How We Feel vs Insight Timer
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
It's close: How We Feel edges it 8.9 to 8.8, so the right pick depends on what you need. How We Feel wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Insight Timer on 1.
Anyone who wants to understand their moods without paying or oversharing
Meditators who want endless free variety and a good silent timer
Score by score
The details
| Feature | How We Feel | Insight Timer |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Mind & Focus | Mind & Focus |
| Category rank | #2 of 11 | #3 of 11 |
| Developer | The How We Feel Project | Insight Network Inc. |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is How We Feel better than Insight Timer?
It's close: How We Feel edges it 8.9 to 8.8, so the right pick depends on what you need. How We Feel wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Insight Timer on 1.
Which is cheaper, How We Feel or Insight Timer?
How We Feel: Free; made by a nonprofit funded by donations. Insight Timer: Free library; Insight Premium $9.99/month or $59.99/year. On value for money, How We Feel scores higher.
Do How We Feel and Insight Timer work on the same devices?
Only Insight Timer runs on Web.
Which is more private, How We Feel or Insight Timer?
How We Feel scores higher on privacy (9.2/10). The developer says your data stays on your device unless you opt in to share anonymized check-ins for research. App Store label: contact info, identifiers and other data may be linked to you.
Strengths and weaknesses
How We Feel
- Completely free, from a nonprofit
- Data stays on your device by default
- Strategies take a minute or two
- Android version is rated lower than iOS
- Not a substitute for professional care
How We Feel helps you find the exact word for a feeling, which makes it easier to act on. It was conceived with Yale's Center for Emotional Intelligence, and it links your check-ins to sleep, exercise and other Apple Health trends so patterns show up over time. Short video strategies can shift a bad moment in about a minute, and you can share feelings with close friends. It's free and keeps data on your device by default.
Full How We Feel review
Insight Timer
- Most of the library is free and ad-free
- Customizable timer with interval bells
- Wide variety of teachers, traditions and lengths
- Quality varies a lot between teachers
- Busy interface with frequent upsells
- Links a lot of personal data to your account
Insight Timer is the best free meditation app by a wide margin. Its library holds hundreds of thousands of free guided meditations, sleep tracks, talks and music, plus yoga, Pilates and breathwork, and its customizable timer suits people who sit in silence. The variety is also the weakness: quality is uneven and you have to find your own path. Insight Premium adds courses and offline listening.
Full Insight Timer review
