Headspace is user friendly and the best overall meditation app
Meditation is a great way to refocus and center yourself, but when life is hectic and distracting, it can be difficult to master. Enter meditation apps: technology-based applications that contain guided meditation sessions as short as one minute or as long as 30 minutes. These apps can help make meditation easier and more intuitive, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro.
We have rounded up the best meditation apps based on criteria like evidence-based design, expert involvement, practitioner level, ease of navigation, variety of meditations offered, and cost. Use this list to find the perfect fit for your needs.
Best Meditation Apps of 2024
- Best Overall: Headspace
- Best for Beginners: Ten Percent Happier Meditation
- Best for Sleep: Calm
- Best Budget: Insight Timer
- Best Guided: Buddhify
- Best for Focus: Unplug
- Best Selection: Simple Habit
- Best for Learning Breathing Techniques: Breathwrk
- Best for Kids: Smiling Mind
Best Overall Headspace
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Key Specs
- Cost: Free 7- or 14-day trial; $12.99/month; $69.99/year; family plan for up to six users is $99.99/year
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Features: Meditation guides for all levels
Why We Chose It
Headspace has a user-friendly interface with hundreds of guided meditations promoting mindfulness, better sleep, reduced stress, and more for beginners to experts.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- User-friendly app
- Guided meditations for beginners
- Cues to cope with external sounds
- Hundreds of meditations to choose from
Cons
- Membership is a bit expensive
- Need a subscription to access most features
- Can be a little difficult to navigate
Overview
Headspace says it’s on a mission to improve the health and happiness of the worldwith science-backed meditation and mindfulness tools that help create life-changing habits to support better mental health. With over 70 million downloads in 190 countries, Headspace is well on its way to achieving its mission.
Those new to the app can take advantage of a 7- to 14-day free trial depending on subscription level (monthly or annual). Headspace Plus opens access to hundreds of guided meditations that promote everything from reduced stress to better sleep. There are short meditations you can do anytime with expert guidance from Headspace co-founder and former monk Andy Puddicombe. Or, choose sleep sounds to ease your mind into a truly restful night.
Note that to take advantage of the full benefits offered by Headspace, you will need a membership, which runs $12.99 a month or $69.99 a year.
I’m a Therapist Who Tried Headspace to Help Conquer My Stress
Best for Beginners Ten Percent Happier Meditation
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Key Specs
- Cost: Free 14-day trial; about $100/year
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Features: Access to meditation courses, expert-led talks, and podcasts
Why We Chose It
We selected Ten Percent Happier for people beginning their road to meditation enlightenment because this app caters to newbies with easy-to-follow guided meditations. It also has shorter sessions that can be increased over time.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Good for sleep and stress
- Hundreds of meditations available
- Live group classes with time to ask questions
- Easy to use
Cons
- Above-average membership cost
- Not great for more advanced practitioners
Overview
Based on ABC news anchor Dan Harris’s book, “10% Happier,” the Ten Percent Happier app teaches meditation basics in a fun, easy, and accessible way. It’s well suited for anyone, but especially those who think they’re “not the meditation type” and can’t find the time to start a meditation practice.
When starting on the app, you’re asked a series of questions about what you’re hoping to get out of meditation and what you would like to address through meditation, such as sleep, mindfulness, or anxiety. After that, you’ll have your meditation plan, and you’re on your way to learning meditation via a program tailored to your needs.
You’ll start with short on-the-go meditations designed to be listened to whenever you can fit them in (like during your commute or before bed). See how many consecutive “Mindful Days” you rack up. With time, these moments of calm will become second nature.
I’m an Anxious Mom Who Tried the Ten Percent Happier App to Help Me Relax
Best for Sleep Calm
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Key Specs
- Cost: 7-day free trial; $69.99/year
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Features: Calming background sounds and short meditations
Why We Chose It
Calm is well known for promoting relaxation and sleep thanks to its soothing background sounds and to-the-point meditations.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Offers many individual exercises
- Less structured
- Calming sounds in background
Cons
- App isn’t the most intuitive
- Limited free content
Overview
What’s keeping you up at night? Anxious thoughts? Lack of focus? A stressed-out psyche? Calm’s guided meditations will have you sleeping soundly and feeling more relaxed almost instantly. Beyond that, the app provides several meditations to help reduce stress and improve mindfulness and self-compassion.1
Calm stands out from the crowd because of its offerings and impressive meditation catalog. Its newest offering is Calm Body, a series of 10-minute guided videos that teach gentle stretching to help you unwind. One of the best features is Sleep Stories, which feature bedtime stories from soothing celebrity voices like Matthew McConaughey.
To get the most out of the app, you’ll need a subscription, paid either annually at $69.99. The good news is that the tools and meditations you’ll learn may benefit you for a lifetime.
I Tried the Calm App to Help Improve My Sleep Habits
Best Budget Insight Timer
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Key Specs
- Cost: Free; premium subscription is $60/year
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Features: Over 150,000 free meditations
Why We Chose It
Insight Timer has a giant library of free meditations, so if your budget is tight, this is the meditation app for you.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Over 150,000 free meditations
- Easy to search and filter content
- Free 7-day intro course
- Free community of meditators
Cons
- Not the most intuitive app
- Too many choices overwhelms some users
- Some technical glitches
Overview
Insight Timer offers more than 45,000 free meditations—that’s a big deal, since one of the biggest complaints about other meditation apps is their lack of free content. The library allows you to filter by need (e.g., stress, sleep, self-esteem); time, from five to 30 or more minutes; or specific benefit, such as pain relief, relationship woes, or teaching kids to meditate. If you’re new to meditation, opt for the seven-day free course on how to meditate.
Another cool feature is the community of fellow mindful folks you’re able to interact with on the app. Connect in group chat rooms like “Be Here Now” and “Loving Kindness and Compassion” or choose a group by topic, like LGBTQIA+, relationships, nutrition and wellness, or weight loss.
Between the extensive library and the group chats, Insight Timer is one meditation app worth downloading.
I’m a Therapist and I Tried Insight Timer to Improve My Sleep and Mindfulness
Best Guided Buddhify
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Key Specs
- Cost: $4.99 for iOS users; $3.99 for Google Play users; in-app purchases
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Features: Wheel of meditation practices
Why We Chose it
Buddhify has hundreds of targeted meditations for many mental health issues you may be struggling with.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Over 200 targeted meditations
- Easy to use
- Wheel of meditation practices helps you choose the one you need
Cons
- No desktop version
- No free features
- In-app purchases
Overview
Buddhify is the only app on our list that requires you to pay for it before downloading. Touted as family-made and operated, it promotes meditation and all its benefits through one app, including its newest feature, Buddhify Kids. So while this app costs money to download, there is something for the entire family to enjoy.
Buddhify excels in the meditation app category for its wheel of meditation. It looks like a spinning pinwheel with each section color-coded and labeled with a different meditation for a particular need: alleviate anxiety, improve relaxation, promote sleep, improve focus, and more.
It’s super easy to use, and you can create your own wheel of meditation practices for quick access when you need them. Each one lasts four to 30 minutes. As you advance in your skill, you can use the timer to meditate on your own without guidance.
Whether you’re grabbing a minute in between tasks at work, taking a walk, boarding a plane, or dealing with overwhelming feelings, this app has a targeted meditation (over 200 of them) available.
Are You a Meditation Novice Like Me? Buddhify Holds Your Hand While You Learn
Best for Focus Unplug
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Key Specs
- Cost: 7-day free trial; $12.99/month; $69.99/year
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Features: Meditation timer, progress tracker
Why We Chose It
The Unplug app has short, powerful meditations led by world-renowned teachers, and since they’re just a few minutes long, the app is great to use when you need to quickly refocus and destress.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Expert guides to tackle mental health issues
- Intuitive design
- Includes progress tracker
Cons
- Have to pay to keep using the app
- Somewhat expensive
Overview
Unplug is the self-professed “meditation app for people who don’t have time to meditate but want to experience all the benefits.” The app offers short and long meditations that help address anxiety and stress through calming, easy-to-follow, expert-guided meditation.
With over 100+ world-renowned guides and 1,000+ videos filmed in its Los Angeles meditation studio, Unplug surely has a meditation to fit your schedule and needs. Classes include mindfulness, guided imagery, sound baths, hypnosis, breathwork, and more.
If you want to make meditation a part of your daily routine, commit to the seven-day challenge. If you find yourself so immersed in meditation that you want to become a teacher, Unplug offers teacher training through its website as well, starting at $3,500 for a six-week course.
Best Selection Simple Habit
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Key Specs
- Cost: Free; about $12/month, $90/year, or $300/lifetime for premium
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Features: 5-minute meditations, bedtime stories
Why We Chose It
Simple Habit has an extensive library of meditations that are intuitively cataloged and easy to find.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 5-minute meditations available
- Includes expert guidance
- Offers bedtime stories
- Free
Cons
- Not many longer meditation offerings
- Need to pay to unlock all features
Overview
If you want to get more out of your meditation than relaxation and better sleep, Simple Habit is for you. It’s designed to help you boost your confidence, shake off anxiety, get over a breakup, or simply be more present. You’ll love how each meditation is specifically titled, making it easy to find the one that you need.
There are 160 experts guiding hundreds of meditations specifically geared to helping you get through difficult life events, emotions, and experiences. The app also offers special meditations designed to help you overcome panic attacks or lessen stress.
In addition, Simple Habit offers free and paid guided yoga sessions. If you opt for a premium subscription, you can use the app offline, which makes catching a few minutes of mindfulness even more accessible.
Best for Learning Breathing Techniques Breathwrk
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Key Specs
- Cost: Premium subscription for $9/month or $49/year with a seven-day free trial
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Features: Learn breathing techniques you can use anytime
Why We Chose It
While many breathing apps only focus on meditation and relaxation, Breathwrk also offers classes and programs promoting the long list of benefits of focused breathing.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Meditations geared toward relieving pain and improving energy
- Wide variety of meditations available
- Teaches calming breathing techniques you can do without the app
Cons
- Premium subscription needed to unlock most options
- Requires internet access while using
Overview
The Breathwrk app has numerous breathing exercise programs that promote calm, relaxation, and pain management, and offer an energy boost to help carry you through your workday.
Breathwrk’s wide range of breathing exercises will benefit you for a lifetime. Learn focused breathing techniques during classes called Calm, Sleep, Awake, Energize, Anxiety, Ease Pain Relief, Unwind, Reboot, Recharge, and Stamina.
Research shows that”slow, voluntarily regulated breathing practices are non-invasive, easy to learn, and generally safe for treating patients with symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, depression, stress- and trauma-related disorders, ADHD, schizophrenia, and substance abuse.”2
I’m an Insomniac Who Tried the Breathwrk App to See if It Could Help Me Sleep
Best for Kids Smiling Mind
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Key Specs
- Cost: Free
- Platforms: iOS, Android
- Features: Meditations for children and the entire family
Why We Chose It
Smiling Minds has guided meditations and activities designed specifically for children, including easy one-minute meditations and fun guided meditations like The Bubble Journey.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Totally free
- Geared toward children 5 and up
- Meditations start at one minute long to help children build on the practice
Cons
- Children will need a phone or tablet to use the app
- Email address is required at sign-up
- Australian accent may be distracting for some children
Overview
Smiling Mind was developed by psychologists and educators in Australia to help bring mindful balance to children and adults. The app’s creators believe “accessibility and inclusiveness are key to empowering a new generation to thrive. We approach everything we do in an open, curious, and non-judgmental way.”
Smiling Mind is perfect for children 3 and older thanks to programs like The Bubble Journey, Smiling Starfish, and the Snow Globe. There are also guided meditations for older children that focus on being a better student, being more present, and using mindfulness to excel while playing your favorite sports.
Meditation and mindfulness can help lead to better attention, memory, regulation of emotions, and self-awareness. In turn, improvements in these areas can bring about reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as better academic skills, social skills, and self-esteem.3
I Tried the Smiling Mind App to See if It Could Help Me Stop Worrying Constantly
Final Verdict
The meditation apps on this list will help you harness the healing powers of meditation with the swipe of a finger. Headspace is our overall winner because whether you’re a meditation newbie or a seasoned pro looking for some structure, the app is jam-packed with meditations, sleep and nature sounds, calming music, guided self-help courses, and more.
If your budget is limited or you want to get an idea of how meditation apps work or what meditation is all about, try Insight Timer. With thousands of meditations to choose from, you can easily take a deep dive into the world of meditation without spending a cent.
Compare the Best Meditation Apps
| Company | Cost | Platforms | Features |
| Headspace Best Overall | Free 7- or 14-day trial; $12.99/month; $69.99/year; family plan for up to six users is $99.99/year | iOS, Android | Meditation guides for all levels |
| Ten Percent Happier Best for Beginners | Free 7-day trial; about $100/year | iOS, Android | Access to meditation courses, expert-led talks, and podcasts |
| Calm Best for Sleep | 7-day free trial; $69.99/ year | iOS, Android | Calming background sounds and short meditations |
| Insight Timer Best Budget | Free; premium subscription for $60/year | iOS, Android | Over 150,000 free meditations |
| Buddhify Best Guided | $4.99 for iOS users; $3.99 for Google Play users; plus in-app | iOS, Android | Wheel of mediation practices |
| Unplug Best for Focus | Free 7-day trial; $12.99/month, $69.99/year | iOS, Android | Meditation timer, progress tracker |
| Simple Habit Best Selection | Free; $12/month, $90/year, $300/lifetime for premium | iOS, Android | 5-minute mediations |
| Breathwrk Best for Learning Breathing Techniques | 7-day free trial; $9/month; $49/year | iOS, Android | Breathing techniques you can use anywhere |
| Smiling Mind Best for Kids | Free | iOS, Android | Mediations for children and the entire family |
Guide for Choosing Apps for Meditation
How to Choose the Right Meditation App for You
When choosing the best meditation app to meet your needs, make a mental list of what you’re hoping to achieve with the app; for instance, you might want to see what meditation is all about, learn breathing techniques, discover anxiety coping skills, or achieve better sleep. Next, consider how much time and money you can devote to the practice.
What to Look for in a Meditation App
Below are a few factors to weigh before downloading a meditation app to ensure you get the most out of it.
- Pricing: The listed apps range in price from totally free to $100 for an annual subscription. Balance your financial investment with your time investment so you don’t blow your budget on an app you don’t have the time to fully explore.
- Devices: Even though all the apps on this list are available for iOS and Android, that doesn’t mean they will work with all of your devices. If you want an app to work with your smartwatch or tablet, make sure it’s available on those devices before you download it.
- Expert guidance: Apps geared toward improving mental health should have research-based information and expert-driven techniques. Better yet, look for apps with meditations guided by experts.
- Programs offered: As you can see from this list,meditation apps don’t just target meditation. Find an app that meets your needs and offers a few additional options you are interested in, like breathing techniques, soothing soundtracks, sleep stories, self-help activities, and more.
- Time investment: Some apps offer one- to five-minute guided meditations, while others have 20- to 30-minute sessions. Consider the amount of time you are comfortable committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How Do Meditation Apps Work?
- What Are the Benefits of Using a Meditation App?
- Are Meditation Apps Worth It?
- Is 15 Minutes of Meditation a Day Enough?
- Are There Any Meditation Apps That Are Completely Free?
Methodology
Our writers diligently researched the best meditation apps on the market before making their final recommendations. They considered more than 20 meditation apps, read over 150 reader reviews (both positive and negative), and used many of the meditation apps themselves. The apps were rated on the evidence-based programs offered, expert involvement in the creation of the meditations, whether the meditations were guided or self-led, the overall variety available, the issues addressed in the meditations (e.g., better sleep, reduced anxiety, or better focus), and price.
3 july 2019
