# Expand: Beyond Meditation — user reviews > 152 indexed App Store user reviews of Expand by THE MONROE INSTITUTE, rated 4.00/5 from 284 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expand-beyond-meditation/id1552705313/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/expand-beyond-meditation/id1552705313.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 191 · 4★ 14 · 3★ 18 · 2★ 16 · 1★ 45 ## What do users think of Expand? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Powerful meditation tool - 👍 Lovely and helpful - 👍 Great way to practice - 👍 Transformative - 👍 First class app - 👍 Seriously the best app - 👍 Phenomenal - 👍 Brilliant - 👍 Excellent extension of the Gateway tapes - 👍 Amazing - 👍 Beyond mindfulness - my new favorite meditation app - 👍 The best gift! - 👍 SO relaxing - 👍 Very Good Mediation App - 👍 LOVE LOVE LOVE - 👍 Very promising so far **Cons** - 💰 Money maker - 🔒 How do you get a premium subscription? - 🐛 Cuts off sometimes? - 🔍 Where's the guidance? - 🐛 Annoyed - 🐛 Login screen of the app doesn't work - 🐛 Great app but constantly crashes - 🐛 Unusable with current update - 🐛 Have they changed the app? - 🐛 Broken app since update - 🐛 Fraud - 🐛 App does work... - 🐛 Bait and switch. Immediately disappointed - 🐛 Crashes - 🐛 Not working - 🐛 Terrible - 🐛 Glitches - 🐛 Doesn't open and load when needed! - 🐛 Locked out of my subscription - 🐛 Annoying - 🐛 Crashes - 🐛 Sound not working - 🐛 Terrible guides/narrators!!! **Commonly reported bugs** - Paid but no play - Login screen freezes - Incompatible with older devices - Sound shuts off when the iphone goes to sleep **Most requested features** - Longer guided meditations - What's new section for meditations - Ability to turn off background music - Monthly charge option ## Newest reviews (14 of 152) ### 2/5 — Constant glitches and crashes. False meditation feedback. *2026-08-25* This app looks good at first glance aesthetically, but I am constantly frustrated by how often it crashes. I literally cannot search for events. If I try, it crashes and kicks me out of the app. I cannot play the same meditation back to back. If I try, the app freezes. It’s very frustrating. Yes, I am using the most recent update, and I am a premium user! I also really hate the fact that all of the meditations have fake “reviews”. You can’t see any feedback, just the star rating, and they are all rated exactly the same: 4.5 stars. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. To Monroe: You all charge a ridiculous amount for everything you offer. How about making sure this works right, and let people submit HONEST FEEDBACK. ### 4/5 — Will explore this App curiously *2026-08-19* After a rough start, where the app would not let me register, the Monroe support was nice enough to hear my struggle and to help me out. I finally could create an account (after an update) by using my apple account, manual registration still did not work due to password requirements - this issue seems presently to be under review. A big Thank you to the very attentive support and quick and caring feedback. Now I can try the App - review shall follow. **Developer response:** Thank you for writing, and we are sorry that setting up an account did not work. There was a problem affecting sign-in and account creation, and it has now been resolved. If you would please fully close the app, check for an update in the App Store, and then try again, it should go through. Thank you also for flagging the password requirements, which we have passed on for review. If it still will not let you create an account, please write to support@monroeinstitute.org and our team will set it up with you directly. ### 2/5 — Switching to Gaia. Expensive app to not be working so frequently. Customer service is non existent. *2026-08-13* I love the app when it works. I’ve contacted customer service several times and only gotten one response. I’ve turned off my phone and restarted more time that I care to Jay to get the app to clear it cashe. No one gets back to you when you reach out. $70 is a lot for an app you can’t use when you want to. I try to mediate first thing in the morning and I’m greeted with errors. Very annoying and frustrating. One and done for me because it’s a waste of money. **Developer response:** Thank you for taking the time to write this, and we are sorry the app has been unreliable for you. If you write to support@monroeinstitute.org and mention the name "Honest Review" so we can match it to this, our team will pick it up and prioritize it. We will get you back up and running with your daily meditations, and we appreciate your patience. ### 4/5 — Fixed *2026-08-12, version 2.1.0* Excited to try the new program! Edit the new update is supper buggy doesn’t play timer mode doesn’t play differnt meditations i pay for the premium I expect this to be fixed ### 3/5 — Great meditations but the talking can be too much *2026-08-11* Some of the free meditations are excellent and get me into a deeply relaxed state. One tip: cut the talking by a third! After a directive, stop talking! When the narrator said, “Prepare to receive whatever comes up,” I was ready. She then went on to talk for about 5 more minutes, and I couldn’t receive! We don’t need everything to be explained or rationalized during a meditation. It took me out and I felt myself getting upset as I was thinking, “Shut up already and let my body do its job!” The app prompts me to turn on notifications every single time I open it. This is aggravating! I don’t want notifications. There needs to be a “don’t remind me again” button. The new update makes it harder to get to your favorites (now at the very bottom when it used to be a heart at the top) and timer (which used to be an icon and was an easy tap). These updates force you to scroll through their courses which are extra to pay for, so it feels more like an ad. I don’t appreciate this. **Developer response:** Thank you for taking the time to write all of this out, it is genuinely useful. The good news on the timer is that it was not removed, it has moved to the Explore tab under Timer Soundscapes. Your point about the timer and favorites being harder to reach is a fair one and we have passed it on, along with your note on the amount of narration in some of the sessions. The notification prompt appearing every time you open the app has now been fixed. Thank you for staying with the app and for telling us what would make it better. ### 3/5 — App bug *2026-07-29, version 2.0.2* I really like the new version of this app since I can access all my courses. But there is a bug, every time my phone screen locks the app also stops, this is definitely new since I’ve been using the app for years. Yes and I have done all the checks like battery mode and deleting and reinstalling, pretty much all the big fixes suggested by Claude. ### 2/5 — Buggy! *2026-07-29, version 2.0.2* I love this app and have used it for years but a lot of their meditations for me cut off mid way through and it’s just been like this for some time now. I reached out to the Expand team to fix their tracks but never heard anything back from them. I’m wondering if anyone is even running and keeping this app up to date anymore. It’s a shame because I really liked their app and never make 2 star reviews but I just hope it’s brought to whoever’s attention to fix the issues! ### 4/5 — Bring it back, please. *2026-07-27* I am enjoying the app and everything about it, the navigation, the design, and cost of the yearly subscription. But, I was so disappointed to discover that after the latest update the timer function was removed. I really liked this feature because I could mediate without any guidance or limit. I hope enough users can convince the developers to change their decision. **Developer response:** Thank you for your feedback, and for the kind words about the app. The good news is that the timer was not removed, but it was moved. You will find it under the Explore tab, in Timer Soundscapes. We have passed your comments on to our development team for review. Your feedback is greatly appreciated. ### 4/5 — Timer *2026-06-06, version 1.13.0* Came here because the MUSE soundscapes were so good, so to me the timer with signals+background is easily the best feature of the app. It would be nice to be able to use this feature offline. I don’t really see why we shouldn’t be able to. Also, it took me weeks to discover this feature, as the tab sometimes takes you to the notifications page erroneously. ### 2/5 — Money maker *2025-12-03* There are some good meditation here, no gateway project tapes $20 a month for guided meditations that you can get for free elsewhere. They got greedy! ### 4/5 — Great but automatic pausing issue *2025-11-29* I love the app and the meditations. Unfortunately, the app keeps pausing after 17-18 minutes. It forces you to get out of your meditation to hit the play button. Not funny. I have not found a way to fix this via iPhone settings. I don't have this issue with similar apps. Could you please fix it or share a fix ? Thanks. ### 3/5 — Cuts off sometimes? *2025-10-17, version 1.13.0* I like the app and use it daily. I am trying to figure out why lately some of the longer tracks cut off early. For example, a 50 minute track might stop a few minutes in. If it’s related to device notifications it seems like it should ignore those without just ending the playback. Unrelated- it would be great if you would make some of the shorter tracks like Aria available in a longer form! ### 5/5 — So much gratitude. *2025-08-30, version 1.13.0* Thank you so much for this app. My little monkey mind is loving the endless enrichment it has provided me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. If you are a Gateway fan and unsure whether you will enjoy this app, go for it. The subscription is worth it, that is when its true value was unlocked for me. ### 4/5 — Annoyed *2025-08-22, version 1.13.0* I want to use this apps paid portion. I have subscribed to it but it won’t let me use any of the paid portion of it. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Manipulative design *2026-08-02, version 2.0.2* This app used to be much better. Now it forces a pop up EVERYTIME you open it nudging you to turn on notifications. It does this to wear you down psychologically, slightly annoying you each time you open it until you comply to make the pop up stop. This is called a dark pattern design in the app world. There’s another dark pattern that now forces you to see an ad to buy their 500 dollar course Everytime you open it. The former design was simple and easy to navigate and meditation signals could be downloaded for offline use. No one asked for these changes and now it’s made me trust this company less, as it claims to be about consciousness expansion- more like bottom line expansion and manipulative app design to coerce people into spending more money on something you can find elsewhere. Disappointed in the intent with this once trusted company. ### 1/5 — Tracks have skipping *2026-04-12, version 1.13.0* Idk what happened- an update or whatever but the timed tracks now have skip/repeat pauses. Please fix it! It’s very distracting. ### 1/5 — How do you get a premium subscription? *2025-11-24, version 1.13.0* There seems to be no way in the iOS app to locate or pay for premium content. ### 1/5 — Sound quality on the app is horrible, like 64kbps in every single track *2025-10-08, version 1.13.0* Such a shame, as I wanted to purchase a full version. ### 1/5 — Where’s the guidance? *2025-09-25, version 1.13.0* I was only looking for the gateway tapes. Their options showed hemisync but there’s nothing but some dull static and no guidance. I was making progress when they were freely available and now I can’t find them anywhere. These don’t even balance from ear to ear. Joke!! ### 1/5 — Login screen of the app doesn’t work *2025-08-13, version 1.13.0* Unfortunately, the first screen of the app doesn’t work so I can’t even give a review of the app itself because the first screen is too glitchy. I made an account with a password and now it’s telling me that password is incorrect andwhen I go to reset the password. It doesn’t send me an email to do so. ### 1/5 — Really want to use app *2025-07-17, version 1.13.0* Every time I open the app, it gets stuck thinking I’m offline. App has cellular data and background refresh permissions. WiFi and cellular data are on. Please fix. ### 1/5 — App logged me out *2025-04-04, version 1.10.0* App logged me out and wants me to re pay for a subscription. I paid a year up front. This is sham. ### 1/5 — Sign In *2025-03-27, version 1.10.0* This is one of the worst apps for sign in. I renewed and paid for subscription I’ve now spent hours yes hours. They know they have a problem but they don’t fix it. It’s now been a month, I’ve paid and still can’t get in. ### 1/5 — App does work… *2025-03-23, version 1.10.0* beyond the 5 min screen. Won’t let me log on, or advance further. The 5 min meditation teaser is great, would really like to see what the rest of the app has available. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Asking for a favour *2026-08-07* Thanks for the amazing app, I use this daily for meditation and it helps me a lot on my spiritual journey. I have only one question: in the Meditation with timer, sometimes the music stops because of the weak internet connection, it frustrates me. Is there any chance to get it play offline? I would pay for that if possible. Many thanks **Developer response:** Thank you, and we are glad the app has a place in your practice. Playing without a connection is one of the most requested things we hear, and we have passed your note on to our development team for review. Thank you for taking the time to ask. ### 5/5 — It works *2026-07-21* Experienced some crazy stuff with this app genuinely does work and would recommend **Developer response:** Thank you, and welcome to the journey. We are so glad Expand is resonating for you, and here is to many more explorations ahead. 🙏 ### 5/5 — Enchanting, Entrancing *2026-05-27, version 1.13.0* I have been meditating for a while but the addition of the binaural music is just what my system needed/wanted! The guided meditations are superb. Can’t wait to take some Monroe Institute courses! Thank you, Monroe people, for this essential work! ### 5/5 — Recommended *2026-05-04, version 1.13.0* Sometimes it tends to log out and I need to retry to subscribe, then it logs in, otherwise except few minor glitches here and there it is a really good app. I wish they could include full Hemi Sync tapes so I avoid paying two subs. ### 5/5 — Gratitude *2026-04-26, version 1.13.0* The sound wave technology has been a great way to view that which is actually there,and its ability to help expand contemplation, while also helping understand what can be achieved. ### 5/5 — Feature request *2026-03-05* I use this app regularly, & I love it! I would love to see more unguided meditations. I would also like to request integration into smartwatch Health apps! I’d like to be able to include my meditations with this app in my meditation tracker & also have capability with the Welltory app. Unfortunately, they can’t use the Expand app as a source because the Expand app does not have Health app capabilities. ### 5/5 — The most powerful meditation tool I’ve ever experienced!!! *2026-01-08, version 1.13.0* The most powerful meditation tool I’ve ever experienced!!! ### 5/5 — Love it *2025-10-20, version 1.13.0* Great app ### 5/5 — Lovely and Helpful *2025-10-03, version 1.13.0* I’m a life-long meditator and this app is a total joy. Pick your experience, pop on the headphones, and let the wonderful guides take you on one magic carpet ride after another. Also, post menopause, the restorative sleep has been exceptional ### 5/5 — Perfect for Beginners 🌿✨ *2025-09-07* I’m brand new to meditation and wasn’t sure where to start, but this app made the journey so easy and enjoyable. The guidance is simple, calming, and never overwhelming—it feels like it was made for someone just starting out. The sessions help me quiet my mind, reduce stress, and even sleep better. Each time I use it, I feel more grounded and refreshed. Highly recommend for anyone looking to begin (or deepen) their meditation practice. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*