Petit BamBou: Reviews, Pricing, and Everything You Need to Know About the French Meditation App

Petit Bambou is the #1 French-language meditation app, created in 2014 by Benjamin Blasco and Ludovic Dujardin. As of early 2024, the app claims to have over 11 million users in 190 countries. A Petit Bambou subscription starts at €6.99/month or €39.99/year (52% off), with a lifetime plan available for €240. Over 800 guided meditations in native French are available, as well as a Kids program for ages 3–12. Here is the full review, pricing details, and a comparison with competitors.

Key points to remember

• Petit Bambou: a French app launched in 2014, the top meditation app in the French-speaking world
• Over 11 million users by early 2024, available in 190 countries and 6 languages
• 2026 Pricing: €6.99/month, €39.99/year, €29.99/6 months, €240 for a lifetime subscription
• Over 800 meditations in native French (no dubbing)
• PB Kids Program for children ages 3 to 12
• Yoga on Prescription has been available since 2023

What is Petit Bambou?

Petit Bambou is a guided meditation app in French, founded in 2014 by Benjamin Blasco (a 1996 graduate of École Polytechnique, formerly of PayPal) and Ludovic Dujardin. It was publicly launched in January 2015. It is the first mindfulness meditation app designed and written directly in French, without being translated from English.

• Founders — Benjamin Blasco (Class of 1996, formerly of PayPal) and Ludovic Dujardin
• Created in France, 2014; launched in January 2015
• Users — Over 11 million in 190 countries (as of early 2024)
• Languages — French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch
• Status — No. 1 French-language meditation app, among the top 5 worldwide
• Model — freemium (first program free, the rest available by subscription)

What will Petit Bambou's prices be in 2026?

Petit Bambou offers four pricing plans, with the annual plan being the most cost-effective option on a monthly pro-rata basis. The lifetime plan pays for itself after about four years.

• Offer|Price|Monthly equivalent|Savings
• Free|€0|—|"Discover" Program (8 sessions)
• Monthly|€6.99/month|€6.99/month|—
• Semi-annual | €29.99/6 months | €5.00/month | 28% off the monthly rate
• Annual | €39.99/year | €3.33/month | 52% off vs. monthly
• Lifetime|€240 one-time payment|—|Pays for itself after 4 years with an annual payment

Compared to international competitors, Petit Bambou is one of the most affordable options on the market. Calm costs €69.99 per year, and Headspace costs €65.99 per year. See the details in our comparison of the best meditation apps.

What does the Petit Bambou subscription include?

A Premium subscription unlocks over 800 guided meditations and all the themed programs. New content is added regularly, featuring the app’s French voices.

Available programs

• Introduction — The Basics of Mindfulness Meditation
• Stress and Anxiety — Managing Chronic Stress and Panic Attacks
• Sleep — Bedtime Stories, Evening Meditations
• PB Kids — Meditation for children ages 3 to 12 (special activities)
• Sports — Focus, Performance, Mental Recovery
• Students — managing exams, theses, and confidence
• Parents and Family — Compassionate Parenting, Managing Emotions
• Teens — programs tailored for teenagers
• Yoga on Prescription — Gentle Movement, Since 2023

Format and duration

Sessions range from 3 to 30 minutes in length and can be adjusted based on the time you have available. French voices (Benjamin, Ludovic, and guest speakers) guide the practice. All meditations are available for download so you can listen to them offline.

Who are these sessions designed for?

One of the service’s strengths is its segmentation by user profile. Each thematic section is curated by experts in the relevant field. Here are the most common usage patterns observed among active subscribers.

• Beginners — Free "Discover" Program (8 sessions to build a foundation)
• Stress and Anxiety — 10- to 15-minute sessions for immediate relief
• Trouble sleeping? — 15- to 30-minute sessions with Bedtime Stories
• Athletic performance — short meditations before exercise, longer ones during recovery
• Students During Exam Season — Managing Focus and Confidence
• Exhausted Parents — Parenting Programs, Crisis Management
• Pregnant women — classes tailored to pregnancy and childbirth preparation

Want to enjoy Petit Bambou without paying the full price? With a shared subscription, you can split the cost by legally sharing your subscription with other verified meditators. Find out how it works on spliiit

How does Petit Bambou compare to other apps?

The French-language meditation market has four main competitors: Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, and Mind. Here are the key differences you should know.

• Criterion|Petit Bambou|Calm|Headspace|Insight Timer|Mind
• Annual price|€39.99|€69.99|€65.99|Free / €59.99 Plus|~€50
• Country of Origin|France 2014|USA 2012|UK 2010|Australia 2010|France
• Sessions|800+|2,000+|500+|200,000+|~300
• Language: FR | Native | Partially dubbed | Dubbed | Multiple (depending on the teacher) | Native
• Children|PB Kids 3-12|Calm Kids|Limited|Multi|Limited
• Yoga|Yoga on Prescription|Yoga Limited|Move Mode|Multi|Limited

What are the pros and cons of Petit Bambou?

Here is a summary of the app’s strengths and weaknesses, based on user feedback after six months or more of use.

Benefits

• 100% native French content — no clumsy dubbing
• A soothing voice and a straightforward style, accessible to beginners
• Unbeatable value for money — €39.99/year vs. €65–70 with competitors
• The PB Kids Program: A Guide for Children
• Lifetime plan for €240—unique on the market
• Full offline mode for all sessions
• No ads, even in the free version
• B2B at large companies (BNP Paribas, L'Oréal) — your employer may cover the cost

Disadvantages

• A smaller selection than Calm or Insight Timer
• Fewer Sleep Stories than Calm (which features McConaughey, Murphy, etc.)
• No conversational AI coach (unlike some U.S. apps)
• An interface that is sometimes considered less modern than Headspace
• No Apple Watch integration as extensive as Apple Fitness+ Meditation
• The community is less active than on Insight Timer

How does Petit Bambou compare to Calm and Headspace?

See also our detailed comparison of Petit Bambou, Calm, and Headspace to explore the differences in depth.

When it comes to pricing, Petit Bambou is unbeatable in French. As for content, the balance depends on your preferred language and your expectations.

Petit Bambou vs. Calm

• Annual price — €39.99 (PB) vs. €69.99 (Calm), a 43% discount
• Total catalog — 800+ (PB) vs. 2,000+ (Calm), Calm is more extensive
• Sleep Stories — Calm featuring Matthew McConaughey, Idris Elba, and Cillian Murphy
• Native French voiceovers — PB advantage, Calm partially subtitled
• Kids — PB Kids is designed for children ages 3–12, as is Calm Kids

Petit Bambou vs. Headspace

• Annual price — €39.99 (PB) vs. €65.99 (Headspace), a 39% discount
• Total catalog — 800+ (PB) vs. 500+ (Headspace); PB has a larger selection
• Interface — A more modern Headspace, with educational animations
• Native French voices — PB Advantage, Headspace dubbed
• Apple Fitness+ Meditation — an option to consider within the Apple ecosystem

How can I save money at Petit Bambou?

There are four practical ways to lower your annual app bill without giving up Premium.

• Switch to the annual plan — €39.99 instead of €83.88 (-52%)
• Buy the lifetime plan — €240 pays for itself after 4 years with an annual plan, or 3 years with a monthly plan
• Take Advantage of B2B — Petit Bambou is included in certain workplace wellness packages
• Share a Family Plan — shared access for family members
• Co-subscription — a specialized platform like spliiit finding verified co-subscribers via our Petit Bambou guide
• Trial period — try the annual plan for 7 days before committing

Save up to 70% on your Petit Bambou Family subscription with a shared subscription. spliiit verified users so they can legally share seats on a family plan. See how it works.

Which option is right for you?

Petit Bambou isn't right for everyone. Here are our recommendations based on your situation.

• For French-speaking beginners: Petit Bambou is the perfect choice, with native-speaking voices and a gentle learning curve
• For family meditation (with children): Petit Bambou + PB Kids is designed for children ages 3–12
• For experienced practitioners: Petit Bambou or Insight Timer (free for professional teachers)
• When it comes to Sleep Stories, Calm still has the edge with McConaughey, Idris Elba, and others.
• For English speakers: Headspace or Calm offer more content
• For those on a tight budget: Insight Timer (free version)
• For corporate use: Petit Bambou offers a B2B solution used by BNP Paribas and L'Oréal

To split the cost of the app with your friends and family, check out our Petit Bambou sharing guide or our related guides for Headspace and Calm. To put it all in market context, check out our 2026 wellness guide, our Les Mills+ vs. iFit fitness comparison, or our Hallow review for the spiritual aspect.

Frequently asked questions

Is Petit Bambou really free?

Partially. The first “Discover” program (8 introductory sessions) is free with no time limit. Beyond that, all themed programs (stress, sleep, kids, sports) require a Premium subscription. It’s a classic freemium model.

What is the best Petit Bambou fare?

The annual plan at €39.99 offers the best immediate value for money (52% off compared to the monthly plan). The lifetime plan at €240 becomes more cost-effective after 4 years of continuous use. To try it out before committing, choose the six-month plan at €29.99.

Does the app work offline?

Yes. All Premium meditations can be downloaded in the app for offline listening. This is convenient for commuting, traveling, or saving mobile data. You can download them from each session’s page.

At what age can children start attending Petit Bambou Kids?

The PB Kids program is designed for children ages 3 to 12. The sessions feature characters and stories and last 3 to 10 minutes, depending on the child’s age. A free trial session allows you to see if your child enjoys the program.

Can you share Petit Bambou with your family?

There is a Family Plan available that explicitly allows sharing among family members. Beyond your household, co-subscription platforms like spliiit find verified co-subscribers. See our complete guide to sharing.

What is yoga on prescription?

Since 2023, Petit Bambou has offered a program of gentle movement and yoga recognized as “prescription exercise,” developed in collaboration with healthcare professionals. It is designed for people who are recovering from an illness, experiencing chronic stress, or managing health conditions (such as chronic illness or post-surgery recovery). Some health insurance providers now cover this type of program as part of their preventive care plans.

Does Petit Bambou work after just a few weeks?

User feedback and general studies on mindfulness meditation (APA 2024, BVA Xsight 2025) point to the same conclusion: 8 weeks of regular practice (short 10-minute sessions, 4 to 5 times a week) have a measurable effect on perceived stress and sleep quality. The effect is cumulative, so consistency is more important than duration.

Is Petit Bambou available on Apple Watch?

The app includes an Apple Watch companion app for starting a session and tracking your breathing. While the feature isn't as comprehensive as Apple Fitness+ Meditation, it lets you start a session right from your wrist and receive daily reminders.