Waking Up: Meditation & Wisdom

Description

Recognized as a 2025 Pick by NYT Wirecutter Featured as a 2026 pick for the App Store “App of the Day” Thousands worldwide call Waking Up life changing. Whether you want better sleep, more clarity, or deeper meditation, Waking Up is your complete guide. Testimonials “Waking Up has led to my most consistent meditation practice. Family and staff also use it because it’s such a powerful tool.” —Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist “Waking Up is a critical part of my daily practice. It’s my go-to for presence, peace, and well-being.” —Rich Roll, athlete & author “If you’ve had trouble getting into meditation, this app is your answer!” —Susan Cain, best-selling author What’s Inside - Introductory Course—a transformative 28-day program, for both beginners and experienced meditators - Daily Meditations—regular guided sessions with Sam Harris - Moments—short reflections when you need them most - Daily Quotes—a spark of insight each day - Reflections—brief lessons that shift perspective - Sleep—talks and meditations to help you rest - Meditation Timer—customize your own sessions - A vast library of meditations, theory sessions, life courses, conversations, and Q&As - Community—connect with members to discuss meditation, philosophy, psychedelics, and more Why Waking Up Stands Out Unlike conventional meditation apps, Waking Up blends practice with theory—so you not only learn to meditate but also understand how it transforms your mind. It’s meditation, science, and timeless wisdom in one place. Topics & Techniques Our library combines contemplative traditions with modern science, offering tools for both practice and understanding. Techniques include mindfulness (Vipassana), Loving-Kindness, body scans, yoga nidra, and nondual awareness practices from Dzogchen, Zen, and Advaita Vedanta. Topics span neuroscience, psychology, Stoicism, ethics, psychedelics, productivity, and happiness. Content & Teachers Created by neuroscientist and best-selling author Sam Harris, Waking Up features leading voices in meditation, philosophy, and psychology. Practice—Vipassana, Zen, Dzogchen, Advaita Vedanta (Joseph Goldstein, Diana Winston, Adyashanti, Henry Shukman, Richard Lang) Theory—the philosophy and science of consciousness, ethics, and well-being (Alan Watts, Charlotte Joko Beck, Joan Tollifson, James Low, Douglas Harding) Life—mindfulness in relationships, productivity, Stoicism, and more (David Whyte, Oliver Burkeman, Matthew Walker, Amanda Knox, Donald Robertson, Bob Waldinger) Conversations—Sam Harris with Yuval Noah Harari, Michael Pollan, Morgan Housel, Roland Griffiths, Cal Newport, Shinzen Young Q&As—Sam Harris with Joseph Goldstein, Adyashanti, Henry Shukman, Jack Kornfield, Loch Kelly And many more subjects and teachers. Created by Sam Harris Neuroscientist and best-selling author Sam Harris built Waking Up as the resource he wished he’d had when he began meditating 30 years ago. Every practice, course, and teacher is chosen for its power to change lives. Free for Anyone Who Can’t Afford It We never want money to be the reason someone can’t benefit from our app. To learn about our scholarship program, reach out to support@wakingup.com. Subscriptions renew unless auto-renew is disabled 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage in Apple account settings. Payment charged to your Apple account. Terms: https://wakingup.com/terms-of-service/ Privacy: https://wakingup.com/privacy-policy/ Satisfaction guarantee: Email support@wakingup.com for a full refund.

Recent Reviews

• ★★★★★Eleanorrigby2000

  Scammy

  They make it virtually impossible to cancel your membership. There is no way to do it on the app or on the site. Also, the UX is horrible. I expect better.

• ★★★★★Speye kidz

  Found

  Sam - there is no objectivity on genocide. I had to delete this app. Very useful tool.

• ★★★★★Mark HB2000

  Awesome for Beginners!

  I am a brand new meditator and this app has helped me so much in my self bettering journey.

• ★★★★★HolliM33

  White Men

  I got an ad for this app and thought I’d give it a try. After downloading it I looked around a bit and saw nothing but white men. I was shocked to see the welcome message was by Zionist and Islamaphobe, Sam Harris. And then looking around more, a high percentage of the recordings are all with Sam Harris. No thanks! Sigh. I’m tired of only hearing from men and especially those who are justifying a genocide. How is this compassionate or enlightened???

• ★★★★★Claudiar14

  Sam Harris support the genocide in Gaza

  The app is good overall but it's hard to try to take advice about inner peace when Sam Harris is a supporter of the genocide in Gaza.

• ★★★★★Compassionate wannabe

  Full of knowledge, wisdom, advise, humor from wonderful teachers

  I started this app after hearing Sam on Dan Harris’s app and was at first a little overwhelmed by so much content. Began slowly, with the daily meditation and soon found myself on a whole new level of my practice. Sam’s approach for me was unique and introduced me quickly to the part of my mind that is separate from thoughts and sensations. Here was a friendly, peaceful state that I could go to at any moment! Soon I started the sleep talks and meditations which are now my nightly habits. Once I began exploring Theory, Practice, Conversations I knew this app had it all and stopped using the other apps I had followed for years. Thank you for this incredibly rich material. You are truly doing a wonderful service to we seekers.

• ★★★★★Major Tom x

  Tangible progress

  I’ve been using waking up consistently for about 5 years now. Some weeks more than others, but I always start my day with a reflection, and regularly sit for the 10 minute guided meditation. I’ve noticed I can observe my emotions as they arise now. Particularly frustration. And choose to hold onto it or not more easily. It’s making me a better husband and father. Thank you Sam !

• ★★★★★Appuser999991

  Worst meditation app

  Save your money and get the more popular proven apps like Calm. The meditation clips are guided by amateurs who speak in abrupt sentences without a calm and soothing voice. The instructions are not congruent and I often felt jarring experience with this app.

• ★★★★★Mizrobi Samarqandi

  Latest update

  I'm mildly annoyed with the latest update.

• ★★★★★LittleIttyBittyTV

  Nothing is free

  I realize you’re operating a business… but c’mon. There ain’t even a calming ocean sound included as a teaser. Cheapskate much? Everything is locked upon downloading. Your responses to reviews that “Money shouldn’t keep you from meditating” means that you’re not even listening to your potential base. Ya gotta offer a “little” something to get “alotta” something, know what I’m saying here? $$ You just lost my potential subscription, regardless of what your geo-political views are! It does me no good to never know what you are so talented (as you proclaim). Make this make sense. Include some teaser clips and maybe I’ll be back.