Comparison

Expand vs Lucent

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Expand

Access profound states of expanded awareness with guided meditations and proprietary sound science. Explore topics like relaxation, joy, insight, and sleep to foster meaning, relieve stress, and release unwanted patterns. Discover inner wisdom and joy through active imagination and perception.

Highlights
  • 100+ guided meditations
  • Monroe Sound Science audio technology
  • Multi-day mini-courses
  • Guided reflection and journaling
  • Custom-generated soundscapes
  • Focus on active imagination and perception
Features
Read full description

From the world-renowned Monroe Institute, Expand helps you access deeper states of awareness to reduce stress, improve sleep, and cultivate greater meaning, clarity, and purpose. Powered by Monroe Sound Science, our proprietary audio technology, Expand uses targeted soundwave patterns to support unique states of consciousness and focused inner exploration. Through guided sessions, courses, and immersive sound experiences, you can uncover insight, release unwanted patterns, and reconnect with your inner wisdom. Inside Expand, you’ll find: • 100+ guided meditations and consciousness-expanding exercises • Multi-day mini-courses and structured practice paths • Guided reflection and journaling tools • Custom-generated soundscapes designed for specific brainwave states • Programs for both beginners and experienced practitioners Explore sessions across topics including: • Relaxation & Healing • Joy & Meaning • Insight & Intuition • Sleep & Dreaming • Healthy Relationships • Creativity & Manifestation • Beyond the Physical Unlike typical meditation apps focused only on clearing the mind, Expand encourages active imagination, perception, and intentional practice to help you achieve specific outcomes. About The Monroe Institute The Monroe Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a global leader in the study and practice of expanded consciousness. Founded in the early 1970s as a research and educational organization, Monroe offers transformative learning through the Expand app, virtual programs, and in-person retreats on its 300-acre Virginia campus and in countries worldwide. Subscription Pricing and Terms Expand offers auto-renewing subscription options: • $69.99/year • $11.99/month Payment is charged to your App Store account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged within 24 hours prior to renewal. You can manage or cancel your subscription in your App Store account settings. Terms of Service: https://info.monroeinstitute.org/expand-app-terms-of-use Privacy Policy: https://info.monroeinstitute.org/expand-app-privacy-policy

About

Lucent

Read full description

Lucent is your personal space to access your guided meditations and help you keep a simple structure for your daily meditation practice. Upload the meditation you own and access them here to keep everything organized, maintain a consistent daily practice, integrate your insights and stay aligned throughout the day. Features: • Play your guided meditations • Upload your own meditations to your library • Create a seamless playback queue • Set daily commitments • Track streaks, insights, and progress • Stay coherent throughout your day with personalized reminders Important note: Lucent currently does not provide guided meditations. It a space to upload and access the meditations YOU ALREADY own.

Screenshots

Expand4 screens
Lucent4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Lucent at 5.0 against Expand's 4.0. Lucent also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and ads (none vs shown). Expand's advantage is ratings volume (302 vs 1) and update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Expand sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Lucent asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lucent holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Expand has 302 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Expand ships an update monthly, Lucent every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Expand versus Lucent: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExpandLucent
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (302 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews49.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings302 — better1
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 5 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscription—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS16.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTHE MONROE INSTITUTELumaNexus LLC

Bugs and requests

Expand

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Paid but no play
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices
  • Sound shuts off when the iphone goes to sleep

Requested features

4 requests
  • Longer guided meditations
  • What's new section for meditations
  • Ability to turn off background music
  • Monthly charge option

Lucent

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Expand

Subscriptions2
  • Expand Plus Monthly$11.991 Month
  • Expand Plus Yearly$69.991 Year
None

Lucent

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Expand free?
Expand is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lucent free?
Lucent is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Expand or Lucent?
Lucent is rated higher. Expand averages 4.0 out of 5 from 302 ratings, while Lucent averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Expand or Lucent have ads?
Expand shows ads; Lucent does not.
Which is updated more often, Expand or Lucent?
Expand ships an update monthly, and Lucent every 5 months. Most recently, Expand was updated on October 27, 2026 and Lucent on October 24, 2026.

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