93
epic

Waking Up: Meditation & Wisdom | unitQ Score

The unitQ score is the fraction of public feedback data (iOS & Android) that mentions quality issues.
100 = No Issues. 50 = Some Issues. 0 = All Issues
2 Points Past 7 Days
Category: Health & Fitness
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Android unitQ Score
Android User Feedback
37%
Android
43 Reports
iOS unitQ Score
iOS User Feedback
63%
iOS
72 Reports
User Feedback
63%
iOS
72 Reports
37%
Android
43 Reports
Waking Up: Meditation & Wisdom - Latest Quality Issues
iOS
Oct 29, 2024
Can’t cancel subscription through app
It won't allow you to cancel subscription through app and mobile site redirects you to app. Extremely predatory.
iOS
Oct 29, 2024
Best Meditation Content
Without question - this is the best meditation app out there in terms of content. Only complaint is that downloads fail to load offline nearly every time they update the app. I have to remove the app and redownload content for offline consumption. This is a pain given that I like to use the app in places where I have no signal. Otherwise, it's great.
Android
Oct 30, 2024
Draws you in with promises of a free trial and then makes it deliberately difficult to cancel. Don't trust
iOS
Oct 30, 2024
Self important and dishonest subscription practices
This guy has a lot of friends and so has a lot of reviews, but really he has this meditation course where he talks endlessly through each meditation (admonishing people that if they don't like him talking all through the meditation then they don't understand how meditation works and good meditators can still meditate through tons talking). A bunch of the talking is nonsensical fake neuroscience Buddhist drivel, laughable to people who have actually studied these things, which really distracts from the meditative state. Then you go to try to adjust your subscription and there is no way to manage it in the app. You contact support and they tell you that clearly you don't know how to use the internet and that's why you can't manage your subscription in the app, it couldn't possibly be that they've removed any way for you to manage it in the app. Insulting and ridiculous. This “product” is overhyped and overpriced and good luck wrestling your credit card number back from these people.
iOS
Nov 2, 2024
Cancelled: Values Diverged
After six years as a dedicated subscriber and active user (95,252 minutes of practice), I'm reaching out to share why I've decided to cancel my subscription. Initially, I found immense value in the app's offerings, appreciating the unique blend of meditation and Sam Harris's perspectives. Even during times when his views diverged from mine—especially regarding his critiques of Donald Trump—I was able to separate his political stance from the broader purpose of the app, finding grounding and clarity in the practices it offered. However, in recent years, I've become increasingly uncomfortable with the ideological direction that seems to shape the content. Sam's support for current political figures, coupled with stances on policies that I feel are regressive—such as positions affecting women's sports and rights—has made it difficult for me to continue drawing peace from an app that now feels misaligned with my values. The essence of “Waking Up” for me was about expanding awareness, not supporting agendas that I believe are setting society back. I listened to the debate between Sam and Ben on Monday, and that conversation further solidified my decision. Thank you for six years of thought-provoking material. I hope the app continues to serve those who align with its current message, but I will be seeking other sources for personal growth and mindfulness that resonate more closely with my values.
iOS
Nov 8, 2024
Audio Not playing when in background
New bug where audio is not playing in background and screen times out and stops playing audio. Yes background app refresh is on. Very frustrating please fix.
Android
Nov 9, 2024
Looks decent but it seems that the real interesting stuff including the starting courses are locked behind a subscription of $12.49 a month for an app with a significant lack of content.
iOS
Nov 9, 2024
Continual issues with the app going on months - still without resolution
If I could give this app 5 stars for the content, I would. It's great… when it works. Unfortunately, that's few and far between. I'm on an iPhone 14 MP and been subscribed to Waking Up for the past few years. Suddenly the past few months the app began to force close on me, progress in courses would vanish entirely, and other weird error messages would pop up on screen. It became next to unusable. I tried to restart the Introductory Course (as I'd gotten out of the practice of meditating and wanted to start over again) and I'm now on literally the 6th or 7th attempt at making it through the intro course - because every time I'm a few sessions in, it resets itself. I was up to date 20 last week and when I opened the app to continue my progress, it had disappeared. I've spoken to their customer service team repeatedly dating back months. First they told me the bugs were not issues they were aware of and had been escalated to the product team, before being informed they were, after all, widespread bugs that had been patched in the most recent app update. But nope. Still continuing, and their customer service team has given me lengthy workaround suggestions but never once offered to issue credits for the time I've lost and been literally unable to even use the app. Some days I'd be halfway through a lesson or talk in the app and it would just completely crash and I'd lose my progress and not have any idea where I was at when it reset. You can imagine how frustrating this would be after a few instances and it's made me go weeks at a time without using the app. I've begun to use Calm more as a result. Five stars for the content; one star for the app itself and underwhelming customer service.
Android
Nov 17, 2024
Daily meditations are really frustrating. Unless Sam tells us to focus on my breathing, I get anxious trying to find out something to do. He tells us to "look for the thinker" if I get distracted, but I don't even know what I need to focus on before something can distract me. He tells us to look for the thinker for only a moment and then move on, but what am I supposed to move on to? Do I listen to the sounds, focus on my breathing, focus on my body? A little guidance would go a long way here.
Waking Up: Meditation & Wisdom - Product Description
NOT JUST ANOTHER MEDITATION APP
Don’t think of Waking Up as a conventional meditation app—think of it as a new operating system for your mind, and a guide to living a better life.
 
We aim to offer a far deeper approach to mindfulness than you’ll find elsewhere—one that fundamentally transforms how you see yourself, and the world around you.
 
But you’ll also discover life-changing, secular wisdom from top scholars and experts, on everything from sleep and doing good in the world to time management and happiness.
 
Waking Up is free for anyone who can’t afford it. We never want money to be the reason why someone can’t benefit from what we’ve built. 
 
***Created by Sam Harris
Sam Harris, neuroscientist and best-selling author, built Waking Up to be the resource he wished he’d had when he began exploring meditation over 30 years ago.
 
Sam only includes those practices and insights he’s found to be utterly life-changing. The same is true for the many teachers, scholars, and experts you’ll meet throughout the app.
 
***A step-by-step approach to mindfulness
We’ve heard from thousands of members who say they never really understood meditation until they took our 28-part Introductory Course. 
 
Whether you’re a beginner or advanced practitioner, you’ll dive straight into the deep end of real mindfulness, so you don’t waste any time on the surface.
 
***Learn the true purpose of meditation
Meditation is about more than just relieving stress, sleeping better, or improving your focus. While it can help you do all of that, our goal is ultimately to help you open the door to a deeper understanding of yourself.
  
***A place for serious seekers
Explore some of life’s most important questions, on topics like neuroscience, psychedelics, enlightenment, ethics, and Stoicism—from renowned authors and professors like Oliver Burkeman, Michael Pollan, Laurie Santos, Arthur C. Brooks, James Clear, and others.
 
***In-depth theory and practice
Waking Up explains both the theory and the practice of meditation —so you don’t just learn the “how” of mindfulness, but also the “why.” 
 
You’ll be guided by prominent figures like Joseph Goldstein, Diana Winston, Adyashanti, Jayasāra, and Henry Shukman, who teach a wide range of contemplative practices, including Vipassana, Zen, Dzogchen, Advaita Vedanta, and more.
 
***Timeless insights, modern lens
Within Waking Up, you’ll find some of the most profound spiritual teachings from throughout history—those that have stood the test of time. And you’ll hear from historic voices like Alan Watts.
 
But we also pressure-test ancient wisdom against modern science, so you won’t find outlandish claims or anything we haven’t found to be empirically true.
 
***A comprehensive guide
Waking Up supports your growth and development in a number of different ways. You’ll find an abundance of useful features, like meditation timers, in-app support messages, an ever-growing audio library, and daily reminders to help bring your mindfulness practice into your life—plus, Waking Up allows you to save all of your meditation sessions to your Apple Health app.
 
“Waking Up is, hands down, the most important meditation guide I’ve ever used.” Physician Peter Attia
 
“If you’ve had trouble getting into meditation, this app is your answer!” -Susan Cain, best-selling author
 
“Waking Up is not an app, it’s a path. It is equal parts a meditation guide, a philosophy master-class and a highly-focused TED Conference.” -Eric Hirschberg, former CEO of ACTIVISION
 
SUBSCRIPTION
Subscriptions automatically renew, unless auto-renew is disabled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage your subscription from your Apple account settings. Payment will be charged to your Apple account.
 
Terms of service: https://wakingup.com/terms-of-service/
Privacy policy: https://wakingup.com/privacy-policy/
Satisfaction guarantee: If you don’t find the app valuable, email us at support@wakingup.com for a full refund.
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