Medito
Free, open-source meditation app from the Dutch non-profit Stichting Medito in Amsterdam, with guided meditations, sleep stories, courses and breathing exercises
Quick Overview
| Company | Stichting Medito |
|---|---|
| Category | Meditation and Mindfulness Apps |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Founded | 2020 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Netherlands (EU) |
| Data Location | Not stated; the privacy policy names Google, Meta, Superwall and Stripe as vendors that process data in the US or other countries outside the EEA |
| Open Source | AGPL |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Code is public; the hosted app is the intended way to use it |
| Main Features | Guided meditations, sleep stories, courses, breathing exercises, free for all, public code, volunteer contributors |
| Pricing | Free. No trials and no premium tier; funded by voluntary donations |
| Best For | People who want a meditation app with no subscription and publicly auditable code |
| Replaces | Calm, Headspace |
Detailed Review
Calm is a venture-backed subscription business. Medito takes the opposite structure: the home page calls it a registered non-profit in the Netherlands, says every meditation, course and feature is free, and says the app is available under the AGPL licence.
The site footer identifies Stichting Medito as a non-profit registered in the Netherlands, with KvK number 75284251 and RSIN 860222627.
How a Foundation Pays for a Free App
Funding comes from donations. The home page states that fewer than 1% of users have ever donated, which tells you how thin the margin is. The site says the app was built by more than 200 volunteers, professionals and enthusiasts, and gives 2020 as the founding year.
A foundation structure removes the incentive to upsell, but it also means roadmap and content depend on donor and volunteer capacity rather than on a paying customer base.
Open Code and Data Flows
The code is public on GitHub and the app is licensed under AGPL, so independent developers can read what it does. The privacy policy names Stichting Medito, Bogortuin 203 in Amsterdam, as data controller and lists Firebase Analytics, Firebase Crashlytics, Superwall for donation prompts and Meta's SDK for ad measurement in the app, which users can switch off in privacy settings.
That analytics stack means the European controller still sends some usage data to US vendors, a point to weigh if you want zero US processors.
Content and Evidence
The home page claims reach in more than 190 countries and research partnerships covering 8+ studies and 3,000+ participants; both are the foundation's own figures. The pages checked do not state the number of meditations or supported languages.
Limitations to Consider
The review rests on the foundation's home page and privacy policy, not on a hands-on test. Library size, languages and hosting location are not stated, and reach and study figures are the foundation's own claims.
Who Should Use Medito
Anyone who wants meditation without a subscription, and organisations that prefer a non-profit supplier with open code.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free, with no trial period and no premium tier
- App code is public under the AGPL licence
- Dutch non-profit with KvK and RSIN numbers published
- Named controller and postal address in the privacy policy
- Analytics in the app can be turned off in privacy settings
Cons
- Relies on donations, and fewer than 1% of users donate
- Privacy policy lists US vendors including Google, Meta, Superwall and Stripe
- Library size and supported languages are not stated
- Roadmap and content depend on volunteers and donations
Alternatives to Medito
Other European meditation and mindfulness apps worth comparing before you decide:
7Mind
Germany · Berlin courses-first meditation app with monthly and yearly plans
Petit BamBou
France · French meditation, breathing and sleep app with a free tier
8Breath
Germany · German breathwork and meditation app with a large free tier
Namatata
France · French app with express sessions and a free seven-session start
See all European meditation and mindfulness apps or compare them directly against Calm on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The home page says there are no trials and no premium tier, and that every meditation, course and feature is free. The foundation is funded by donations.
Yes. Stichting Medito is a non-profit registered in the Netherlands (KvK 75284251) with its privacy contact in Amsterdam.
Yes. The home page states that the code is public and that the app is available under the AGPL licence.