Samten
UK mindfulness and meditation app from Samten Limited in Wales, taught by the meditation teacher Gelong Thubten, for individuals, workplaces and education
Quick Overview
| Company | Samten Limited |
|---|---|
| Category | Meditation and Mindfulness Apps |
| Headquarters | Brecon, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2017 |
| EU Presence | Yes - United Kingdom (outside the EU, adequacy decision) |
| Data Location | Microsoft Azure servers (region not named in the privacy policy) |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Guided meditations, wellbeing assessment, individual, workplace and education offers, free entry route |
| Pricing | Prices set in the app, stated in pounds sterling including VAT per the terms; free route offered on the site |
| Best For | UK and Irish users who want a teacher-led app and organisations that want a British supplier for staff wellbeing |
| Replaces | Calm, Headspace |
Detailed Review
Samten is a small British company with a clear editorial identity: its content is led by Gelong Thubten, described on the site as a meditation teacher and author from the UK who spent over six years in intensive retreat, the longest lasting four years.
Samten Limited, company number 10546784, was incorporated on 4 January 2017 and is active, according to Companies House.
A Company With Visible Owners
Companies House lists two active persons with significant control, Simon Matthew Delve and Jamie Watkins, both British and resident in Wales. The team page names Simon Delve as CEO, Nathan Baranowski as CTO and Jamie Watkins as founder and board advisor.
That makes the ownership check straightforward: no foreign parent appears in the register entry.
Offers and Pricing
The site presents separate sections for individuals, workplaces and education, plus a short wellbeing assessment that the page says takes under two minutes. A free route is advertised, but its contents are not described. The terms state that fees are set out in the products and are in pounds sterling including VAT, and no amounts appear on the pages checked.
Anyone buying for a team should ask for written pricing.
Data Handling
The privacy policy names Samten Limited as controller, says information is stored on Microsoft Azure servers without naming a region, and says data may be transferred outside the EEA. The country list and safeguards sections still contain unfilled template text, and the data protection officer field is a placeholder, which a procurement team will want corrected.
Limitations to Consider
The review rests on Samten's website, terms, privacy policy and the Companies House entry, not on a hands-on test. Prices, library size and the Azure region are not stated, and the privacy policy contains unfilled template sections.
Who Should Use Samten
UK-based individuals and employers who want a teacher-led meditation app from a British company with named owners.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Active UK company with a public Companies House entry
- Owners and executives are named
- Led by a named teacher, Gelong Thubten
- Separate offers for individuals, workplaces and education
- Terms state prices in pounds sterling including VAT
Cons
- No prices on the pages checked
- Privacy policy has unfilled template text for transfers and the DPO
- Azure hosting region not named
- Free route contents not described
Alternatives to Samten
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
Medito
Netherlands · Free open-source meditation app run by a Dutch foundation
8Breath
Germany · German breathwork and meditation app with a large free tier
See all European meditation and mindfulness apps or compare them directly against Calm on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Samten Limited, company number 10546784, is active at Companies House, with two British persons with significant control.
The team page names Gelong Thubten, a meditation teacher and author from the UK who has spent over six years in intensive retreats.
The pages checked show no amounts. The terms say prices are in pounds sterling including VAT and are set in the products, so check the app or ask for a quote.