Hallow (app)
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Meditation |
| Founded | December 2018 |
| Founders | Alex Jones Erich Kerekes Alessandro DiSanto |
| Headquarters | , U.S. |
Key people | Alex Jones (CEO) |
| Website | hallow |
Hallow is an American Catholic meditation and prayer app owned by Hallow, Inc.[1][2]
The Hallow app provides audio-guided Bible stories, prayers, meditations, sleep, and Christian music.[1][3] Other features include community challenges and daily prayers such as the Catholic practice of Lectio Divina, curated music, praylists, and options to set prayer routines.[4]
Hallow is based in Chicago, Illinois in the United States.[5][6] Alex Jones is the chief executive officer (CEO) of the company.[7]
History
[edit]Hallow was founded by Alex Jones, Erich Kerekes, and Alessandro DiSanto in December 2018.[8][9] Alex Jones, who grew up as a Catholic, lost his faith as a teenager.[5][4] With the use of meditation, Jones chose to revert to Catholicism and made the decision to create a platform to assist others in a similar situation.[1][4]
In January 2022, the app was launched in the Spanish language.[10]
As of February 2022, the app has been downloaded more than two million times.[7] Hallow's subscription is available in two tiers: monthly and yearly.[4][9] Since then actor Jonathan Roumie, who portrayed Jesus in The Chosen, has appeared in ads for the app.[11]
In April 2022, Hallow announced a partnership with American actor Mark Wahlberg.[12]
In June 2022, Hallow started the I am Here Eucharist campaign in partnership with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit.[13][14]
In April 2025, the app cut ties with British actor and comedian Russell Brand, after he was charged with rape and other sexual offenses.[15]
Controversies
[edit]In November 2023, Hallow received criticism from conservative Catholics, including Lila Rose, after partnering with actor Liam Neeson. This was due to Neeson having previously advocated for pro-choice causes, as well having fought to help successfully repeal the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland. Following criticism, Jones defended Hallow's decision to hire Neeson.[16] In December 2024, Jones changed his stance, describing the partnership as a mistake.[17]
Conservative Catholic magazine Crisis has criticized Hallow as "shallow", and accused the app of "problematic monetization and celebritization of prayer".[18] Giles Fraser of UnHerd has also criticized the app for its pricing model, which is set at $69.99 annually as of May 2025. Fraser also pointed to the app's estimated $51.4 million annual income, while comparing the subscription cost to medieval indulgences.[19]
Popularity
[edit]In February 2024, Hallow reached the No. 1 spot in Apple's App Store, ahead of ChatGPT, Google and others.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Taylor, Isaac (December 21, 2021). "Religion Apps Attract Wave of Venture Investment". Wall Street Journal – via www.wsj.com.
- ^ "A Catholic app raised $52 million. But praying with your smartphone has its limits". America Magazine. November 24, 2021.
- ^ "Ignatian Spiritual Exercises on the Hallow app are facilitating encounters with God". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. June 3, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Tribune, Erica Pearson Star (20 March 2022). "Worship apps prompt Minnesotans to pray every day". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 10 April 2022. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Catholic prayer app, Hallow, gets $40 million in funding". Fortune.
- ^ "Chicago company behind Catholic prayer app raises $12 million". Crain's Chicago Business. April 16, 2021.
- ^ a b "Virtual worship gives organised religion a boost". Financial Times. February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Hallow Meditation App is All Catholic". NCR. 2 January 2019.
- ^ a b Sadowski, Dennis (June 24, 2022). "Small Screen Faith. Prayer apps galore".
- ^ "Crux". Cruxnow.com. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-05.
- ^ "Hallow teams with 'The Chosen' cast for Advent prayer challenge". Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture. 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
- ^ Breck Dumas. Catholic App Hallow and Mark Wahlberg Launch Partnership Fox Business News April 13, 2022.
- ^ "Hallow app, Archdiocese launch 'I AM HERE' Eucharist campaign". Catholic News Agency.
- ^ Capizzi, Anna (June 16, 2022). "Detroit Archdiocese, Hallow app launch campaign to share power of Eucharist". Archived from the original on June 16, 2022.
- ^ "Hallow prayer app cuts ties with Russell Brand after police charges". Catholic Herald. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
- ^ "Hallow App Defends Partnership With Liam Neeson, a Supporter of Abortion". Catholic News Agency. 23 December 2023.
- ^ Laffin, Peter. "Hallow App's Alex Jones Calls Liam Neeson Advent Partnership a 'Mistake'". National Catholic Register.
- ^ "Is Hallow Shallow?". Crisis Magazine. 28 November 2023.
- ^ Fraser, Giles (5 May 2024). "The ungodly truth about Hallow". UnHerd.
- ^ Dumas, Breck (2024-02-15). "Prayer app Hallow takes top spot on Apple App Store". FOXBusiness. Retrieved 2024-03-10.