About
The Plum Village App is a free mindfulness and meditation application developed by the Oak Forest Team in close collaboration with the Plum Village monastic community in France, realizing the vision of renowned Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh. It offers a rich library of hundreds of guided meditations, deep relaxation sessions, breathing exercises, and contemplative practices rooted in the Plum Village tradition of engaged Buddhism. Designed to make authentic mindfulness teachings accessible to everyone regardless of background or budget, the app provides audio-guided practices led by monastics and experienced teachers. Content spans topics such as taking care of emotions, mindful breathing, loving-kindness, and more — with new material regularly added. The app also includes a podcast for deeper exploration of Zen teachings. The project is sustained entirely through community donations via the 'Oak Forest Family' membership, keeping all content permanently free. A dedicated international volunteer team handles development, design, translations, and communications, ensuring the app remains high quality and culturally authentic. Ideal for complete beginners new to meditation, seasoned practitioners deepening their Zen practice, individuals managing stress or anxiety, or anyone seeking greater peace and clarity in daily life. Available on iOS and Android, the Plum Village App puts a world-class mindfulness community in your pocket — anytime, anywhere.
Key Features
- Hundreds of Guided Meditations: A continuously growing library of audio-guided meditation sessions led by Thich Nhat Hanh and Plum Village monastics covering breathing, emotions, relaxation, and more.
- Deep Relaxation Sessions: Dedicated deep relaxation recordings designed to help users fully unwind, release tension, and restore inner calm at any time of day.
- Podcast Integration: An in-app podcast offering longer-form Dharma talks, teachings, and conversations that deepen understanding of Zen mindfulness practice.
- Completely Free Access: All content is provided free of charge, sustained by the Oak Forest Family community of donors — no subscriptions, paywalls, or premium tiers.
- Multi-Language Support: Dedicated translators ensure practices and teachings are accessible to a global audience in multiple languages.
Use Cases
- Starting or maintaining a daily meditation practice with guided audio sessions from an authentic Zen tradition.
- Using deep relaxation recordings to unwind before sleep or recover from a stressful day.
- Exploring Zen mindfulness teachings through the in-app podcast for personal growth and spiritual development.
- Introducing beginners to meditation in a gentle, accessible, and cost-free way.
- Supporting emotional well-being by practicing mindful techniques for taking care of difficult feelings.
Pros
- Entirely Free: Unlike most meditation apps that lock content behind subscriptions, the Plum Village App offers its full library at no cost to the user.
- Authentic Tradition: Content comes directly from Thich Nhat Hanh and the Plum Village monastic sangha, providing genuine, high-quality mindfulness teachings rather than generic wellness content.
- Large & Growing Content Library: Hundreds of practices across different themes and durations mean users always have something new to explore regardless of experience level.
- Community-Supported Mission: The app is backed by a passionate volunteer team and donor community committed to keeping mindfulness freely accessible worldwide.
Cons
- No AI Personalization: The app does not use AI to personalize recommendations or adapt content to individual user habits, progress, or goals.
- Single Tradition Focus: Content is rooted exclusively in the Plum Village Zen tradition, which may not suit users seeking secular, science-based, or other mindfulness styles.
- Dependent on Donations: As a donation-funded project, future content development and maintenance rely on continued community financial support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Plum Village App really free?
Yes, the app and all its content are completely free to download and use. It is sustained by voluntary donations through the Oak Forest Family community, with no paywalls or subscription tiers.
Who created the content in the app?
All practices are offered by Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh and members of the Plum Village monastic community based in France, ensuring authentic and high-quality mindfulness teachings.
What types of practices are available?
The app includes guided meditations, deep relaxation sessions, breathing exercises, loving-kindness practices, emotional care meditations, Dharma talks, and a podcast — covering a wide range of mindfulness themes.
Which platforms is the app available on?
The Plum Village App is available on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play), making it accessible on most smartphones and tablets.
How can I support the app?
You can support the app by joining the Oak Forest Family as a donor. Contributions help the team add new content, improve the user experience, and keep everything free for all users globally.
