I really like the methods and philosophy of the Waking Up app by Sam Harris. I think it’s a great resource for those who want to try meditation, without any connotations of religion attached to it. This is my attempt at spreading the word.

The app has a unique pricing model that I haven’t seen anyone else offer. They offer the app for free to anyone who asks. Here’s the poicy in Sam’s own words (captured from their video). I couldn’t find this written anywhere on their website, so I typed it up and published it here.

So I want to take a moment to explain our business philosophy.

Our intent is for everyone who wants access to all the content on the app to have it.

So while we’re running a business, we believe that money should never be the reason why someone can’t gain access to Waking Up. We also don’t want you to feel you’re risking anything by subscribing.

So here’s our pricing policy: if you can’t afford a subscription, just request a free account.

You can do this directly at wakingup.com. There’s a “request a free account” link or, you can contact support within the app, or you can send an email to [email protected]. And if you do one of these things, will provide you with a free year on the app.

And if you’re uncertain about whether this policy applies to you, here’s how I think about it. If subscribing to Waking Up will prevent you from spending money on something else, in other words, if you have to do the math to see how the cost of a membership can fit into your life, please don’t do that. This free policy is for you.

I don’t want anyone’s subscription to Waking Up to be a source of financial stress. And I consider myself immensely lucky to be running a digital business where we can have a policy like this. And this policy is not for the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been our policy since the day we launched. So the only judge of whether you can afford a subscription is you.

We don’t ask any questions, and we grant 100 per cent of these requests. And if your luck hasn’t changed at the end of your first year, just ask for another one.

For everyone else a subscription to Waking Up is truly risk-free. If you don’t find the app valuable, just contact support, and will give you a full refund, again, no questions asked.

So whatever your financial situation, there’s no reason not to fully explore Waking Up to see how it impacts your life.

So I encourage you to just start with the Introductory Course, and feel free to go at your own pace. And needless to say, you can always go back and repeat sessions as many times as you want. And please realize there’s a world of difference between practicing, even only occasionally, and not practicing at all.

Once again, welcome to Waking Up, and I want to thank you in advance for the effort you put in here. I think you’ll find that it’s worth it.