Review Insights · App Store
Headspace: Sleep & Meditation
Headspace Inc. · 973,990 ratings · ★ 4.8
4.8
★★★★★
973,990 ratings
🎯 Build a better version
Top complaints - extracted from 73 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"years"
13 negative reviews mention this · 18% of all complaints
★★★★★ "not worth it. I used this app for years. took a long break from it and redownloaded it recently only to find absolutely everything has ben blocked off with a subscription. the app is completely useless now. It was nice a great tool I used in my daily lif…" - lovvamp
2
"meditation"
13 negative reviews mention this · 18% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Notifications are all or none. Please enable a way to disable all notifications except meditation reminders. This is how I have the settings, but I get other notifications about health checks and other spam notifications I don’t want." - orbhot
3
"headspace"
11 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "This app has gone downhill. I initially used Headspace when I started meditating over a decade ago. I stopped for a few years because I couldn’t afford the increased pricing. I decided to download it again recently (Spring 2026) for another trial period and was so dis…" - Blo$$0m$$900####£€¥
4
"update"
11 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Crashed. The app is great bur with the update it’s not working at all anymore. It won’t even load." - Jmc2685
5
"every"
10 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "not worth it. I used this app for years. took a long break from it and redownloaded it recently only to find absolutely everything has ben blocked off with a subscription. the app is completely useless now. It was nice a great tool I used in my daily lif…" - lovvamp
6
"free"
10 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Data harvesting scam. Not able to delete my account without cancelling a subscription. My “free” subscription expires in 3 years. Response from support was, “sorry, but we’ll be happy to help you in 2029!” Do not sign up for this if you value your privacy." - TimTomsDroopyDrawers
7
"find"
9 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "not worth it. I used this app for years. took a long break from it and redownloaded it recently only to find absolutely everything has ben blocked off with a subscription. the app is completely useless now. It was nice a great tool I used in my daily lif…" - lovvamp
8
"subscription"
9 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "not worth it. I used this app for years. took a long break from it and redownloaded it recently only to find absolutely everything has ben blocked off with a subscription. the app is completely useless now. It was nice a great tool I used in my daily lif…" - lovvamp
9
"money"
9 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Not Great. Better apps have got to exist, right?! Interface was not intuitive, and content was difficult to find again after listening to once (unless you “favorited” it). For the price, this is not the introduction to meditation that I’d hoped it was…" - ZenNewb
10
"content"
8 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Can’t even log in. Tried direct SSO and two different platforms including Google and Facebook and keep getting a “failure to authenticate” error even after allowing me to reset my password. Tried both the application and website - both give the same errors. A…" - Targeting Pro
11
"upgrade"
8 negative reviews mention this · 11% of all complaints
★★★★★ "No longer works. I updated the app and go into the app and it keeps telling me to upgrade the app to use it." - Ouka Demise
📋 All 73 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
not worth it
I used this app for years. took a long break from it and redownloaded it recently only to find absolutely everything has ben blocked off with a subscription. the app is completely useless now. It was nice a great tool I used in my daily life for anxiety and insomnia. Now it’s become a subscription only app. extremely disappointing.
Paywall
This app used to be great. I returned to it today after some time away only to find the entire app locked behind a pay wall. So much for easy stress relief!
Can’t even log in
Tried direct SSO and two different platforms including Google and Facebook and keep getting a “failure to authenticate” error even after allowing me to reset my password. Tried both the application and website - both give the same errors. App making you more stressed is not helpful and no accessible link to go to contact or help signing in so here it is in a review - cannot even access content.
AI doesn’t belong in mental health care
Preface: Yes I understand that this app isn’t a substitute for medical care.
AI therapy is incredibly harmful, it enables dangerous behaviors. Not only is it in the unavoidable ai therapy model in this app but it’s also rampant in the voices. Not all of them are human. The scripts are not all human. The titles, art, etc are so clearly AI. Robots should not be allowed to give human care. Only other humans understand what truly needs to be said. This app is AI slop. You’re better off doing classic meditation techniques.
AI therapy is incredibly harmful, it enables dangerous behaviors. Not only is it in the unavoidable ai therapy model in this app but it’s also rampant in the voices. Not all of them are human. The scripts are not all human. The titles, art, etc are so clearly AI. Robots should not be allowed to give human care. Only other humans understand what truly needs to be said. This app is AI slop. You’re better off doing classic meditation techniques.
This app has gone downhill
I initially used Headspace when I started meditating over a decade ago. I stopped for a few years because I couldn’t afford the increased pricing. I decided to download it again recently (Spring 2026) for another trial period and was so disappointed. Now the app is busy, not focused on the simplicity of mindfulness and meditation. The worst thing is that it now pushes its AI chatbot, “Ebb.” AI chatbots can be very harmful, and it is honestly upsetting to see a meditation app encourage people to share their thoughts with an AI. Two stars instead of one because it didn’t always suck.
Disappointing
This used to be my favorite app. Now with the overwhelming amount of AI and absolutely ridiculous and annoying pop ups this app is getting deleted. Congrats instead of lowering my heart rate I have increased my rage. Why is it that I HAVE to chat with a coach every time I open the app? GOD FORBID A GIRL WANTS TO DO A BREATHING EXERCISE IN A MOMENT OF PANIC BUT NOOOOOOOOOO SHE HAS TO TAKE A QUIZ TO TALK TO A COACH SHE DOESNT EVEN WANT AND CANT DISABLE THIS FEATURE. Absolutely ANNOYING. Get it together. I am switching to the calm app.
Inconvenient
Inconvenient to have to log into my account every single time I open the app and it won’t even let me autofill the email/password.
Crashed
The app is great bur with the update it’s not working at all anymore. It won’t even load.
Data harvesting scam
Not able to delete my account without cancelling a subscription. My “free” subscription expires in 3 years. Response from support was, “sorry, but we’ll be happy to help you in 2029!”
Do not sign up for this if you value your privacy.
Do not sign up for this if you value your privacy.
Quit messing with the Today format
I love the daily Headspace Today routine of 1 min breathing, the Wake Up, and mediation.
It’s annoying to see the format placement of this changed, again, as it’s less obvious to select anything but the meditation.
The format of easing into the Today meditation is what is missing. It makes the breathing and Wake Up sections as afterthoughts…disappointing.
It’s annoying to see the format placement of this changed, again, as it’s less obvious to select anything but the meditation.
The format of easing into the Today meditation is what is missing. It makes the breathing and Wake Up sections as afterthoughts…disappointing.
Using AI
Cancelled as soon as i saw the new AI feature. Very irresponsible given how we’ve seen AI act in these sensitive situations.
Wtf
Why not just make the app cost money at this point…
Paywall city
Back in my day there was tons of free stuff. Then only one lesson per section. I checked back today and there’s nothing. Tragic.
Cheaters - billing scam
Terrible billing experience.
I canceled my Headspace subscription during the trial period, as allowed, and still got charged a few days later. That is unacceptable.
A company promoting mental wellness should not create stress through questionable billing practices. Be careful before starting the trial and keep proof of cancellation.
I canceled my Headspace subscription during the trial period, as allowed, and still got charged a few days later. That is unacceptable.
A company promoting mental wellness should not create stress through questionable billing practices. Be careful before starting the trial and keep proof of cancellation.
Loss Quality After Free Trial
My app hasn’t worked the same after I started paying a subscription. I can’t listen to sleep casts, as the audio is bugged and the narrator is missing. Bluetooth speaker never coperates.
Lousy customer service
I subscribed to Headspace in February. I had also subscribed about five years ago. In March, Headspace connected me to that old lapsed subscription. I couldn’t get in with my new password. To access Headspace I would need to buy a new subscription. I put in a ticket but this fell through the cracks, evidently. I would warn anyone whoever ever had a subscription that lapsed to choose another meditation app. This one might get you mixed up with your old subscription and you won’t be able to get any help. Actually, that’s true for any potential subscriber.
You won’t get help.
It’s also not calming English accents anymore. Used to be Andy, now a bunch of mostly Americans.
You won’t get help.
It’s also not calming English accents anymore. Used to be Andy, now a bunch of mostly Americans.
Nothing usable without subscription
Garbage app
Very bad
This is probably the most worst app I’ve ever came across of it makes you pay $65 per day for absolutely nothing just to meditate and take deep breaths. This is by far the worst app I’ve ever came across of because it makes you pay for every single thing. Can’t even do anything on this app.
Meditation should be Free
Crazy to think you guys are helping the world when you put up a pay wall to get help.
Auto downloads
Headspace is repeatedly downloading even after I delete?
I can’t find anything free
This is horrible like you have to pay $69 a month almost 70 and I can’t even find anything on there. Just honestly just made me more stressed out.
DO NOT GET
This game is horrible! Do not get! You have to pay for everything and there’s so many bugs! (Saying this as an 8yro
Ai slop- no longer worth subscribing
This company used to support human health. Now they push Ai garbage. Do not subscribe.
Used to love, UI ruined it
This app used to be my favorite. They changed the user interface and now it feel chaotic, hard to find and keep track of progress, too many new options. Just feels confusing and because of this I rarely use. Not sure why they haven’t changed it back seeing all the terrible reviews of the new updates. If it wasn’t broke, as they say. Super disappointed as there is so much good content here hidden behind the terrible user interface.
awful
can’t even open the app without an ad popping up to spend more money
Can't even open it
Yet another stupid app that lets me create an account, then when I try to log in to THE ACCOUNT I JUST CREATED tells me that an account is already associated with my email address. I try resetting the password, it still will not let me log in. So dumb.
Profit-driven😐
I used to use Headspace when I was younger back when it was free. I have been experiencing a lot of anxiety recently and was hoping to get back into meditation. However, there is now not a single session that you can access without paying for an account. It is crazy that this company is trying to profit off of people’s mental illnesses. I’m really disappointed.
Calm is so much better.
Why would you not have a shut off feature after listening to a sleep story. Instead it just stays on and drains your battery. Their solution is just wake up and turn off the app. So now you are not sleeping. 🤦♀️. Horrible set up. Wish my work paid for a reasonable and considerate app.
Greedy
Literally nothing is free. To use anything they make you do a trial of their paid service. I can get all of this on YoutTube, why would I pay for it? Greedy greedy greedy.
Broken
New update broke the app. Now you’re stuck going from the update screen to the iOS store and back again.. guess I’ll just stare at the ceiling for $10 a month. Now that it’s been fixed, I’m struggling to get to where I was previously - new AI voices are not calming, or relatable. I’m struggling with the new product.. a lot. If anyone who works here sees this, don’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg
Content is good but app quality took a nosedive
The content is actually good with the guided meditations being very well made, but the technical aspect of the app really got worse over the years: slower app, problems syncing progress, and problems even loading the app. Honestly a disservice to the coaches who make this app.
Everything costs money.
Okay. I was having anxiety, so i downloaded this app so I could get help and tips for regulating it. It was free to download, but then you discover that you have to subscribe to acsess anything. If it’s free to download, the stuff inside it should he free too. Everybody who downlods this app probably needs help with anxiety or stress. You shouldn’t charge people for the help if it;s a free download. I would give this app 0 stars if I could.
App auto downloading to Iphone
I have been deleting this app and it gets auto downloaded which is serious security breach
Too pricey
You have to pay lots of money JUST TO STOP YOUR STRESS. Very annoying .
Stop with the 40% off pup up!
I’m so tired of this every time I open the app, plus I ALREADY SUBSCRIBED FOR A YEAR!
Mandatory “Check In”
I used to love this app. I used it for over a decade and have recommended it to dozens of people. They came out with a mandatory check in a number of months ago and it’s terrible, I’d be fine with it if it were 2-3 questions, but it’s quite lengthy and required every time you log in and I just don’t have the time for it. I, like most people I think, have a hard enough time to squeeze meditation into a busy day, why complicate it?
No longer works
I updated the app and go into the app and it keeps telling me to upgrade the app to use it.
Features vs bugs
The app seems great, but the first time I did a sleep meditation, I woke up in the middle of the night to the phone screen still on. I contacted the app developers and I was told that’s a feature not a bug and I needed to manually turn off my phone when the meditation was done. I like sleep meditations because they help me fall asleep-and I find it useless if I have to be awake to turn off my phone at the end. It’s a baffling design choice.
Can’t open.
Using app fine for years. Upgraded and it won’t open. Annoying.
Bad Engineer, BAD
I went to open this paid app. It told me I must update and sent me to the App Store. The App Store updated the app and offered me the option to open the app.
I click open. Headspace tells me I must update and sends me back to the App Store. The App Store only gives me the option to open the app. I try again. Headspace tells me I must update again. And so on.
Unable to update because I’ve already updated and Headspace’s own app can’t recognize that 🤦🏻♀️
I click open. Headspace tells me I must update and sends me back to the App Store. The App Store only gives me the option to open the app. I try again. Headspace tells me I must update again. And so on.
Unable to update because I’ve already updated and Headspace’s own app can’t recognize that 🤦🏻♀️
SCAM SERVICE AND 7 DAY FREE TRIAL
I signed up for the 7 day free trial today and was charged today for that free trial before the trial even began!
Upgrade downgraded it
The app stopped working after the mandatory upgrade. Stuck on upgrade/ open cycle
So many bugs
4 years of using this app nearly every day. It’s good, but It makes my itch there are so many bugs in this app. And please just let me download the sleep casts so I can listen to them on the airplane or without WiFi at night. Please!
App Won’t Open
Since the most recent update I cannot get the app to load. It says “upgrade” which takes me to the App Store where there is no additional update, only an open button. Click the open button and it goes back to the screen that says upgrade. I’m paying for this app. It would be great if I could use it! Please fix this buggy “upgrade”!
New upgrade broke the app
The new version of the app doesn’t work. It tells you to upgrade when you are already on the latest version. This used to be a 5 star app, but now it is a 0 star app because they shipped a broken update. DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY!
The updates doesn’t register
This is so stupid, I’ve already downloaded the updated version but the app doesn’t register it, it just keeps brining me back to the App Store and then back to the upgrade page in the app- you didn’t fix anything you broke it
What the h…!?
App is stuck in an “update” cycle from HELL! Every time I launch it, it wants me to update it. I did! App store’s only option is “open” which only sends me back to the HELLISH “Shiny and new” latest version update screen. This is supposed to be a calming app, but it makes me INSANE! I’d throw my phone against the wall, but that wouldn’t just target this mess of an app!!
Update and won’t open
Must do better job. Force an update and now the app won’t open. Do better
Pointlessly Complex Setup
Supposedly had “free” access through Cigna - after wasting over an hour talking to AI “assistance” emails to gain access, I gave up. Maybe the app is great but I couldn’t get in and grew tired of being tortured with 10+ step setup process.
This app will not go away!
I have tried to delete this app from my phone several times and every time it reinstalls itself. Invasive species!
+ 23 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
97%
Positive (4-5★)
2%
Neutral (3★)
1%
Negative (1-2★)