Brandwave

Insight Timer vs Waking Up:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Insight Timer had more branded searches than Waking Up among meditation apps worldwide. Insight Timer had about 86,800 branded searches, while Waking Up had 6,600. Insight Timer made up 33.5% of all meditation app searches we track, and Waking Up accounted for 2.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about meditation apps, Insight Timer appeared in all five answers and Waking Up in three. Insight Timer was mentioned before Waking Up in every answer.

Among meditation apps worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Insight Timer, about 13 searches for every 1 for Waking Up

Insight Timer 86.8K searchesWaking Up 6.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Insight Timer, mentioned in every answer we collected

Insight Timer in 5 of 5Waking Up in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Insight Timer, named ahead of Waking Up in every answer

Insight Timer first in 5Waking Up never first

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Top meditation apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Insight Timer appeared in all five answers. Waking Up was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Insight Timer was listed before Waking Up in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Headspace1st
  2. Calm2nd
  3. Insight Timer3rd
  4. Waking Up4th
  5. Healthy Minds Program5th
  6. Medito6th
  7. Smiling Mind7th
  8. Balance8th
  9. BetterSleep–
  10. Happier–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Calm5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Insight Timer5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Headspace5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Waking Up3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Medito3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Healthy Minds Program3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Smiling Mind1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Balance1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • BetterSleep0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Happier0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about meditation apps

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Insight Timer or Waking Up more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Insight Timer and Waking Up by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten meditation apps we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Insight Timer and Waking Up among meditation apps worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Insight Timer, Waking Up. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCalmInsight TimerBetterSleepHeadspaceSmiling MindWaking UpHappierMeditoHealthy Minds ProgramBalance
Oct 202524.6%29.3%12.4%14.1%6.8%3%5.2%3%0.6%0.93%
Nov 202526.4%31.2%8.9%12.7%7.3%3.2%5.4%3.2%0.64%0.92%
Dec 202531.1%25.6%10.8%12.2%5.9%3.9%6.2%2.6%0.63%1.1%
Jan 202632.2%31.2%8.6%10%4.7%3.8%5.2%2.6%0.74%1%
Feb 202636.7%24.7%8%11.3%6.5%2.9%6.5%1.9%0.57%0.89%
Mar 202636.3%25.3%7.4%10.5%9%3.3%4.5%2.2%0.77%0.7%
Apr 202626%28.1%9.7%14.3%8%3.5%5.1%3.5%0.86%0.85%
May 202623.2%28.3%9.9%17.6%6.6%3.6%6.7%2.4%0.88%0.8%
Jun 202622.8%29%11.5%14.5%7.7%2.8%5.2%5.1%0.67%0.68%
Jul 202624.1%29.4%13.2%13.9%4.8%3.9%5.9%3.2%0.77%0.78%
Aug 202623.6%27.7%13.7%11.4%9.2%3.3%3.7%6.1%0.66%0.54%
Sep 202633.8%33.5%12.8%9.1%3.8%2.5%1.7%1.7%0.73%0.37%

How has the Insight Timer and Waking Up comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Insight Timer was ahead of Waking Up in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Insight Timer’s share of searches among meditation apps worldwide moved from 29.3% to 33.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 64K to 86.8K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Waking Up’s share of searches among meditation apps worldwide moved from 3% to 2.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 6.6K.

How did search popularity change for meditation apps worldwide in September 2026?

3 changes

  1. In September 2026, Calm overtook Insight Timer to become the leader among meditation apps worldwide, with 33.8% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Insight Timer gained share of searches among meditation apps worldwide, from 27.7% to 33.5%.

  3. In September 2026, Waking Up lost share of searches among meditation apps worldwide, from 3.3% to 2.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Insight Timer’s and Waking Up’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Insight Timer

3 branded search terms

  • insight timer
  • insight timer app
  • insight timer meditation

Waking Up

1 branded search term

  • waking up app

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among meditation apps

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