Happier — which has rebranded from Ten Percent Happier — is a user-friendly app solely dedicated to mindfulness and meditation, and it earned 4 out of 5 stars from our independent review. It helps users build a foundation for their meditation practice and learn about ways to improve sleep and anxiety symptoms. Happier’s premium version costs $99.99 annually and comes with a seven-day free trial.
Cost: $8.33 monthly or $99.99 annually
Insurance Accepted? No
Pros - Offers a 7-Day Free Trial.
- Provides meditation courses with an introduction video.
- Offers topic-specific meditations and mindfulness exercises.
- It has a search function on each hub page.
- The app features fully secular meditations.
Cons - They only advertise an annual subscription.
- The favorites function only works on individual meditation sessions.
- There are no soundscapes or ambient music to add to meditations or listen to.
- The sleep section is not as large as other meditation apps.
- None of the meditations are geared towards kids and teens.
Overview
Happier (formerly Ten Percent Happier) is an app solely dedicated to mindfulness and meditation. The goal of the Happier app is to not only promote meditation as a means to improve your overall mental wellness but to teach you how to create and maintain a meditation practice. The Happier app is largely geared towards those who are new to mindfulness, are skeptics of meditation, or haven’t practiced meditation for a while and need a refresher.
Happier has limited free content, no monthly subscription options, and an annual membership fee of $99.99. The annual subscription comes with a seven-day free trial. Happier is a user-friendly app solely dedicated to mindfulness and meditation, and it earned 4 out of 5 stars from our independent review. The app has 4.8 stars from 131.3K reviews in the Apple App Store and 4.7 stars from 17.8K reviews in the Google Play Store. There were far more positive reviews of Happier than there were negative ones.
The Happier app is geared towards beginners to mindfulness and meditation. None of the meditations are hard but they aren’t necessarily easy either; they are appropriately challenging for novice meditators and have great lessons for those who have already started their meditation journey.
Ratings of Happier App
I have reviewed mental health and wellness products and services with Choosing Therapy for over two years. Happier earned 4 out of 5 stars overall during our independent review due to having a decent-sized meditation library, a great user interface, and interesting extra features like podcasts. However, the app falls short in offering focused mindfulness instruction and comes with a higher annual price than many of its leading competitors in the meditation space.
Pros & Cons of the Happier App
The Happier app is easy-to-navigate and understand, making it great for those brand new to meditation. Its topic-specific meditations are well-curated and helpful for someone looking to focus primarily on anxiety, depression or addiction. While there is select content for more advanced practitioners, they may be better suited with an alternative meditation app. Unfortunately, the free app has very limited content, so a subscription is a must.
Final Verdict on Happier
Overall, the Happier app really impressed me with how approachable and understandable the content and teachers are. There is a sense of belonging I got from the app, and that is not something I have felt in other meditation apps. None of the meditations are hard but they aren’t necessarily easy either; they are appropriately challenging for novice meditators and have great lessons for those who have already started their meditation journey.
Key Takeaways
- Happier has limited free content, no monthly subscription options, and an annual membership fee of $99.99. The annual subscription comes with a seven-day free trial.
- If you’d like to know more about the creation of the app, you can check out the book, 10% Happier by Dan Harris, who is also the co-founder of the app.
- The Happier app is geared towards beginners to mindfulness and meditation.
Do You Have Trouble Concentrating or Sitting Still?
You might have ADHD and the Inflow App could help you manage your ADHD symptoms. Common symptoms of ADHD include fidgeting, procrastination, and impulsivity. Get help – try the Inflow App for free.
Where to Get the Happier App
You can sign up for an account on the Happier website.
What Is The Happier App?
Happier, formerly Ten Percent Happier is an app solely dedicated to mindfulness and meditation. The goal of Happier is to not only promote meditation as a means to improve your overall mental wellness but to teach you how to create and maintain a meditation practice. There is no content dedicated to exercise, music, or kids and teens, which are some of the reasons why Happier only received 3 out of 5 stars in the “Extra Features & Resources” category on our scoring criteria for meditation apps.
The Happier app is largely geared towards those who are new to mindfulness, are skeptics of meditation, or haven’t practiced meditation for a while and need a refresher. The free version of the app offers a beginner meditation course, called “The Basics”, featuring seven, short (under 10 min) sessions. In the premium version, you get access to all of the meditation courses, meditation singles (stand-alone meditation sessions), sleep meditations, and podcasts.
The podcast hub in the Happier app is unique and entertaining. With the premium version, you get access to four different podcasts as an in-app feature. Each one covers various topics, features special guests, and discusses ways to be more mindful in your daily life.
There is also a profile hub that helps you track your progress. It shows you how many days you’ve meditated, how many minutes you’ve completed, and how many weeks in a row you’ve meditated. All of your favorites/saved meditations, milestones, meditation history, and downloads will also be available on your profile which is how Happier earned 4 out of 5 stars in the “Personalization” category on our scoring criteria.
Scientific Basis for Mindfulness Meditation
Recent scientific studies found that mindful meditation is an effective addition to conventional treatment for a number of mental health and physical health conditions. 1 Meditation has been shown as an effective tool to help improve anxiety, depression, anger, and insomnia. This benefit could be due to physical changes in the brain triggered by meditation.1 A study found physical differences in the brains of people who regularly meditate compared to the brains of people who never meditate.1
Meditation may also help people manage stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms that are linked to cancer, menopause, and other conditions.1 While meditation has been around for ages, the number of adults in the U.S. who meditate is increasing rapidly, and has more than tripled from 2012 to 2017 (from about 4% to 14%). The number of children in the U.S. who meditate has increased ninefold during the same time period.1
Who Is the Happier App Right For?
Happier has made it one of its goals to get as many people to meditate, and love it, as possible. There are certain groups of people that the app may be best suited for, especially when starting their meditation practice.
Novice Meditators
Happier is great for people interested in learning and starting a mindfulness and meditation practice. Most of the meditations are geared toward those who are brand new to practicing meditation.
Excellent for Anxiety and Stress
In the premium version of the Happier app, there are several single meditations for anxiety and stress, as well as full meditation courses. Those seeking tools to help calm their anxiety or stress without medication will find great resources in this app.
Help With Sleep
People who want to learn to unwind their minds and bodies before sleep will be pleased with the manageable number of sleep meditations in the Happier app.
Need for Structure and Organization
Those who enjoy structure and guidance with a set path will really enjoy Happier. All of the course sessions build upon previous meditations and must be completed in order. Because the app is so user-friendly and easy to navigate with all the meditation courses clearly labeled, it earned 5 out of 5 stars in the “Interface Design & User Experience” category on our scoring criteria.
Who May Want an Alternative to the Happier App?
While meditation apps like Happier are a great option for some people, others, like kids and teens, more advanced meditation practitioners or those who need a higher level of care may find other mental health apps better for their specific needs.
Need a Larger Library
The Happier app has a decent number of meditation courses and single sessions that are clearly labeled, but the library is not as big as other meditation apps. This is why it earned 4 out of 5 stars in the “Variety of Meditations & Volume of Content” category on our scoring criteria. The app is geared more towards novices to meditation and those more advanced in their practice may like the Insight Timer app more.
Less Structure, More Free Choice
If you like to have more free choice over which meditation you choose to practice at any given time, you may prefer the Calm app. Calm allows you to pick and choose meditation sessions in any order you desire.
Kids and Teens
There are no dedicated meditation sessions or mindfulness exercises for kids and teens in the Happier app. The lack of these types of extra features is just one reason why Happier earned 3 out of 5 stars in the “Extra Features & Resources” category on our scoring criteria. Guardians looking to make mindfulness and meditation a part of their family routine will need to seek out an app like the Headspace app or Calm.
Seeking Therapy
For those that find they need more support in handling their stress and anxiety symptoms, talking to a therapist may be the best choice. A good first step towards finding a therapist can be searching an online therapist directory.
Best Online Therapy Services
There are a number of factors to consider when trying to determine which online therapy platform is going to be the best fit for you. It’s important to be mindful of what each platform costs, the services they provide you with, their providers’ training and level of expertise, and several other important criteria.
What Are Users of the Happier App Saying?
Happier has 4.8 stars from 125.7K reviews in the Apple App Store and 4.7 stars from 17.5K reviews in the Google Play Store.
A large majority of users had the same glowing reviews to share about the Happier app:
- It helps you learn how to focus
- Mindfulness practices are enjoyable and make you want to keep up with your practice
- It’s easily organized and easy to understand
- Meditation challenges are fun to complete
- Teachers are relatable and amazing
I absolutely agree with all of these reviews – Happier really makes meditation easy and fun to do, plus you really feel like all the meditation teachers want you to be successful.
There were far more positive reviews of Happier than there were negative ones. The biggest complaint in the app stores is that the free version of the Happier app is severely limited and that the cost is too high, even with a seven-day free trial.
Both complaints are valid, especially about the free version of the app. This version only has two meditation courses available and all other content is locked. Even with a free trial, $99.99 annually can be quite steep for many people to pay for a meditation app which is why Happier earned 3 out of 5 stars in the “Cost & Free Trial” category on our scoring criteria.
How Much Does the Happier App Cost?
Happier costs $99.99 annually for their premium version and it comes with a seven-day free trial.
Is Happier Free?
There is limited free content on the Happierapp . You must purchase the membership to gain access to all of the meditations, tools, and features.
Does Happier Take Insurance?
No, Happier does not accept insurance at this time nor is it a part of any wellness programs insurance carriers may have. For information on how Happier could be more affordable to you, please email them at: [email protected].
How to Cancel Happier Subscription?
You can cancel your subscription at any time. If you purchased your subscription through the app stores, you must go into your account, find the “Subscriptions” or “Manage Subscriptions” option and click there. You will see an option to cancel the yearly renewal.
If you signed up for your subscription on the website, you must email them at: [email protected].
Even if you cancel, you will continue to have access to the premium subscription through the renewal date.
Does Happier Offer Refunds?
If you purchased your subscription through the website or through the Google Play store, Happier can issue refunds up to 30 days after you subscribe.
If you purchase your subscription through the Apple App Store, you will need to submit a refund request to Apple. To find more help on how to do this, please visit the Apple Support page.
For further questions, please visit the Happier website for more information about their Terms of Service.
Best ADHD Apps of 2025
Managing ADHD is different for everyone, so finding the right app can be a game-changer. After exploring over 40 ADHD apps, we identified the top nine options that provide valuable tools for managing time, improving focus, and building routines. Many of these apps feature customizable to-do lists and reminders, making them both practical and easy to use. They are also budget-friendly, with several offering free access.
How to Get Started with the Happier App
Happier is available in both app stores or you can create an account on their website. If you do choose to sign up on the website, you will be directed to download the app.
Step 1
You can download the Happier App from the Google Play Store or from the Apple App Store.
Step 2
Once the download is complete, you will set up your new account. You will answer some basic questions like what your familiarity with meditation is, what your meditation goals are, and when you want to be reminded to meditate. The final setup screen will ask you if you want to sign up for a free trial and subscribe for the year. If you are brand new to the app, I recommend exiting this screen and exploring the app and the free offerings first.
Step 3
Once you have a chance to try a couple of sessions in the meditation courses available for free, you can sign up for a premium subscription. You will get a seven-day free trial, which will give you time to try anything you find interesting.
Happier App: Detailed Review
The Happier app is very limited in its free version, but it does allow you to explore and view everything that comes with the premium subscription.
Feature 1: Free Meditation Courses
The free version of Happier currently offers two meditation courses. They are:
- The Basics – This short seven-session course will help you learn how to build a mindfulness foundation with expert meditation teacher Joseph Goldstein.
- Anti-Diet Challenge – In this seven-day meditation course you will learn how to change your mindset about food and discover ways to view food as an act of self-care. It is taught by nutritionist Christy Harrison.
Feature 2: Your Profile
In the free version of Happier, you will have access to your profile. Here you can view your meditation stats which include the total number of sessions you’ve completed, total minutes you’ve meditated, and your weekly streak. You will also see sections for your saved favorites, meditation milestones, meditation history, and downloads. Please note, you cannot download anything in the free version of the app.
There is a section that tells you there is live coaching, but this is actually not a feature that has been fully rolled out yet. If you click on the button “Learn More” you will be taken to a screen where you can add your name to a waiting list.
Happier Premium Subscription: Detailed Review
Happier’s premium version of the app will give you full access to the three main meditation hubs, the podcast hub, and the ability to download meditations.
Feature 1: “Courses” Hub
Meditation courses with Happier are rather unique and actually really fun. Each session in the courses lasts between 10 to 15 minutes and all of them start with an introduction video. These introduction videos feature Dan Harris, founder of Happier, who explains the topic, talks with the meditation teacher or expert on the topic, and sometimes will talk to real people about what they are going through. It’s part journalism, part mindfulness but the end goal is to get you meditating.
Some of the courses featured have titles like “Taming Anxiety”, “Meditation for Skeptics”, and “Meditation in Real Life”. All of the meditation courses discuss the topics in understandable ways and give you really excellent tips on how to overcome your challenges.
In the “Taming Anxiety” course, I learned that sometimes it’s best to not ignore my anxiety and to face it head-on. A couple of the introduction videos showed Dan Harris facing some of his anxiety triggers, like being in elevators, and it really helped me to start forming a new way to view my anxiety.
Feature 2: “Singles” Hub
The meditation singles are stand-alone meditation sessions organized into categories like “New & Noteworthy”, “Work stress SOS”, “Great for Beginners” and “Coronavirus Sanity”. Each category will have dozens of meditations available. In “Great for Beginners” there are meditations on topics like body relaxation, mental noting, not fighting your thoughts, and self-compassion.
All of the singles are usually under 15 minutes and are great when you want a guided moment to yourself.
Feature 3: “Sleep” Hub
Everything in the “Sleep” hub is meditation singles but dedicated solely to unwinding, relaxing, and falling asleep. Unlike other apps, Happier does not feature sleep stories as a big component of their sleep section. While there are a few sleep stories, most of the meditations in the “Sleep” hub will be between 15-20 minutes with the goal of helping you sleep better.
Feature 4: “Podcasts” Hub
The Happier “Podcasts” hub is a really unique and fun area. There are four podcasts available and they are:
- Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris – This podcast is hosted by Dan Harris and features leading meditation teachers, scientists, researchers, and sometimes celebrities. Topics include happiness, calm, compassion, and how to develop these skills through mindfulness and meditation.
- Twenty Percent Happier with Matthew Hepburn – In this podcast, meditation teacher Matthew Hepburn talks with everyday people about their meditation practices. They explore all types of topics from work anxiety to romance.
- Childproof with Yasmeen Khan – Launched in December 2021, this podcast is dedicated to how hard parenting is. Host Yasmeen Khan spends time sharing stories from fellow parents and experts on how to grow as a parent while taking care of yourself.
- Teacher Talks with Jay Michaelson – While this is in the podcast section, it is more like expert advice from meditation teachers. The five-minute audios offer mindfulness-based tools for real life.
One of the podcasts I listened to featured Karamo from the Netflix show Queer Eye. He discussed how to practice self-love and why it is not selfish to do so. Most of the podcasts are available wherever you get podcasts, and I highly recommend you check some of them out.
Happier Vs Headspace
The Happier app and the Headspace app have a lot in common. Each app is very structured and easy to navigate, with great meditation courses and a variety of meditation singles. Both apps have great mindfulness and meditation courses for beginners, and the goal of both is to help you create and maintain a meditation practice. Headspace does score higher in our scoring criteria, with a 4.5 overall star rating.
While similar, each app offers a couple of unique features that set them apart. Headspace has live meditation sessions you can attend in-app, whereas Happier hosts meditation challenges and has in-app podcasts. Cost-wise, Happier is more expensive than Headspace. The Happier app is $99.99 per year with a seven-day free trial while Headspace is either $12.99 per month or $69.99 annually with a seven-day free trial.
History of Happier
The Happier app came out of the success of Dan Harris’s meditation book called 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head… In 2014, Mr. Harris suffered a panic attack while presenting the news for ABC. This lead him to begin searching for ways to calm his mind and stumbled upon meditation. In August of 2021, Mr. Harris announced that he would be leaving ABC to focus solely on Happier. 2 Due to how long the Happier app has been around, since 2015, the app earned 5 out of 5 stars in the “Reliability & Longevity” category on our scoring criteria.
Happier had previously offered free service to essential employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is no longer available. There are select free resources on their website and a “Coronavirus Sanity” meditation section available in the premium subscription.
Happier had a subscription option called “Teams” available to companies that allowed them to purchase premium accounts for their employees. This program is closed to new subscribers, but if interested you can fill out this survey letting Happier know your company is interested. You can also email them at [email protected] and they will give you information about a special discount code and ways to bring the subscription cost.
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
-
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2016, April). Meditation: In Depth. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation-in-depth
-
Simons, Roxy. (2021, August) ‘Good Morning America’: Why Dan Harris is Leaving the ABC Show After 21 Years. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/dan-harris-leaving-good-morning-america-after-21-years-abc-news-gma-1617424
We regularly update the articles on ChoosingTherapy.com to ensure we continue to reflect scientific consensus on the topics we cover, to incorporate new research into our articles, and to better answer our audience’s questions. When our content undergoes a significant revision, we summarize the changes that were made and the date on which they occurred. We also record the authors and medical reviewers who contributed to previous versions of the article. Read more about our editorial policies here.
Author: Caitlin Bell, M.A. (No change)
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Changed logo from Ten Percent Happier to Happier after rebranding.
Author: Caitlin Bell, M.A. (No change)
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD (No change)
Primary Changes: Added article summary, “Why Trust Our Review” section, and all related page features.
Author: Caitlin Bell
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy
Primary Changes: Added Key Takeaways, updated to current pricing, and updated user review details.
Author: Caitlin Bell, M.A.
Reviewer: Benjamin Troy, MD
Primary Changes: Full reassessment of Ten Percent Happier App; New sections: “What Users Are Saying”, “How Ten Percent Has Changed”, “How to Cancel”, “Refunds”; “Insurance”; Updated Cost; Updated Teams; Updated screenshots/images; Added images and charts for pros/cons and discounts.
Your Voice Matters
Leave your own reviews!
Have you used an online therapy company? Have you tried an online psychiatry service? Do you use a meditation or mindfulness app? We’d love to hear about your experience!
We want to hear about the companies you love and the companies you wish you never used.
Leave your feedback for our editors.
Share your feedback on this article with ChoosingTherapy.com’s editors. If there’s something we missed or something we could improve on, we’d love to hear it.
Our writers and editors love compliments, too. :)
