
It's not the app's fault - it's more about server capacity and infrastructure. But it definitely affects how useful the app is. We give performance a 6.5 - good when it works, but the reliability issues are a real problem. | ||||||||
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 8.7 Waking Up's design prioritizes clarity and calm aesthetics over flashy animations or gamification. The interface uses clean typography, generous whitespace, and a restrained color palette that reinforces the contemplative purpose of the app. Navigation is logical: Daily, Practice, Theory, and Life sections are clearly delineated, making it easy to find what you're looking for. The home screen presents your daily meditation prominently, with quick access to the meditation timer, moments, and daily quotes. This focused design encourages consistent practice without overwhelming you with options. Progress tracking is subtle—you can see your meditation streak and completed sessions, but it doesn't employ the aggressive streak maintenance tactics of gamified apps. We appreciated the thoughtful details: sessions display their duration upfront, teachers are clearly identified with brief bios, and the audio player interface is clean and functional. The sleep content section offers a peaceful browsing experience with previews and descriptions that help you choose appropriate content for bedtime. However, the design isn't without limitations. Some users reported that the library feels harder to navigate than it should be, especially when searching for specific topics or teachers. The community features feel somewhat bolted on rather than integrated into the core experience. Compared to Balance's more modern, personalized interface or Calm's visually lush design, Waking Up feels more utilitarian. We rate design at 8.7—professionally executed and appropriate for the content, but not exceptional or innovative. Winner in this category | 7.5 The design is clean and straightforward. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done without getting in your way. We like how simple it is to use. The chat interface looks familiar - just like any messaging app you've used before. The text is easy to read, and the buttons are where you'd expect them to be. It works well on both phones and tablets, and the layout adjusts nicely to different screen sizes. The app doesn't try to be flashy, which is actually kind of refreshing. What we liked:
The downside? It's pretty basic looking. No cool animations or fancy themes. Some people might find it boring, but we think it's actually better this way - less distraction, more focus on the AI responses. We give design a 7.5 - it's functional and clean, but could use a bit more personality. | ||||||||
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 7.8 This is where Waking Up becomes contentious. At roughly $120 per year (or more for monthly subscriptions), it's positioned as a premium product competing with Headspace and Calm at the high end of the meditation app market. The question becomes: does the content justify this premium pricing? For users genuinely engaged with the intellectual and philosophical dimensions of meditation, the answer is often yes. The combination of rigorous practice instruction, expert teachers, and deep theoretical content creates a comprehensive meditation education that would cost far more if pursued through books, courses, and retreats separately. The conversations alone—featuring world-class thinkers discussing consciousness, ethics, and human flourishing—provide value beyond simple meditation guidance. Many reviews called it "life-changing" and "worth more than a streaming service," suggesting that engaged users find significant value. However, the value proposition weakens considerably if you're primarily seeking guided meditations for stress relief or sleep improvement. In that case, Insight Timer offers thousands of free guided meditations, Balance provides personalized guidance at similar pricing, and Medito delivers quality content completely free as a nonprofit. Waking Up's theoretical depth becomes less relevant if you won't engage with it. The trial confusion and credit card requirement create bad first impressions that undermine perceived value. When users feel pressured into subscriptions before adequately sampling the approach, it breeds resentment even if they'd ultimately appreciate the content. The free scholarship program for those who can't afford it is admirable but poorly promoted—many users who complained about cost likely qualify but don't know the option exists. We rate value for money at 7.8—genuinely valuable for the right audience, but expensive and poorly positioned for casual users. | 9.5 This is where DeepSeek AI really shines. It's completely free, and we mean completely free. No ads, no premium features, no hidden costs. What you get for free:
Compare this to ChatGPT Plus at $20/month or other paid AI services, and it's pretty amazing. You're getting similar quality for zero cost.
The only reason it's not a perfect 10 is that some people might want extra features like voice input, image generation, or plugins that you'd get with paid services. But for basic AI chat and coding help, you can't beat the value. We give value for money a 9.5 - it's basically free AI assistance that works really well. Winner in this category | ||||||||
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 8.5 Getting started with Waking Up is straightforward once you overcome the trial and account creation process. The introductory course guides you step-by-step, with clear instructions and a natural progression that builds your understanding gradually. Sam Harris explains concepts thoroughly without being patronizing, striking a good balance for both beginners and experienced meditators returning to refresh their practice. Daily meditations are easy to access—just tap the featured session on your home screen and begin. The app remembers your progress in courses and series, automatically queuing the next session when you return. Audio quality is excellent, with Harris's voice clear and easy to follow. The meditation timer is simple to configure, with options for interval bells and ambient sounds that help maintain focus. We found the theory content easy to browse by topic or teacher, though the sheer volume can feel overwhelming initially. The search function works adequately but could be more robust—finding specific talks or teachers sometimes requires more scrolling than we'd prefer. Bookmarking and organizing favorite content isn't as intuitive as in some competitors. The biggest ease-of-use issue comes from technical bugs rather than design. Several reviews mention playback progress not persisting correctly, forcing users to scrub through sessions to find where they left off. Login problems affected some users, particularly with Google authentication on Android devices. These friction points, while not universal, significantly impact the experience when they occur. Despite these issues, the core meditation experience remains smooth and uncluttered. We rate ease of use at 8.5—generally intuitive with some technical rough edges that need polishing. Winner in this category | 8.0 This might be the easiest AI assistant we've ever used. Seriously, you can start using it right away without any setup. Download the app, open it, and start typing. That's it. No account needed, no complicated settings to figure out. It works the same way on both Android and iOS, so if you switch phones, you won't have to relearn anything. What makes it so easy:
The only annoying thing is that sometimes you get "server busy" messages when the app is overloaded. And there's not much guidance for new users on how to get the best results. But overall, it's really user-friendly. We give ease of use an 8.0 - it's super simple to use, though the occasional server issues can be frustrating. | ||||||||
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 8.5 Waking Up requires an account to use the service, which means your meditation data is stored on their servers rather than exclusively on your device. The app's privacy policy is reasonably transparent about data collection: they gather usage information, meditation history, and standard device identifiers to provide the service and improve the experience. Importantly, we found no evidence of aggressive data harvesting or third-party advertising networks. The subscription model means the business doesn't rely on selling user data or attention to advertisers, which aligns incentives better than ad-supported alternatives. Your meditation content, listening history, and notes remain private and aren't shared with third parties for marketing purposes. The account requirement does mean you're trusting Waking Up LLC with personal information including email, payment details (through app stores), and meditation habits. For practitioners seeking maximum privacy, Insight Timer offers optional account-free usage, and Medito collects minimal data as a nonprofit. Waking Up falls into a middle ground—not exceptionally privacy-focused, but not exploitative either. Security measures appear standard: HTTPS encryption for data transmission, secure payment processing through Apple and Google's systems, and the option to delete your account and data upon request. The persistent login issues some users experienced suggest room for improvement in authentication systems, though these seem more like bugs than security vulnerabilities. We rate security and privacy at 8.5—adequate protection with clear business practices, but requiring trust in a for-profit company's data stewardship. Winner in this category | 7.0 Privacy is a mixed bag with DeepSeek AI. On the plus side, you don't need an account to use it, which means they're not collecting your email or personal info. What we liked:
The downside? It's an AI assistant, so it has to process and store your conversations to work. They probably use your chats to improve their AI model, which is pretty standard for these apps. They don't sell your data to third parties, which is good. But you should know that your conversations are being processed and stored somewhere. It's more private than apps that require accounts and collect lots of personal info, but less private than apps that keep everything on your device. We give privacy a 7.0 - reasonable for an AI assistant, but not perfect. | ||||||||
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | Waking Up has established itself as the premier meditation app for intellectually curious practitioners seeking more than stress relief or sleep aids. The combination of rigorous practice instruction from expert teachers, deep philosophical content, and thoughtful conversations creates an unmatched resource for understanding consciousness and cultivating genuine insight. Our ratings across features (9.3), design (8.7), ease of use (8.5), security (8.5), value (7.8), and performance (8.3) reflect an app that excels in content depth while facing challenges in accessibility and pricing. The app's greatest strength is also its limitation: it demands intellectual engagement and sustained practice. If you're drawn to Sam Harris's approach, interested in exploring nondual awareness, or seeking meditation that integrates philosophy and neuroscience, Waking Up will likely become an essential daily resource. The introductory course alone provides tremendous value, and the ongoing content supports years of deepening practice. However, the premium pricing, confusing trial structure, and limited free sampling create barriers that contradict meditation's fundamental accessibility. While the scholarship program offers free access to those in need, its lack of visibility means many potential users bounce off the paywall without discovering this option. Technical issues like playback bugs and login problems, though not universal, undermine the consistency that meditation practice requires. We recommend Waking Up enthusiastically for practitioners ready to engage seriously with meditation's philosophical and experiential dimensions. For casual users seeking guided relaxation, Calm or Headspace offer friendlier onboarding. For those wanting robust free content, Insight Timer or Medito provide excellent alternatives. But for the right audience—skeptical, intellectually curious, committed to understanding consciousness—Waking Up remains unparalleled. | DeepSeek AI stands out as a compelling free alternative to paid AI assistants, offering impressive capabilities powered by its advanced 600B+ parameter model. While it has some performance and accuracy limitations, the fact that it's completely free makes it an excellent choice for users who want powerful AI assistance without the cost. The app particularly shines for coding and technical tasks, with many users praising its ability to provide detailed, step-by-step solutions. For those willing to work around occasional server issues and minor accuracy concerns, DeepSeek AI delivers exceptional value. | ||||||||
| Our Recommendation | ||||||||||
