In our modern, digital world it can be hard to be present or give your brain the proper rest it needs. Finding ways to recharge your batteries is becoming an important part of life for everyone. Some people use white noise machines to help calm their minds to sleep. Athletes have started practicing meditation and some have even found a way to make exercises like running or rowing meditative.
But if none of that works for you, maybe you'll benefit from a more traditional form of meditation. We suggest you try a meditation app. It may sound strange to use technology to unplug from the digital world, but hear us out. The best meditation apps will guide you and teach you techniques that will help mindfulness become a habit for you. Ready to give it a try? Check out our list.
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The Best Meditation App - Our Top Picks
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- Best Overall Meditation App: Headspace
- Best Guided Meditation App: Alo Moves
- Best Free Meditation App: The Breathing App
- Best Meditation App for Beginners: Ten Percent Happier Meditation
- Best Meditation App for Anxiety: The Mindfulness App
- Best Meditation App for Kids: Smiling Mind
- Best Meditation App for Sleep: Calm
- Best Meditation App for Focus: Unplug
- Best Meditation App for Breathing: Breathwrk
- Best Budget Meditation App: Healthy Minds Program
Best Overall Meditation App - Headspace
SPECS
- Platform: Website, Apple, Google Play
- Payment structure: Monthly or annual subscription
Headspace is everything you are looking for in a meditation app. It is very easy to use, has a lot of different meditations that can help you with your specific goals, and it is reasonably priced. Anyone can benefit from Headspace—newcomers or people who have practiced for years.
You can use Headspace on both Apple and Android devices, plus you can access the content on their website from your computer. Headspace offers guided meditations, articles, physical exercises, and more in its holistic approach.
What We Like
- Ability to track your progress
- Educational nature
- A lot of free resources
What We Don't Like
- Monthly subscription is much more expensive than annual subscription
- A lot more beginner-level than advanced content
Best Guided Meditation App - Alo Moves
SPECS
- Platform: Website, Apple, Google Play
- Payment structure: Monthly or annual subscription
You can think of Alo Moves as a wellness coaching app. The app has everything you need in one place—guided meditations, yoga flows, and workouts. The instructors are all expert practitioners and the guided meditations range from teaching beginners how to build a practice to unwinding for sleep, and there are even some breathwork classes.
Other apps on the list will guide you, but many of them are not instructor-led classes. If you’re good at working on your own, then Alo Moves may not be necessary for you, but if you want to get the full guided meditation experience from a coach, plus access to other classes, then we highly recommend Alo Moves.
What We Like
- Classes taught by experts
- Variety of options available
- You can use this app for all of your mindfulness needs.
What We Don't Like
- Expensive
- Not great progress tracking
BUY: Alo Moves
Best Free Meditation App - The Breathing App
SPECS
- Platform: Apple, Google Play
- Payment structure: Free
Several of the meditation apps on our list have a free version or only a certain amount of content you can access without a membership, but The Breathing App is completely free. This app is very easy to use because it is as basic as possible with no guided meditations or educational content.
The only type of meditation used in the app is a breathing technique called Resonance. Resonance is controlled breathing that lets your body regulate your nervous system. It is something your body does on its own, but practicing it can help reduce stress.
What We Like
- Completely free
- Does not require a lot of time
- Helps reduce stress immediately
What We Don't Like
- No educational content
- No instructions other than the breathing prompt
Best Meditation App for Beginners - Ten Percent Happier Meditation
SPECS
- Platform: Apple, Google Play
- Payment structure: Annual subscription
The Ten Percent Happier app is co-founded by Dan Harris who authored a book and hosts a podcast of the same name as the app. Ten Percent Happier is a collection of guided meditations and courses that are designed to teach beginners meditation practices for long term mental health.
The app is for people who are new to mindfulness apps or skeptical about meditation and mindfulness as a way to address problems like chronic stress, anxiety, or lack of sleep. The app is well designed and easy to use so if you are looking to dip your toes into the practice of meditation then we recommend giving Ten Percent Happier a chance.
What We Like
- Structured as courses you can complete
- Organized by goals (reduce stress, battle depression, etc.)
- Courses are not centered on religious or spiritual content
What We Don't Like
- Subscription is annual only
- Limited courses about better sleep
Best Meditation App for Anxiety - The Mindfulness App
SPECS
- Platform: Apple, Google Play
- Payment structure: Monthly or annual subscription
If you experience regular anxiety but are unsure where to find relief, let us introduce you to The Mindfulness App. This app is very highly rated with a 4.8 star rating and almost 6,000 reviews in the App store. It is user-friendly and free to download with a premium subscription available.
The Mindfulness App has a huge selection of meditations that range from 3 to 99 minutes long so you can find what fits best into your schedule. The app's largest selection of content addresses anxiety and stress so there is content for anyone on this spectrum. There is also other content organized into 20 different topics.
What We Like
- Content in 10 different languages
- Sleep stories and nature sounds available for calming effect
- Apple Health and Apple Watch integration
What We Don't Like
- Not compatible with all Android devices
- The amount of content can be overwhelming for beginners
Best Meditation App for Kids - Smiling Mind
SPECS
- Platform: Website, Apple, Google Play
- Payment structure: Free
There are not many apps that focus on meditation for kids, but Smiling Mind is an incredible resource—particularly for teenagers. This app is free, funded by donations, and designed to make daily meditations part of the regular routine in classrooms.
Smiling Mind has guided meditations and resources that teach emotional awareness, empathy, and other skills to help kids grow up emotionally healthy as they learn to deal with stress. Smiling Mind sessions are a maximum of 10 minutes so they make a great class warm-up activity or mental break from work.
What We Like
- Kids meditate individually with headphones
- Lessons are sequential so kids are building skills
- Content can be downloaded and used offline
What We Don't Like
- Requires an email verification to register
- Not many resources for kids with learning differences
Best Meditation App for Sleep - Calm
SPECS
- Platform: Apple, Google Play
- Payment structure: Annual subscription
If you're looking for an app that will specifically help you sleep better or fall asleep faster then Calm is the best option for you. Calm has one of the largest libraries of sleep stories for kids and adults on our list. Calm isn't just a name—all parts of the user experience from voices to color schemes are designed to give you a sense of calm.
Calm also has a large number of nature sounds to choose as background noise for any meditation you are doing. You'll have access to a few sample lessons without paying for the subscription, but you won't get to experience the best Calm has to offer with just the basic membership.
What We Like
- Frequent content updates
- Suggestions are based on your personal feedback
- 30+ minute sleep stories for kids or adults
What We Don't Like
- Some content may be too advanced for kids
- Limited access without a paid membership
Best Meditation App for Focus - Unplug
SPECS
- Platform: Website, Apple, Google Play
- Payment structure: Monthly or annual subscription
Right now, it can be difficult to focus. We have distractions at our fingertips, we're surrounded by noise and screens constantly, and life can just feel chaotic. The Unplug app is made to help you find a bit of peace in the midst of all of this so you can focus and organize your mind.
Unplug has a library of over 1,000 video-guided meditations. Unplug focuses on “practical” meditations that help reduce stress and teach you skills to organize and manage your daily workload. These skills include visualizations, journaling, and reminders to practice gratitude.
What We Like
- Practical skills focus
- Largest library of content on the list
- Instructors are practicing professionals
What We Don't Like
- Expensive
- Not a personalized user experience
Best Meditation App for Breathing - Breathwrk
SPECS
- Platform: Apple, Google Play
- Payment structure: Monthly or annual subscription
Breathwrk is relatively new compared to other mindfulness apps, but it is a well designed app that has a lot of content for all levels from beginner to advanced. Breathwrk is focused primarily on breathing exercises to help reduce stress, help you fall asleep faster, provide you with a burst of energy, or improve physical performance.
Breathwrk incorporates strategies from other practices and training like Yoga techniques and Navy SEAL training and it is backed by scientific research. Since Breathwrk focuses on breathing techniques, it is easy to pick up and follow even if you've never tried meditation before.
What We Like
- Low entry barrier for beginners
- Teaches techniques that you can use with or without the app
- Research and science-based techniques
What We Don't Like
- Still being developed so some content is not accessible quite yet
- Not many options for customized experiences
Best Budget Meditation App - Healthy Minds Program
SPECS
- Platform: Website, Apple, Google Play
- Payment structure: Free
The Healthy Minds Program is a free app that covers all of the basics that you'll need if you're looking to get the benefits of meditation apps without paying for a subscription. There aren't many customizable options and the content can be limited at times, but it is a free app you can use to practice mindfulness.
This app has a proprietary teaching philosophy they call the Well-Being Framework, which explores the four pillars of well-being: awareness, connection, insight, and purpose. By doing so, it provides a holistic approach to health. This app is funded by donors so the content is high-quality despite being free to use.
What We Like
- High-quality, free content
- Holistic health approach
- Short meditations for busy users
What We Don't Like
- Much of the content may be too advanced for kids
- Limited customization
How To Choose the Best Meditation App
What is Meditation?
At a basic level, meditation is practicing awareness. There are many different techniques like breathing exercises, repetition, or listening to calming sounds that you can use to focus, calm your racing thoughts, or otherwise clear your mind. But the ultimate goal is to increase your awareness and connectedness with yourself and the world around you.
What Are the Benefits of Meditation?
Meditation has a lot of benefits and most people know that daily meditations can benefit your mental health. But there are also other benefits that range from helping you fall asleep faster to reducing anxiety and stress or giving your mind a break to recharge. The benefits you'll experience typically depend on the type of meditation you practice.
Who Should Practice Meditation?
Generally, meditation is considered to have little to no risks so it is safe for anyone. Many people can benefit from meditation, especially in our modern world where our brains never get a break from stimulation.
Meditation has also been shown to be helpful for people who suffer from mental health disorders like anxiety or depression. Some athletes also use meditation as a way to focus before competition or to boost energy levels for training.
FAQs About Meditation Apps
Do meditation apps really work?
Meditation apps are tools designed to help guide you, track your progress, or teach you techniques for meditating. They do work for those purposes, but whether meditation benefits you will depend mostly on you.
Do meditation apps help anxiety?
Meditation apps are relatively new, so studies are still being done. However, one study looked closely at Headspace and found that the app helped significantly reduce stress and depression in its users.
How do I start meditating everyday?
If you want to start meditation every day, you will have to practice. Meditation apps will give you the tools you need to build the habit and over time, you will see the results.
When should you meditate?
The best time to meditate depends on what you are trying to accomplish. For example, if you want to sleep better then you should meditate just before bed.
About the Author
Cory is a certified personal trainer and fitness nutrition coach. After spending six years as an educator and coach, Cory joined the ACTIVE team as a staff writer turning his passion for education toward helping ACTIVE readers live their best, healthiest lives.
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