Background sound and mixing · 5-app comparison
Whether the app lets you adjust narration and background volumes separately.
Balance 
Gratitude 
Insight Timer 
Medito 
Waking Up Compare custom self-hypnosis creation and editing controls; existing recordings and clinical hypnotherapy are different offerings. Choosing a self-hypnosis app
Compare guided reflection, journaling and personalization tools for exploring how you see yourself. Self-concept journal prompts
Compare creating affirmation audio, cloning your voice, recording narration and replay controls. Own-voice app guide
Compare creating and revising original guided meditations, including scripts, voices, pauses and generation allowances. Create a custom meditation
Compare creating and editing personal tapping audio, rather than access to a library of recorded sessions. Choosing an EFT tapping app
Compare creating guided rehearsal audio around your goals, context and preferred pacing. What is mental rehearsal?
Compare custom yoga guidance, practice preferences and playback. See the guide for instructor-led class libraries. Choosing a yoga app
| Features1 selected | Balance Balance Premium | Gratitude Gratitude Pro | Insight Timer MemberPlus | Medito Free | Waking Up Waking Up membership |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adjust narration and background volumes separately |
No listed support
Balance: Personalized Plans assemble prerecorded audio in response to goals, experience and obstacles; Singles, sleep audio and interactive breathing are also available. No matching listener-controlled audio mixing or cue option was listed in the reviewed playback documentation. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.
Supporting sources:
Source checked . Availability can change.
No listed support
Gratitude's published affirmation music and image customization descriptions do not list this capability. This is our assessment of the reviewed documentation, not an explicit vendor denial.
Supporting sources:
Source checked . Availability can change.
Sound-mix volumes
Sleep Mixer supports separate volume levels for its sound layers. Separating embedded teacher narration from an already mixed recording is not established.
Supporting sources:
Source checked . Availability can change.
Background volume control
The in-app slider adjusts music relative to narration; device volume controls the overall mix. Two independent in-app narration/music faders are not described.
Supporting sources:
Source checked . Availability can change.
No listed support
Waking Up: Its documented offering consists of recorded teaching, configurable listening, playlists, and a meditation timer. The assessment concerns this specific control, rather than general access to wellness content. Our review found no listed support for this criterion; this is a published-feature assessment, not an explicit vendor denial.
Supporting sources:
Source checked . Availability can change.
Sources for 1 features across Balance, Gratitude, Insight Timer, Medito, Waking Up. Annual prices show the full yearly charge in USD. “Limited” includes conditions. “No listed support” means the feature was not found in the reviewed official documentation.
Balance: Personalized Plans assemble prerecorded audio in response to goals, experience and obstacles; Singles, sleep audio and interactive breathing are also available. No matching listener-controlled audio mixing or cue option was listed in the reviewed playback documentation. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.
Sleep Mixer supports separate volume levels for its sound layers. Separating embedded teacher narration from an already mixed recording is not established.
Checked . Sources: [1]
The in-app slider adjusts music relative to narration; device volume controls the overall mix. Two independent in-app narration/music faders are not described.
Checked . Sources: [1]
Waking Up: Its documented offering consists of recorded teaching, configurable listening, playlists, and a meditation timer. The assessment concerns this specific control, rather than general access to wellness content. Our review found no listed support for this criterion; this is a published-feature assessment, not an explicit vendor denial.