I Tested 12 Timer Apps. Here's What's Worth It (2026)

I’ve tested dozens of meditation timer apps. Most promise simplicity but deliver subscription paywalls, cluttered interfaces, or bells that sound like alarm clocks.

Here’s what I’ve learned: The best meditation timer for you depends on whether you want just a timer, or a timer plus something else (guided meditations, community, journaling, AI guidance).

This comparison covers the top 5 meditation timer apps in 2026, with honest assessments of what each does well and where they fall short.

Related: How to Use a Meditation Timer | StillMind Meditation Timer

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Quick Comparison Table

Feature	StillMind	Insight Timer	Calm	Headspace	Plum Village
Timer Cost	Free forever	Free forever	Free (basic)	Premium only	Free forever
Monthly Price	$9.99 (AI features)	$9.99 (content)	$16.99	$12.99	Free (donations)
Bell Types	10+ authentic	10+ (hundreds premium)	Basic	Limited	3 traditional
Interval Bells	Yes, customizable	5 sec to 30 min	1 min to 8 hrs	Limited	Yes
Offline Mode	Yes	Yes	Yes	Partial	Yes
Journal Integration	Yes (unique)	Stats only	No	No	No
Voice Notes	During session	No	No	No	No
Presets	Yes	Unlimited	No	Yes	No
Best For	Personalised Guided Meditations + Insights + Free Timer	Free content library	Sleep stories	Structured courses	Buddhist tradition

TLDR Recommendations:

• Best free timer with journal: StillMind (free forever, captures insights)
• Best free timer with content: Insight Timer (120K+ guided meditations)
• Best for personalised guided meditations: StillMind (AI-powered meditations adapt to your needs)
• Best for capturing insights: StillMind (voice notes during sessions, no need to break focus)
• Best for sleep: Calm (Sleep Stories trump timer features)
• Best for beginners: Headspace (structured courses) or StillMind (AI guidance)
• Most authentic: Plum Village (Buddhist tradition, non-commercial)

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Photo by Omid Armin on Unsplash

What Makes a Great Meditation Timer?

Before diving into specific apps, here’s what actually matters:

Must-Have Features:

• Customizable duration (not just presets)
• Quality bell sounds (singing bowls, not alarm clock beeps)
• Interval bells (optional posture checks or technique transitions)
• Offline functionality (meditation shouldn’t require WiFi)
• Screen-off operation (timer runs while phone sleeps)

Nice-to-Have Features:

• Session presets (save common durations)
• Journal/notes integration
• Practice statistics
• Multiple bell sound options
• Volume control

Deal-Breakers:

• Timer locked behind paywall
• Intrusive notifications
• No offline mode
• Poor audio quality

With that context, let’s compare the actual apps.

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1. StillMind: Timer + Journal + Voice Notes

Try StillMind Timer →

Overview: StillMind positions its timer as the core free feature, with optional AI guidance for premium users. The unique differentiator is journal integration and voice notes during meditation.

Timer Features

Duration:

• Any custom length
• Saved presets from your session history
• Auto-logs to journal when bell rings

Bells:

• 10+ authentic sounds (singing bowls, temple bells, gongs)
• Customizable opening and closing bells
• Interval bells at any frequency
• Independent volume control

What Makes It Different:

1. Journal Integration Every timer session creates a journal entry. After the closing bell, you can immediately capture:

• How the session felt
• Insights that arose
• Practice quality notes

No other timer app connects sessions to reflection this seamlessly.

2. Voice Notes During Meditation Here’s the game-changer: While meditating, speak thoughts out loud and they’re captured as voice notes.

Why this matters:

• No breaking focus to write something down
• No stress about trying to remember insights
• Complete peace of mind that thoughts are saved

You can review voice notes after the session in your journal.

3. Free Forever Promise The timer will never be paywalled. StillMind only charges for:

• AI-guided meditations ($9.99/month)
• Voice-to-text journaling
• Advanced features (geolocation on sessions)

Core timer features stay free permanently.

Strengths

✅ Only timer with built-in journaling ✅ Voice notes during sessions (completely unique) ✅ Free forever guarantee (no bait-and-switch) ✅ Works completely offline ✅ Clean, distraction-free interface ✅ Optional AI guidance when you need it

Limitations

❌ Smaller bell sound library than Insight Timer ❌ No community features (yet) ❌ Newer app (less track record than established competitors)

Best For

• Practitioners who journal after sessions
• People who have insights during meditation and want to capture them
• Anyone wanting a free timer with optional AI guidance
• Users tired of paywalls on basic features

Pricing

• Timer: Free forever
• Premium: $9.99/month (AI meditations, voice-to-text journaling, advanced features)
• Platforms: iOS, Android

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2. Insight Timer: Free Content Powerhouse

Overview: Insight Timer offers the largest free meditation library globally (120,000+ guided meditations) plus a fully functional free timer. The community features and teacher network are unmatched.

Timer Features

Duration:

• Any custom length
• Unlimited saved presets
• Offline functionality

Bells:

• 10 bell types (free)
• Hundreds of premium bell sounds (MemberPlus)
• Interval bells from 5 seconds to 30 minutes
• Random interval mode (bells at unpredictable times)

Ambient Sounds:

• 19 free options (ocean waves, Zen guitar, Om, rain, birds)
• Hundreds of premium ambient tracks

Customization:

• Multiple interval bells at different time points
• Individual volume sliders per bell
• 1, 2, or 3 strikes per bell

Strengths

✅ Completely free timer (no feature limitations) ✅ Largest free content library (120K+ guided meditations) ✅ Massive community (27M+ users, discussion groups, live events) ✅ 22,000+ teachers (Tara Brach, Sharon Salzberg, Mooji) ✅ Works fully offline ✅ Highly customizable intervals

Limitations

❌ No journal integration (only session stats) ❌ No voice notes during meditation ❌ Interface can feel cluttered (so many features) ❌ Premium content marketing can feel pushy

Best For

• Free content seekers who want guided meditations + timer
• Community-oriented practitioners who value group features
• Variety lovers who want access to thousands of teachers
• Advanced customizers who want granular interval control

Pricing

• Free: Full timer, 120K+ meditations, community features
• MemberPlus: $9.99/month or $59.99/year (premium sounds, offline downloads, courses)
• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web

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3. Calm: Sleep-Focused with Basic Timer

Overview: Calm is known for Sleep Stories narrated by celebrities (Harry Styles, Matthew McConaughey). The timer exists but isn’t a focus.

Timer Features

Duration:

• Custom lengths
• Unguided/silent meditation option

Bells:

• Basic interval bells (1 minute to 8 hours)
• Limited customization compared to competitors

What It’s Actually Good At:

• Sleep Stories (500+ with celebrity narrators)
• Guided meditation programs
• Masterclasses with wellness experts
• Kids content (Peppa Pig, Minions sleep stories)

Strengths

✅ Timer is free (not paywalled) ✅ Best sleep content (Sleep Stories are excellent) ✅ High production quality ✅ Family plan available

Limitations

❌ Timer isn’t a primary feature (minimal customization) ❌ Expensive ($16.99/month) ❌ No journal integration ❌ No voice notes ❌ Timer overshadowed by guided content

Best For

• Sleep-focused users who occasionally want a timer
• Celebrity content fans (Sleep Stories are the real product)
• Families (kids content is extensive)

Pricing

• Free: Basic timer with intervals, one breathing exercise daily
• Premium: $16.99/month or $69.99/year
• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web

Honest Take: If you’re primarily looking for a meditation timer, Calm isn’t the best choice. If you want sleep content and happen to occasionally need a timer, it’s fine.

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4. Headspace: Structured Courses, Timer for Advanced Users

Overview: Headspace positions itself as meditation education with structured courses. The timer is treated as a feature for experienced meditators who’ve completed the guided programs.

Timer Features

Duration:

• 5 minutes to 2 hours
• Three modes: guided, semi-guided, unguided

Bells:

• Available but limited customization
• Less robust than Insight Timer or StillMind

Offline:

• Can download some content for offline use
• Not all sessions available offline (Everyday Headspace requires internet)

Strengths

✅ Excellent for beginners learning meditation fundamentals ✅ Structured progression (Basics → Pro courses) ✅ Corporate wellness programs (workplace focus) ✅ Move Mode (workout videos with mindfulness) ✅ Mental health support (therapists, coaches, AI companion)

Limitations

❌ Timer requires premium subscription ($12.99/month) ❌ Limited timer customization vs competitors ❌ Positioned for advanced users (not beginners wanting timer) ❌ Some users report billing issues (auto-renewal problems)

Best For

• Complete beginners who want structured learning
• Corporate users (workplace wellness programs)
• Education-focused practitioners (not just timer users)

Pricing

• Free Trial: 7-14 days
• Premium: $12.99/month or $69.99/year (timer requires premium)
• Student Discount: 85% off
• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web

Honest Take: Headspace excels at teaching meditation but isn’t the best choice if you primarily want a timer. Consider Headspace for courses, then use StillMind or Insight Timer for daily practice.

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5. Plum Village: Authentic Buddhist Tradition

Overview: Created by the Plum Village monastic community (Thich Nhat Hanh’s tradition), this app offers authentic Buddhist mindfulness teachings with zero commercial agenda.

Timer Features

Duration:

• Customizable start/end times
• Repeat daily option

Bells:

• 3 traditional Buddhist bell sounds (actual Plum Village monastery bells)
• Three-bell pattern: opening, intervals, two closing bells

Customization:

• Adjustable interval frequency
• Volume control
• Simple, focused interface

Content Beyond Timer

• 100+ guided meditations from Thich Nhat Hanh
• 300+ video sessions
• Children’s meditations (15 specifically for kids)
• Nature sounds recorded at Plum Village monastery

Strengths

✅ Completely free (donation-optional, no ads) ✅ Authentic Buddhist tradition (not commercialized) ✅ Volunteer-built (reflects monastic values) ✅ Works fully offline ✅ Simple, clean interface ✅ Supports monastic community (not venture capital)

Limitations

❌ Limited bell customization (only 3 sounds) ❌ Fewer interval options than competitors ❌ Smaller content library (though high quality) ❌ No journal integration ❌ No voice notes

Best For

• Plum Village practitioners (obviously)
• Users seeking authentic Buddhist teachings (not secular mindfulness)
• People tired of commercial meditation apps
• Minimalists who want simplicity over features
• Families (children’s meditations)

Pricing

• Free forever (all features)
• Donations welcome (supports monastery)
• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web

Honest Take: If you value authentic Buddhist tradition over feature quantity, Plum Village offers something special. The bells sound like actual monastery bells because they are.

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Head-to-Head: How to Choose

StillMind vs Insight Timer

Choose StillMind if:

• You journal after meditation and want integration
• You have insights during sessions (voice notes)
• You want optional AI guidance
• You prefer clean, focused interface

Choose Insight Timer if:

• You want access to massive free content library (120K+ meditations)
• Community features matter (groups, friends, live events)
• You want maximum bell/sound customization
• You don’t need journaling

Or use both: Insight Timer for guided content, StillMind timer for self-guided practice with journaling.

StillMind vs Calm

Choose StillMind if:

• You primarily want a meditation timer (Calm’s timer is basic)
• You journal after sessions
• You want voice notes during meditation
• You don’t need sleep content

Choose Calm if:

• Sleep Stories are your main interest
• You want celebrity-narrated content
• Timer is secondary (just nice to have)

Reality check: These apps serve different needs. Calm is a sleep/wellness app that happens to have a timer. StillMind is a meditation app where the timer is central.

StillMind vs Headspace

Choose StillMind if:

• You want a free timer (Headspace timer requires premium)
• You’re past the beginner phase (already know how to meditate)
• You want journal integration and voice notes
• You prefer pay-for-AI vs pay-for-courses model

Choose Headspace if:

• You’re completely new to meditation (structured courses excel)
• Corporate wellness program covers subscription
• You value educational progression
• Timer is less important than learning

StillMind vs Plum Village

Choose StillMind if:

• You want journal integration and voice notes
• You need more bell customization options
• Optional AI guidance appeals to you
• You want session statistics

Choose Plum Village if:

• You value authentic Buddhist tradition
• You prefer non-commercial, donation-based model
• Simple 3-bell setup is enough
• You want Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings

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Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash

The Features That Actually Matter

After using all five apps extensively, here’s what I’ve learned matters most:

1. Free vs Paywalled Timer

Free Forever:

• StillMind
• Insight Timer
• Plum Village

Free (but basic):

• Calm

Premium Required:

• Headspace

My take: Basic timer functionality should be free. It’s literally a countdown with a bell. Paywalling this feels wrong.

2. Journal Integration

Only StillMind offers this.

Every other app treats meditation sessions as isolated events. StillMind connects each timer session to a journal entry, so you can:

• Note what technique you practiced
• Capture insights immediately after
• Track what’s working over time
• Build self-awareness through reflection

If you journal after meditation, this alone makes StillMind worth trying.

3. Voice Notes During Meditation

Also unique to StillMind.

Traditional approach: Have insight → Try to remember → Break focus to write it down → Lose the meditation state.

StillMind approach: Have insight → Speak it out loud → Return to practice → Review voice notes after session.

This is surprisingly powerful. You can stay in meditation while capturing thoughts that matter.

4. Content Library Size

Winner: Insight Timer (120,000+ free guided meditations)

If you want variety and free guided content, nothing beats Insight Timer’s massive library.

But here’s the thing: Do you actually need 120,000 options? Or do you keep scrolling through content instead of meditating?

Consider whether content quantity helps or hinders your practice.

5. Community Features

Winner: Insight Timer (27M users, discussion groups, live events)

If community motivates you, Insight Timer’s social features are unmatched.

Reality check: Most people don’t use community features regularly. Ask yourself if this matters to your actual practice.

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Common Questions

Which meditation timer app is completely free?

Three apps offer completely free timer features:

• StillMind: Free timer forever (only charges for AI features)
• Insight Timer: Free timer + 120K guided meditations (premium adds sounds/courses)
• Plum Village: Everything free (donation-optional)

Calm’s timer is free but basic. Headspace requires premium subscription.

Can meditation timer apps work offline?

Yes, all five apps work offline:

• StillMind: Fully offline
• Insight Timer: Timer works offline (guided content requires downloads)
• Calm: Timer works offline
• Headspace: Limited (can download some content, not all)
• Plum Village: Works offline after downloading content

What’s the best meditation timer for iPhone?

All five apps are available on iOS. Best choice depends on your needs:

• Best free with journaling: StillMind
• Best free with content: Insight Timer
• Best for beginners: Headspace (premium) or StillMind (free AI option)
• Best for sleep: Calm

Do I need a meditation timer app or can I use my phone’s clock?

You can absolutely use your phone’s clock. But a dedicated timer app offers:

• Gentle bells (not alarm clock sounds)
• Interval bells for technique transitions
• Automatic session logging
• No risk of notifications interrupting
• Practice statistics over time

If you meditate occasionally, your clock is fine. If you meditate regularly, a dedicated timer improves the experience.

Which app has the best bell sounds?

Insight Timer has the most options (hundreds with premium). StillMind has 10+ authentic bells (singing bowls, temple bells, gongs). Plum Village has 3 traditional Buddhist monastery bells. Calm and Headspace have basic bells.

Honestly, once you find a bell you like, quantity stops mattering. Most people stick with one or two favorite sounds.

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My Honest Recommendation

After months of testing, here’s what I actually use:

Daily practice: StillMind timer (free)

• Voice notes capture insights without breaking focus
• Journal integration helps me track what’s working
• Clean interface doesn’t distract
• Free forever (no subscription anxiety)

Learning new techniques: Insight Timer (free)

• Massive guided content library
• Different teachers offer different approaches
• Free access to variety

Sleep: Calm (premium)

• Sleep Stories with celebrity voices actually work
• High production quality

Reality check: I don’t use Headspace or Plum Village regularly, though both serve their audiences well. Headspace excels for beginners learning meditation fundamentals. Plum Village offers authentic Buddhist tradition without commercial pressure.

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Final Thoughts: It’s About Your Practice, Not Features

Here’s what I’ve learned testing dozens of meditation apps:

More features don’t equal better practice.

The app that helps you actually sit down and meditate consistently is the right choice, even if it has fewer features than competitors.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want just a timer, or timer + something else?
• Do I journal after meditation? (StillMind)
• Do I want free guided content variety? (Insight Timer)
• Am I learning meditation for the first time? (Headspace)
• Do I value authentic Buddhist tradition? (Plum Village)
• Do I primarily need sleep help? (Calm)

My bias: I built StillMind because I wanted a timer that captured insights without breaking meditation flow. The journal integration and voice notes solved problems I experienced with other apps.

But I still use Insight Timer for guided content. I recommend Headspace to complete beginners. I respect Plum Village’s non-commercial approach.

Try this: Download 2-3 apps. Use each for a week. Notice which interface feels most natural. Pay attention to which app you actually open consistently.

The best meditation timer isn’t the one with the most features. It’s the one that supports your actual practice without getting in the way.

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Related Reading:

• How to Use a Meditation Timer: Complete Guide
• Best Meditation Timer for ADHD
• AI Meditation for Beginners
• Voice Notes During Meditation

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Have you tried multiple meditation timer apps? What features matter most to your practice? Every meditator’s needs are different—what works for you might not work for everyone, and that’s okay.