Meditation programs: UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) Guided Meditations vs. Ten Percent Happier

Quick Verdict

UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) Guided Meditations is a great choice for users seeking a free, scientifically-backed meditation app with a variety of styles and qualified instructors. Ten Percent Happier is better suited for users willing to pay for personalized plans, progress tracking, and coaching, despite the lack of a monthly subscription option and potential annoyance with the saxophone music.

UCLA MARC offers a free, scientifically-backed option with a wide variety of meditation styles, led by qualified instructors, while Ten Percent Happier provides personalized meditation plans, progress tracking, and access to meditation coaches, but requires a $99.99 annual subscription.
Both platforms are user-friendly and offer offline access to meditations. Ten Percent Happier integrates with Apple Health, while UCLA MARC does not integrate with other health and wellness apps.
UCLA MARC's meditations range from 3-19 minutes, whereas Ten Percent Happier's sessions are 5-25 minutes, with shorter options for panic. Audio quality information is limited for UCLA MARC, while Ten Percent Happier's audio quality is generally high, although some users may find the saxophone music annoying.

Key features – Side-by-Side

Attribute	UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) Guided Meditations	Ten Percent Happier
Variety of meditation types offered	Mindfulness, breathing, body scan, sitting, walking, loving-kindness (Metta), mindful movement, dealing with difficulties, sleep meditations, cultivating positive emotions	Guided meditations, expert-led courses, sleep meditations, inspirational talks, mindfulness, loving-kindness, body scan, walking meditations
Length of meditation sessions	3 to 19 minutes, shorter meditations are 3-5 minutes long	5-25 minutes, 1-10 minute meditations for panic
Instructor qualifications and experience	Led by Diana Winston (Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA's MARC), MARC-affiliated teachers	Experienced teachers, pioneers of meditation in the West (Joseph Goldstein, Sharon Salzberg), backgrounds in Buddhist teachings and mindfulness
User interface and ease of navigation	Website organizes meditations by type, UCLA Mindful App is easy-to-use	User-friendly, easy to navigate, clearly labeled courses, clean design
Audio quality and background music options	Not available	Generally high quality, some users find saxophone music annoying, no soundscapes or ambient music options
Offline access to meditations	UCLA Mindful App, website allows streaming and downloading	Yes
Integration with other health and wellness apps	Not available	Apple Health for iOS users
Progress tracking and statistics	Not available	Tracks user progress, Profile tab
Customization options	Not available	Personalized meditation plans based on monthly check-ins
Cost and subscription model	Free online and via the UCLA Mindful App	7-day free trial, annual subscription $99.99, no monthly option
Community features and support	Classes, workshops, retreats, weekly online meditation classes	Access to experienced meditation coaches via 'My Coach' feature
Scientific backing and research support	Created to bring mindful awareness to a research institution in a scientifically supported form, fosters and publicizes research on the benefits of mindfulness, research suggests mindfulness can help with stress, anxiety, depression, blood pressure, and the immune system	Meditation app for skeptics, rooted in proven meditation techniques

Overall Comparison

UCLA MARC: Free, variety of meditation styles. Ten Percent Happier: $99.99 annually, personalized plans.

Pros and Cons

UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) Guided Meditations

Pros:

Wide variety of meditation styles
Easy to use app
Free access
Led by qualified instructors
Offline access to meditations
Scientifically backed

Cons:

Potential issues with meditation downloads (skipping/repeating)
Audio quality and background music options information not available
No information on integration with other health and wellness apps
No progress tracking and statistics
No customization options

Ten Percent Happier

Pros:

Diverse range of meditation types
Experienced and relatable instructors
User-friendly and easy to navigate
Personalized recommendations
Guidance and support for consistent practice
Effective in reducing stress and anxiety

Cons:

Saxophone music may be annoying to some users
No monthly subscription option
Considered expensive compared to other subscription services
No soundscapes or ambient music options

User Experiences and Feedback

UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center (MARC) Guided Meditations

What Users Love

Effective in reducing stress and anxiety
Easy to navigate and user-friendly, especially for beginners
Diverse range of meditation styles to suit different needs
Knowledgeable and engaging instructors
Sufficient guidance and support for developing a consistent meditation practice

Common Complaints

Potential issues with meditation downloads
Skipping/repeating issues

Value Perception

Free guided meditations

User Recommendations

UCLA Mindful App is described as easy to use
Diana Winston is described as one of the nation's best-known teachers of mindfulness

Ten Percent Happier

What Users Love

Helps mitigate anxiety and depression
Easy to navigate and user-friendly, especially for beginners
Offers a diverse range of meditation styles
Provides personalized recommendations based on goals and needs
Provides guidance and support for developing a consistent meditation practice

Common Complaints

Some users find the saxophone music annoying
Considered expensive compared to other subscription services like Netflix

Value Perception

Some users feel it is worth the cost