The 15 Best Apps to Help You Meditate
Key takeaways:
Apps can guide anyone — from the newbie to the enthusiast — toward a more regular meditation practice.
Many meditation apps are free but offer in-app upgrades or ongoing subscriptions for access to additional features.
Some apps offer meditations for specific issues like building new habits, sleep, reducing stress, or coping with anxiety.
Many people swear by the benefits of meditation, and with good reason. Studies show that meditating regularly — alongside your healthcare provider’s treatment recommendations — may help reduce anxiety and depression. It may also help lower blood pressure and improve chronic insomnia.
Regardless of the benefits, many people struggle to find time to meditate. If this is you, meditation apps may be the solution you’re looking for. Whether you’re new to mediation or an enthusiast, here are 15 of the most popular meditation apps to help you on your journey.
How do apps help with the meditation process?
Meditation apps can make it easier for you to stop whatever you’re doing and get centered. Their guided exercises can engage your mind, drown out distractions, and gently walk you through breathing and relaxation exercises.
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Many meditation apps have alerts to remind you when it’s time to take a break while others allow you to choose how long you want to meditate. This could be a quick 3-minute pause or a lengthy 45-minute session.
And many apps take meditation a step further. They offer courses to teach you the history of meditation and various meditation techniques. Plus, some apps have meditations for children and in languages other than English.
What features should I look for in a meditation app?
You may have to experiment with several apps before you settle on the one that’s right for you. As you begin your search, think about what you want to get out of your meditation experience. Consider:
How much money you want to spend
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced practitioner
If you want guided meditation for something specific like stress relief or help falling asleep
What extra features you might want, like bedtime stories or a meditation tracker
If you want access to a coach or guidance from a well-known meditation teacher
If you want to connect with other people who are using the app
Best meditation apps for beginners
There are plenty of meditation apps for beginners. These apps let you jump in without any previous experience, and several offer free sessions for you to try before you commit.
1) Simple Habit: Meditation, Sleep
Apple rating: 4.8 stars
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Google rating: 4.7 stars
Free, with add-on and premium features available from $3.99 to $95.99
Considers time of day, mood, and more to choose meditations
Has 5-, 10-, or 20-minute meditations available
Provides a great way for beginners to set a habit
Includes meditations led by many different teachers
2) MyLife Meditation
Apple rating: 4.8 stars
Google rating: 4.6 stars
Free access to basic meditations with additional features available starting at $9.99 a month
Includes background on meditation and why it’s beneficial
Eases you in slowly to meditating with breathing exercises
Recommends sessions based on how you feel
Offers more than 20 Spanish-language meditations
3) Ten Percent Happier
Apple rating: 4.8 stars
Google rating: 4.8 stars
Free 7-day trial with subscriptions starting at $9.99 a month
Lets experts coach you through the basics of meditation
Provides tips to build a regular meditation practice
Offers more than 500 guided meditations in the library
Includes sleep meditations and mindfulness stories
4) Buddhify
Apple rating: 4.8 stars
Google rating: 3.9 stars
App costs $4.99 to download on Apple and $3.99 on Android
Provides mindfulness exercises you can do any time of the day
Guides you through mindfulness in your daily activities like working, commuting, and waking up
Offers more than 200 meditations ranging from 3 to 40 minutes, including meditations for kids
Best free meditation apps
Many meditation apps — like the ones below — offer plenty of free features if you want a low-cost way to build your practice. After you’ve tried them, you may want to buy extra features or subscriptions to keep you going.
1) Insight Timer
Apple rating: 4.9 stars
Google rating: 4.9 stars
Free, with premium features and subscriptions available from $4.99 to $59.99
Offers guided meditations, sleep music, and talks by experts in mindfulness
Gives you more than 100 free guided meditations
Provides a range of meditation types and teachers so you can find what works for you
2) Smiling Mind
Apple rating: 4.6 stars
Google rating: 3.8 stars
Free
Offers hundreds of meditations organized into themes
Provides a range of meditations, most between 5 to 15 minutes
Includes kid and adolescent meditations
Developed alongside psychologists and other health professionals
3) UCLA Mindful
Apple rating: 4.7 stars
Google rating: 4.2 stars
Free
Offers meditations in Spanish and English
Provides a getting started section to help beginners choose a meditation
Gives you access to weekly podcasts with 30-minute meditations
Includes a meditation timer
4) Healthy Minds Program
Apple rating: 4.8 stars
Google rating: 4.7 stars
Free
Trains you on mindfulness and well-being
Offers hundreds of hours of research-backed meditation practices
Developed by the neuroscience research team at Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin
Best apps for guided meditation practice
These apps offer hundreds of guided meditations if you prefer to practice with the support of a teacher. Some recordings last just 5 minutes, enough for a quick brain break, while others last over an hour.
1) Sattva
Apple rating: 4.8 stars
Google rating: 3.7 stars
Free, with subscriptions for $12.99 a month or an annual subscription for $49.99
Gives you access to over 100 meditations and soundtracks with guidance, sacred sounds, mantras, chants, and music
Offers beginner meditations up to deep, more advanced meditations
Allows you to connect with a meditation community through the app
2) Shine
Apple rating: 4.7 stars
Google rating: 4.8 stars
Free, with subscriptions available starting at $14.99 a month to $69.99 a year
Provides a new daily meditation each weekday with reflection exercises
Helps you build personalized self-care skills
Offers members more than 1,000 meditations from diverse voices
Gives you access to a members-only community for support
3) Meditation Studio
Apple rating: 4.8 stars
Google rating: 4.8 stars
$3.99 to download for Android; free to download on Apple with a $49.99 annual subscription
Gives you access to guided meditations from teachers with a variety of backgrounds
Offers a timer feature for individual meditation with music and sounds
Provides more than 200 guided meditations organized by topics and collections
Includes meditations for specific communities like moms or veterans
4) Inscape
Apple rating: 4.8 stars
Google rating: 3.7 stars
Free 1-week trial; the annual subscription costs $58.99
Offers daily mindfulness meditations, breathing exercises, music, and sounds
Gives you personalized recommendations based on time of day and your goals
Provides guided meditations from 5 to 85 minutes for all experience levels
Best apps for guided sleep meditation
If you have trouble falling asleep, these meditation apps may help. They include sleep stories, soothing sounds, and mindfulness training.
1) Calm
Apple rating: 4.8 stars
Google rating: 4.3 stars
Free, with subscriptions available from $14.99 a month to $69.99 a year
Must have subscription, even for free version
Offers guided meditations for relaxation
Provides soundscapes and sleep stories
Teaches meditation techniques for daily life
2) Headspace
Apple rating: 4.9 stars
Google rating: 4.6 stars
Free for limited features, with full access available for $12.99 a month or $69.99 a year
Includes a library of guided meditations on sleep, stress, focus, and exercise
Helps you integrate mindfulness into all your daily activities
Teaches meditation techniques using visual animations
Offers guided meditations for kids
3) Aura
Apple rating: 4.7 stars
Google rating: 4.6 stars
Free, with subscriptions costing $11.99 a month or $59.99 a year
Offers mindfulness meditations, sleep tales, hypnosis, music, and sounds
Gives you personalized recommendations based on your needs and interests
Lets you build your playlist of favorite coaches
The bottom line
Meditation apps make it easy for you to get into the habit of meditating. Many have free options, giving you the chance to try before you buy additional features or premium subscriptions. Some meditation apps help you focus on a specific issue like stress or insomnia. Overall though, meditation apps guide you toward the same goals: helping you disconnect from distractions, enjoy relaxation, and achieve peace of mind.
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References
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. (2022). Meditation and mindfulness: What you need to know.
