Meditation Oasis: Simply Being

Focused meditation library with clinical credibility

Simply Being centers on guided meditation delivered by Mary Maddux, whose sessions have been used in hospitals, clinics, military programs, and schools. That real-world pedigree shapes everything about the tone: unhurried, accessible to complete beginners, and respectful enough of the practice to avoid talking down to experienced meditators. Richard Maddux's original music is a genuine differentiator, composed specifically to support relaxation rather than sourced from generic ambient libraries. Users can swap between that music and nature sounds, which is a small but meaningful personalization layer. The app does one thing and does it with care, though the content library is narrow by modern standards.

Lightweight performance hampered by outdated compatibility

A 68 MB install is modest even by 2009 standards, and the app loads without the overhead of social feeds, algorithmic recommendations, or streaks. Audio quality for the guided sessions is clean and consistent, which matters most in a meditation context where jarring transitions or compression artifacts would undercut the experience. Because the app has not been updated since November 2021, users on the latest iOS versions may encounter minor interface quirks or compatibility friction. No benchmark numbers are available to us, but the combination of a small footprint and simple audio-playback architecture suggests reliable day-to-day stability for most users, provided Apple's runtime compatibility holds.

Free download with unclear purchase transparency

The app is free to download, which removes the barrier to trying it. In-app purchases exist, but the precise breakdown of what is free versus locked is not transparently detailed in public-facing store information, which can frustrate users trying to assess value upfront. Compared to subscription-heavy rivals like Calm or Headspace, even a modest one-time unlock is likely to feel reasonable given the clinical pedigree of the content. That said, the stalled update history means you are paying for a static library rather than an evolving platform, and that distinction matters when weighing long-term value against competitors that add content regularly.

Privacy practices require checking the App Store label

We do not fabricate privacy findings. The definitive source for this app's data practices is the App Store privacy label on its product page, which details what data is collected, how it is used, and whether it is linked to your identity. As a general principle, meditation apps that require no account creation and operate primarily as audio players tend to have a lighter data footprint than platform-style wellness apps with social or coaching features. Checking the privacy label before downloading takes under a minute and is the only reliable way to verify what permissions Simply Being actually requests on your device.

Stripped-down interface accessible but visually dated

The interface reflects its origins: functional and uncluttered, but visually dated compared to the polished design language of current Health and Fitness apps. For users who find modern wellness apps overstimulating or feature-dense, that simplicity may actually be a feature rather than a flaw. On accessibility, the app's audio-first format is naturally compatible with VoiceOver use cases, since the core value is delivered through sound rather than visual interaction. Formal accessibility audit results are not available to us, but the straightforward navigation structure and absence of complex interactive elements suggest a relatively low barrier for users relying on assistive technologies.

Three-year update gap raises long-term viability concerns

This is the app's most significant weakness. Version 7.4, released in November 2021, stands as the most recent update at time of review, meaning the app has gone more than three years without a visible refresh. For a health and fitness app operating on a platform that updates its OS annually, that gap creates real risk: future iOS releases could introduce compatibility issues with no guarantee of a fix. The roughly 2,000 lifetime ratings accumulated since a 2009 launch also indicate a small and possibly shrinking user community. Simply Being is not abandoned in spirit, but the maintenance record does not inspire confidence for users planning long-term reliance on the app.