Expand: Beyond Meditation

What it does

Expand is a meditation and wellness app that uses what it calls "Monroe Sound Science"—a form of audio technology—to guide users into deep states of relaxation and expanded awareness. The app provides a library of guided audio experiences for various goals like healing, joy, and sleep. Beyond passive listening, it incorporates community features like groups and events, a reflective journaling tool, and a customizable unguided timer.

Where it shines

Expand excels at creating an ecosystem that supports a user's entire wellness practice, not just the meditation itself. The post-session journaling flow (02:28) is a great example, seamlessly transitioning the user from listening to active reflection by prompting for a rating and written entry. The community integration is another strength; users can join groups like the "Monroe Institute" (01:13) and even RSVP to live, community-hosted virtual events (06:13), adding a layer of social connection and accountability.

UX highlights

Value-first onboarding. The app immediately offers a full 5-minute audio sample (00:13) before asking for any user input, demonstrating its core value upfront.
Content filtering is robust. The filter sheet (01:27) allows users to narrow down experiences by duration, type (guided/unguided), and status (free, favorited), making the library easy to navigate.
Journaling is well-integrated. After each session, a prompt to journal (02:35) encourages a consistent reflective practice and builds a valuable personal history within the app.
Offline access is straightforward. A clear "Download" button (01:46) on each session page allows for easy offline listening, a crucial feature for a media-heavy app.
Community features are accessible. Groups and events are not hidden away but are easily reachable from the user's main profile page, encouraging participation.
Customizable unguided timer. The timer (07:12) goes beyond a simple countdown, letting users mix and match proprietary audio "Signals" and background sounds for a self-directed practice.

Monetization & growth

Monetization is handled through a soft paywall for an "Expand Plus" subscription, which is not presented during the initial onboarding. The user encounters it organically when scrolling the main feed (03:26) or when trying to access locked features in the timer (07:50). The paywall itself (03:30) presents two options, Monthly and Yearly, highlighting the yearly plan as the "Best Value" with a significant discount. It uses a list of feature highlights to communicate the benefits of upgrading.

Who it’s for

Expand seems designed for individuals serious about building a deep and consistent meditation practice, rather than casual users. The emphasis on "Sound Science," journaling, and community groups suggests a target audience interested in personal growth, self-exploration, and connecting with like-minded people. The unguided timer also caters to more experienced meditators who may want to customize their sessions without constant vocal guidance.

Notes & opportunities

The app offers a polished and feature-rich experience. One small point of friction is the direct presentation of the ATT prompt during onboarding (00:59) without a warm-up screen to explain the benefits of opting in. In the main app, while filtering is powerful, the sheer number of content categories could potentially overwhelm a new user. A more guided discovery path on the home screen could help surface the most relevant content for a user's selected interests.