Is Headspace: Sleep & Meditate free, or do you need a subscription?
The Play Store lists Headspace: Sleep & Meditate as free, and the app description says it offers a free trial with monthly or yearly subscriptions. Recent reviewers repeatedly say the practical free experience is very limited, with many meditations, sleep sounds, and basic exercises locked behind a subscription or paywall.
If you are looking for a mostly free meditation app, the reviews suggest Headspace may disappoint you. If you are considering paying, the subscription may matter more than the install being free.
ALMOST EVERYTHING IS PAID WITH A SUBSCRIPTION DO NOT RECOMEND FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO MEDITATE FOR FREE
Headspace was my introduction to meditation around 10 years ago. At that time, it was a good app with excellent introductory courses and some that were available if you subscribed. Now it's subscription only. As happens so often, when venture capitalists see an opportunity to swell their bank balances, they buy something that works, make it worse, and eventually kill the golden goose.
It started mostly free and slowly became paid. They used the classic trick in every industry: heavily invest and advertise, offer a great product, and gain a following/monopoly. Then, they slowly removed features to the point where nothing is free anymore. Now all sounds, sleepcasts, and wind-downs are locked behind a paywall. What a shame. 1 star.
5
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Does Headspace: Sleep & Meditate crash or freeze?
Recent reviews contain many complaints about Headspace crashing, freezing, loading forever, stalling, or going blank, especially after updates or after completing videos and sessions. Several reviewers still like the content, but say the app itself can be frustrating enough to undermine the calming purpose.
A prospective user should treat app stability as a real risk, not a minor edge case, based on these reviews.
Crashes often in the middle of a meditation. That's the most frustrating thing. There's also not a lot of new or innovative meditation content.
A buggy mess with a lot of good content. Theoretically, this App has lots of positive features from meditation, over podcasts & soundscapes to yoga & fitness. But when a PAID(!) meditation app frustrates you regularly, because it freezes, loads forever or gets stuck in a loop when you try to access your downloaded (!) content ( yes, some people are NOT always online, and that's what downloads should be for, right?!), then it kinda misses the point and might be the exact opposite of helpful. :/
This app is a really good app! It might be worth it to try permium benefits, but I have to adress the elephant in the room: crashes. The app keeps on crashinf from time to time, and it is a bit annoying having to open and close the app again and again. I hope this gets fixed.
6
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Can you use Headspace: Sleep & Meditate downloads offline?
The reviews do not support relying on Headspace downloads for offline use. Reviewers say downloaded sleep sounds or meditation content still failed without an internet connection, got stuck in loops, or could not be downloaded at all.
That matters especially for sleep use, where some users want to turn off internet or notifications at night but still play downloaded audio.
App doesn't load unless you are connected to the internet. What's the point of being able to download content if you still have to be connected to use it? I download sleep sounds to help me sleep, but I also like to turn internet on my phone off at night to avoid being disturbed by notifications etc. Now I can't do both.
A buggy mess with a lot of good content. Theoretically, this App has lots of positive features from meditation, over podcasts & soundscapes to yoga & fitness. But when a PAID(!) meditation app frustrates you regularly, because it freezes, loads forever or gets stuck in a loop when you try to access your downloaded (!) content ( yes, some people are NOT always online, and that's what downloads should be for, right?!), then it kinda misses the point and might be the exact opposite of helpful. :/
Interface has got complex and am unable to download any meditations or sleep casts. Either there's an error in the info tab appearing and hides it or it's completely gone, I'm not sure which
3
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Are there login or account access problems with Headspace: Sleep & Meditate?
Yes. Recent reviews describe failed logins, password resets that do not fix access, Google login errors, accounts being forced through the website, and paid content becoming locked even for subscribers. A few reviews also mention the app not opening or landing on a black “not found” screen.
If you have an old account, changed devices, or depend on paid access, the reviews suggest login reliability is an important concern to check before subscribing.
Downloaded the app, it says I have an old account, I reset my password - still cant log in, try logging in using the Google account button instead, still says theres an error. Having to uninstall without even being able to log in!
terrible, I have used headspace since it first came out and it was amazing but all it does is cause stress not sure what's happened but tonight was the last straw it locked me out of listening to things told me I needed to pay for a subscription that I already have, then logged me out and now I can't log in. Just going round in circles as there is no support
kept forcing me to log in via website then not logging in on the app.
3
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Is Headspace: Sleep & Meditate customer support helpful?
The recent support-related reviews are mostly negative. Reviewers describe voicemail lines, chatbots, email-only contact, delayed or absent replies, and unresolved access problems while paying for the app. One positive review praises the supportive team, but the detailed problem reports are a warning sign if you may need billing or login help.
Zero Technical Support - this app works most of the time and for that, 2 stars. But when you have an issue, like in my case, the option for 1 care button is frozen. There is no way to get support. All of the phone numbers are voicemail, all of the support lines are chatbots and after a month of asking for help and an appointment with a subscription, still nothing. What's the use of an app that is not triaged when issues occur?
Contacted customer service 5 days ago because I can't login to my account. I reset my password and still not letting me login. Please answer. I'm paying for This app... ------ worst customer service experience ever. still no reply. unable to sign in to your app.
Love the courses, guided meditations and the supportive team at Headspace
8
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Is Headspace: Sleep & Meditate easy to navigate and find meditations?
Navigation is a recurring complaint. Reviewers say Headspace has a lot of content, but that it can feel crowded, confusing, or harder to use after UI changes. Specific requests include better search filters, easier access to favorites or recent sessions, and a simpler way to return to saved meditations or sleepcasts.
The content library may be a strength for users who know exactly what they want, but the reviews suggest discovery and organization can be frustrating.
I've used this app on and off for a while and I do enjoy it. There's a lot to choose from, which is a double edged sword. It's great that there's a lot of content, but if I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, it feels overwhelming. I've also noticed that the app doesn't function properly after doing the mindful activity or The Wake Up, or save my meditation sessions properly. I've only used Ebb a few times, and I like that there's therapy if I need it, too. Overall, it's good, but crowded.
The content is very good, the app functionality is bad. Some of the teachers have voices which I personally can't meditate to, but there is no option to filter by teacher. If I search "stress" looking for a guided course, I cannot sort through the short videos, one-off sessions, or SOS videos, I have to scroll through everything. There is no structured interface. I am still upset that much of the content is unavailable through the website despite paying for the subscription (eg sleepcasts)
The app's fun design and judgement free meditations makes it easy to be consistent in my practice. However, I'd like it if things were more organised with search filters and dedicated pages for 'Favourites', etc. It is a bit hard to navigate easily due to the sheer volume of content there is. Oh and it could give more rewards like stars or badges to make it more encouraging!
4
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Is the meditation content in Headspace: Sleep & Meditate good?
Many reviewers separate the content from the app experience: they praise the meditations, courses, teachers, and long-term value, while still complaining about crashes, paywalls, or navigation. Positive reviews say Headspace helped them build a consistent practice or changed stressful moments.
So the fairest reading is that Headspace has content many users value, but recent reviews question whether the current app experience and subscription model make that content easy enough to access.
I made an account in 2017 and Headspace changed my life the way it was at that moment. I still have very distinct memories of being stressed out, but choosing to do a meditation on headspace and it totally changing the trajectory of that day. Life happened and I started using the app less and less. Now I wanted to get into meditation again but saw not only that Andy left, whose voice I will never forget, but they started using AI..... I cannot give more than 1 star. Get it together Headspace.
Ive been using this app for more than 2 years/6 to 7days a week. By far the best investment in time and money. Kudos to Andy
Love the courses, guided meditations and the supportive team at Headspace
3
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Why are some users upset about Ebb or AI in Headspace: Sleep & Meditate?
Headspace’s own description includes Ebb, an AI companion. Some recent reviewers do not like the AI direction: they say the app pushes Ebb, shifts focus away from meditation, or makes them consider canceling. Other reviewers mention trying Ebb without making it their main complaint.
If you want a traditional meditation app without AI prompts, these reviews suggest Headspace may feel different from its older version.
it's fine, but the app keeps trying to push the AI ebb feature on me so I unsubscribed.
Why do in have to click so many buttons to get to my sleepcasts? Also if you dont stop with the AI ima cancel.
I used to use this app regularly. but over time it's focus is really shifted away from meditation and into virtue signalling and AI help. the price has gone through the roof. it has destroyed any good will it created and is clearly just a money making tool at this point.
3
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Does Headspace: Sleep & Meditate work well for sleepcasts and sleep sounds?
Reviews are mixed but raise several sleep-specific problems: sleep sounds may require internet despite being downloaded, white-noise timers may reset or stop after updates, sleepcasts can be harder to find, and one reviewer wanted automatic transitions from wind down to sleep meditation to sleep sounds.
If you mainly want Headspace for nighttime use, the reviews suggest checking whether your sleep routine works reliably before depending on it.
Each time they update the app, it resets to its defaults - the meditation teacher, the length of the meditation; it also resets the length of the long-playing binaural beats or white noise timers. I love the app but having the orange noise stop repeatedly during the night is disrupting my sleep. They have also removed the Morning Wake Up from the main screen. I like to listen to it as I'm getting ready for bed. I have to go to the "Explore" tab to find it and they haven't added anything new.
The app would be far more useful if I didn't have to pick up a bright screen to transition from wind down to sleep meditation to sleep sounds. it's such a basic feature and should be easy enough to implement. it's baffling that it doesn't exist.
Why do in have to click so many buttons to get to my sleepcasts? Also if you dont stop with the AI ima cancel.
6
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Can you cancel Headspace: Sleep & Meditate or get money back after renewal?
The reviews include billing complaints from users who say they were charged after renewal or after canceling, and that customer service did not reverse the charge. The sample does not give a reliable step-by-step cancellation method, but it does show that renewal and refund disputes are a concern for some users.
Before starting a trial or subscription, it would be prudent to understand where the subscription is managed and when renewal happens, because reviewers describe frustration after charges were already taken.
Contacted customer service to cancel on day auto renewal was charged. It was my oversight not to turn it off but most companies reverse the charge when cancellation is requested in a reasonable timeframe. I'm upset as this is a service product and the cancellation is requested for the unused year ahead. They can only be contacted over email. The irony of a mindfulness app causing this agony is not lost on me.
theyll take your money AFTER you cancel
Locks the subscription during an update. I am not able to get in and it's a pain to try to get it unlocked. At this point I'm just about to cancel it, what a waste I was just charged for the monthly fee.
5
reviewers mentioned this in the last 60 days
Answers above are generated from real Google Play reviews of Headspace: Sleep & Meditate, not editorial opinion.