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One Good Thing vs Insight Timer

Insight Timer gives you a whole library of teachers. One Good Thing gives you one idea, then politely shows you the door.

the short answer

If meditation is the goal, start with Insight Timer, which has a large free library of guided meditations, talks and live classes. One Good Thing has no library, only one written idea a day that takes under two minutes.

why people compare them

Insight Timer is famous for being generous: a vast free library of guided meditations, talks and live classes from teachers all over the world. If meditation is your thing, it is hard to beat.

One Good Thing is for the moments when you do not want to be guided anywhere. One idea from one of 12 fields, read in under two minutes, carried or let go. No timer, no session, no choosing between a thousand options.

Still deciding between meditation apps? See how we compare with Calm.

side by side

What it is
ogtOne good idea a day, from 12 fields
insight timerA large library of guided meditations, talks and courses
Time a day
ogtUnder two minutes
insight timerFrom under 5 minutes to 30 or more
Format
ogtText, one written idea
insight timerAudio, plus live classes
Choosing
ogtNothing to choose. Today's idea is waiting
insight timerPick a teacher, a topic and a length
What it builds
ogtYour house of thought, one room for every field you carry from
insight timerA meditation practice and live classes
Going deeper
ogtAsk questions answered from your own collection, not the open internet
insight timerCourses, talks and live events
Cost
ogtThe daily idea and your whole collection are free for good. Membership is optional
insight timerA big free library, with extras on a membership

What we say about Insight Timer was checked against Insight Timer's site on . Prices and features change; if something here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.

which one is for you

Insight Timer, if

  • You meditate, or want to, and like variety
  • You enjoy live classes
  • Audio fits your day better than reading
  • You have time for a proper session

One Good Thing, if

  • Endless choice is part of what wears you out
  • You want something to think about, not a way to quiet thinking
  • You have two minutes and want them to count
  • You like ideas from science, language, history and the odd paradox

the honest part

Can an idea replace meditation?

Probably not, and it does not try. Meditation trains attention by letting thoughts pass. One Good Thing gives attention one good thing to hold for a minute. Some people find the second easier to keep up, and some keep both.

questions

Is Insight Timer really free?
Much of it, yes. Insight Timer has one of the largest free meditation libraries, with a paid membership for extra features.
What is a good alternative to Insight Timer?
Calm or Headspace if you want more structure. One Good Thing if you want a short daily habit that is not meditation at all.
Is Insight Timer or Calm better?
Insight Timer wins on free variety and community; Calm on Sleep Stories. Both are meditation apps. One Good Thing is a daily idea app, a different job.
Does One Good Thing notice how I think?
In its own way. The ideas you carry build your house of thought, a drawing of how widely you read, and they shape the ideas you get next. It is never a score.
What is One Good Thing?
The daily idea app for curious people. Each day you get one good idea from one of 12 fields, at your quiet minute. You read it in under two minutes, carry it or let it go, and close the app. What you carry builds your house of thought, and the margin connects today's idea to one you kept weeks ago.
Is One Good Thing free?
Yes. The daily idea, everything you carry and your house of thought are free for good. Membership adds up to 10 Ask questions a day, every margin, the full bed of what you let go and a written portrait of how you think.

keep comparing

one good thing

Tomorrow’s idea arrives at your quiet minute.

Download on theApp StoreWhich of the 12 thinkers are you?