6th Mind vs Waking Up
Clinically based AVE therapy, in a free app.
Download the free app - no subscription needed
| Feature | Waking Up | 6th Mind |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $99.99/year subscription required (with scholarship program) | Free app, no subscription needed. Optional Premium: $5.99/month |
| Primary Purpose | Philosophy-based mindfulness and contemplative practice | Clinically based mental health therapy for depression, anxiety, insomnia, burnout |
| Foundation | Buddhist philosophy, secular spirituality, consciousness exploration | Clinical neuroscience, therapeutic practice data |
| Scientific Approach | Philosophy and contemplative wisdom | Clinically based AVE research with documented therapeutic outcomes |
| Method | Passive meditation practice guided by Sam Harris | Active brain stimulation for direct therapeutic effect |
| Goal | Understanding consciousness, philosophical insights | Measurable symptom reduction in mental health conditions |
| Personalization | General meditation courses and topics | AI-personalized based on clinically based symptom assessment |
| Best For | Philosophical exploration, consciousness studies | Clinically based support for depression, anxiety, insomnia and burnout |
Waking Up is built on Buddhist philosophy and contemplative wisdom, teaching you to explore consciousness and understand the nature of the self through meditation.
6th Mind is built on clinical neuroscience and therapeutic practice data. We use Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE) to directly influence your brainwaves for therapeutic effect, not philosophical insight.
Waking Up requires a $99.99/year subscription (though they offer scholarships if you can't afford it).
The 6th Mind app is free for everyone. No subscription needed, no scholarship application. Optional Premium ($5.99/month) adds extra packs and more room in the Session creator. Mental health therapy should be accessible to everyone without requiring financial justification.
Waking Up aims to deepen your understanding of consciousness and build a meditation practice. Benefits are largely subjective and philosophical.
6th Mind delivers measurable improvements in depression scores, anxiety levels, and sleep quality. We track your progress with validated clinical questionnaires and adjust therapy based on your response.
Waking Up is designed for people interested in understanding consciousness, philosophy, and the contemplative tradition.
6th Mind is designed specifically for people dealing with depression, anxiety, insomnia and burnout. If you need therapeutic help rather than philosophical insights, 6th Mind is the right choice.
Waking Up requires developing meditation skills over time. You need to practice regularly and correctly to see benefits from contemplative practice.
6th Mind's AVE therapy works immediately from your first session. No meditation skills required, no learning curve - the technology actively guides your brain into therapeutic states while you simply relax.
While Waking Up teaches contemplative practice and consciousness exploration, 6th Mind delivers clinically based brain stimulation therapy for measurable mental health results. Get effective treatment for anxiety, depression, and insomnia without paying for a subscription or developing meditation skills. If you're looking for therapeutic outcomes rather than philosophical insights, 6th Mind is your superior free alternative.
Weighing up other apps, headsets or light machines? See how the free, clinically based 6th Mind compares as an alternative to each: