# THE VILLAGE! — user reviews > 93 indexed App Store user reviews of THE VILLAGE! by Zen Compass, Inc., rated 4.61/5 from 910 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-village/id1451620569/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-village/id1451620569.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 779 · 4★ 39 · 3★ 21 · 2★ 14 · 1★ 57 ## What do users think of THE VILLAGE!? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 💜 Grounding and liberating meditations - 👍 Diverse and relatable instructors - 🙏 Affirming for BIPOC community - 🌟 Excellent resource for mental health - 🌍 Inclusive and culturally-relevant content **Cons** - 🐛 Technical issues with app functionality - 💰 Limited free content, mostly paid - 🔒 Accessibility issues for some users - 🤔 Concerns about racial exclusivity - 📉 Declining content quality over time **Commonly reported bugs** - Inability to create/access user profiles - Meditations not saving to favorites list - Frequent crashes and unexpected errors - Playback issues and 'retry' buttons not working **Most requested features** - Expand content for wider BIPOC diaspora - Add dark mode and other accessibility features - Improve app stability and performance - Offer more free content and payment options ## Newest reviews (13 of 93) ### 2/5 — What happened… *2023-03-14, version 1.1.38* When this app first came out it was amazing. There was way more content and more BIPOC and queer voices that have been removed. This was such an affirming tool that I used with my students, now there simply enough content. Not willing to pay for less content. ### 2/5 — What happened to this app? *2023-02-21, version 1.1.38* I have used this app off and on for the past few years. I’m not sure what changed in the past 6-8 months, but the content is way more limited and narrow. I miss some of the diverse voices and content that was previously available. ### 2/5 — Used to love this app *2023-02-12, version 1.1.38* I was introduced to so many great practitioners (Lama Rod, Mushim, ❤️❤️) and it really helped me throughout the shelter in place part of this pandemic. I was more than happy to pay for a subscription because I want to see spaces like this thrive. I am really grateful for what I gained from this app. I no longer use this app because I can practice in person now with others and it’s mostly the same meditations that it has been for years. I went to unsubscribe, and there is no “unsubscribe” button or option. I emailed Heru to ask him how do I go about unsubscribing, showed him via screenshot there was no “unsubscribe” button, and could he confirm that my subscription would not be renewed in May. He responded with “this has to do with Apple, not us.” Im really disappointed there was no attempt to help me given he set up the account with Apple and should know how subscriptions work for this app. So i guess i will have to notify my bank to make sure I don’t get charged for a subscription renewal in May, it should not have been this difficult. Has anyone else had a hard time unsubscribing from this app? ### 2/5 — No longer works (developer has left app) *2023-01-23, version 1.1.38* This application has many beautiful and deep meditations. I’ve been using it for about four years now. Unfortunately, without notice or warning, the developer said he was no longer going to maintain the application. I paid $80 for the annual subscription and now it no longer works! Also, it would have been better to offer this app to the community for someone else to step up and try to maintain it. These meditations were life giving and I want this gift to keep giving. ### 3/5 — Good idea but app doesn’t let me register *2022-09-22, version 1.1.37* When I try to register, it just says “user not found”. I mean…that’s why I’m trying to register. ### 1/5 — Shameful *2022-02-03, version 1.1.31* Disgusting and racist. ### 1/5 — SHAMEFUL RACIST APP *2022-02-02, version 1.1.31* I am MIXED and applications like this are causing such a division!! No one thinks about the group in between ### 1/5 — im white *2022-02-02* what u gonna do? ### 1/5 — Apple is the worst for race baiting content. *2022-02-02, version 1.1.31* Don’t waste your time. ### 2/5 — Meditations poorly produced and unhelpful *2022-01-28, version 1.1.31* I started using meditation apps long before they were popular. I understand that a new app is still figuring out what users like, what content should be free and what should not. That being said, the meditations are not that good. There’s definitely potential, but a lot of recordings are more conversational and the guide spends a lot of time reviewing a topic, rather than focusing on actual meditation. If I wanted to listen to meditative musings regarding my people and other PoC then this app would be great. For actual guided meditation, I would look elsewhere. ### 1/5 — Really? *2021-12-23, version 1.1.30* Separating people from certain spaces based on their race? Weird huh. We tried that and you guys complained and now you want it again 😂 ### 1/5 — This is completely racist. *2021-11-22, version 1.1.29* This is completely racist. The separation you are creating by labeling this for us by us is hurting the human race. You can’t stop racism by being a racist. Can you imagine if a white person did this? ### 1/5 — Prejudice is alive and well at Apple *2021-11-22, version 1.1.29* What’s going on here? ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — I’m so disappointed *2023-01-23, version 1.1.38* I am so sad to learn that the developers aren’t able to support this app anymore. I used this app daily to prioritize my mental health. It was such a breath of fresh air to have accessible meditations catered to BIPOC experiences. ### 1/5 — Waste of money *2023-01-23, version 1.1.38* The app never works properly. I’ve uninstalled and reinstalled. It’ll crash unexpectedly out when you try and use it it’ll just give you error after error. Cancel subscription, delete app! ### 1/5 — POOR COMMUNICATION AND SURFACE LEVEL COMMUNITY SUPPORT *2022-09-01, version 1.1.35* ⛔️ ⛔️ ⛔️ STAND CLEAR ⛔️ ⛔️ ⛔️ Avoid investing your money and time in this app at all costs!!!!! Seriously!! My therapist recommended I give this app a try during the pandemic. Initially, I was excited on the concept of a safe place for BIPOC solidarity and grounding. The first handful of months using this app there were frequent meditations and talks uploaded by numerous individuals from different cultural, educational and religious backgrounds. Although I didn’t enjoy every meditation, I decided to invest my money to support the larger cause. For most of 2021, there was a massive block of time where barely any new content was uploaded. This should’ve been a red flag, but I decided to renew my membership; again, wanting to support the initiative while hoping for new & better content. Fast fwd to 2022: I regret every investment I’ve made in time, money and patience. (1) I paid for a year upfront and have experienced multiple technical glitches limiting my access to the app. (2) It has taken customer service over 5 months to get back to me; they still haven’t resolved the glitch and refuse to give me a refund. (3) Making matters worst, “Heru” fka Julio Rivera (the owner) has uploaded a series of cult-like content to the app that make me extremely uncomfortable! EVERYTHING from what he’s saying to how he’s saying it is unsettling. Heru has been the only person uploading new content to the app this year. Why?? That is a red flag we all shouldn’t ignore. I don’t typically leave reviews, but avoid the headache and learn from my mistake!!! Sadly, this is not what it is advertised to be despite how amazing it sounds. In short: ⛔️ AVOID ⛔️ TRY ANOTHER APP ⛔️ THIS ONE IS NOT WORTH IT ⛔️ SCAM ⛔️ POOR COMMUNICATION AND SURFACE LEVEL COMMUNITY SUPPORT ⛔️ ### 1/5 — Not sure why I need a racial meditation app *2022-05-26, version 1.1.33* I’m black and have used meditation apps before. Never felt like I needed an app that was based on my skin color. Apps like headspace don’t racially bias for black, white, or anything else. ### 1/5 — Insulting to Latinos *2022-05-25, version 1.1.33* As a Latina I think it’s a lil weird they use Latinx? Like why I feel like I can tell they aren’t actually or don’t actually associate with us. Because if they did they would know how insulting it is to have white people change our language for us and completely ignoring the word latine that makes more sense for our language also not to mention the hate towards white people like the option for white is below “other” the double standard here is horrible I’m sure the meditation guiders are lovely but this is a pass ### 1/5 — More Division *2022-05-25, version 1.1.33* Imagine if this was a “white meditation app”, there would be outrage. This is probably the most racist app I have ever seen. I thought we were supposed judge people by the content of their character and not the color of their skin? Should we have bathrooms only for the black community? Should children have separate playgrounds too? This country is a melting pot and you are trying to bring us back to segregation. ### 1/5 — Surprisingly works for the white community too! *2022-05-05, version 1.1.32* I’m not black and I was so surprised when I got the same results!! Wow, just wow! ### 1/5 — False advertising *2022-02-16, version 1.1.31* This app is extremely misleading. The Founder who made this app is not a part of the black community, but a Latin man. Tired of those using the black community for representation while taking away opportunities for us to promote an actual black founded and owned application. ### 1/5 — Horribly racist *2022-02-06, version 1.1.31* This is nothing but racist, black privilege. ### 1/5 — Talk about racial trauma… *2022-02-03, version 1.1.31* Of course, another racists app. Does that mean the white community is allowed to create an app the excludes the black community? You have grown up with so much privilege, that you can not see the hypocrisy. I am so disappointed in society. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Love the revamp of The Village *2023-10-19, version 1.1.49* I love how the app has changed and been revamped to represent who it’s for African/Blk people who are secure in being African, spiritually aligned (or trying to reach that point) and done with the western mindset of meditation, spirituality and ready for mindfulness focused on our Africanity/blackness! Excellent job, keep progressing! Don’t stop, get it, get it!! ### 5/5 — Excellent. Beautiful. Authentic. *2023-08-17, version 1.1.40* Excellent. Beautiful. Authentic. Thank you. ### 5/5 — For people of color *2022-04-23, version 1.1.32* The meditations are thoughtful for the experiences of people of color. The content needs to be beefed up as far as the quantity of offerings but the quality is great. ### 5/5 — Fair Start. *2022-02-06, version 1.1.31* My first time using this app but it’s already relaxing. This is only the beginning… ### 5/5 — Love this app *2022-02-03, version 1.1.31* The meditations are very effective and the voice is very pleasant. ### 5/5 — This app grounds me! *2022-01-05, version 1.1.30* I love the multiple options this app offers to go gently deeper into our cores. Thank you! ### 5/5 — Good for white folks too! *2021-11-25, version 1.1.30* I found out about this app from an email. I am white but wanted to check it out before I recommend it to my African American patients. But I love the teachers and the liberatory focus of the meditations and talks. It is great for me personally. ### 5/5 — Phenomenal ♥️💯 *2021-09-24, version 1.1.28* Phenomenal ♥️💯 ### 5/5 — Noticing this app is triggering racists *2021-05-26, version 1.1.27* Instead of y'll, since you aint the racists & we are, be happy that we've made something to soothe us through the racism we experience. You're telling on yourselves. Stop it. The ignorance is outstanding and mindblowing. Leave Black people alone. ### 5/5 — Been using this for a few weeks *2021-02-26, version 1.1.26* I absolutely love it and it’s meeting all my needs! Thank you! --- *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 2026-06-10.*