12 Best Meditation Apps to Help You Master Mindfulness
Looking for the best meditation apps to help you master mindfulness? Look no further – we’ve got you covered!
Meditation is a great way to refocus and center yourself, but with life being as hectic and distracting as it is today, it can be an unusually difficult task to master. Enter meditation apps, and technology-based guides that can help make meditation easier and more intuitive, whether you’re a first-time meditator or a seasoned pro who’s let their meditation muscle atrophy.
We’ve put up this essential guide to assist you in choosing the right meditation app for you. We’ve rounded up the best of the best, taking into account factors like ease of use, features, and price.
Best Meditation Apps To Recharge & Relax
In our hyper-connected and constantly-evolving world, it can be difficult to find time for oneself. Between work, family obligations, and social engagements, many of us feel pulled in a million different directions. That’s where meditation comes in.
What is Meditation?
At its core, meditation is a practice of mindfulness. It’s an opportunity to step away from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and focus on the present moment. By clearing our minds of distractions and focusing on our breath, we can find stillness and peace.
Meditation has been around for hundreds of years and is practiced all over the world. With the increase in mindfulness meditation, it has recently become more popular.
There are many different types of meditation, but the goal of each is to focus and calm the mind. When we meditate, we can train our attention span and learn to control our thoughts. In turn, this can lead to improved focus, concentration, and decreased stress levels.
How to Meditate The Right Way
There are many different ways to meditate, but the basics are always the same. Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. As thoughts come into your mind, simply acknowledge them and let them go. Don’t get attached to anyone’s thoughts; instead, let them float away like clouds in the sky.
Once your eyes are closed, follow these simple steps:
- Breathe in and out slowly and deeply.
- Focus your attention on your breath.
- If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to your breath.
- Follow the sensation of your breath as it goes in and out.
- Continue for as long as you’d like.
With regular practice, you’ll be able to quiet your mind and find inner peace.
How Long Should I Meditate?
You can meditate for as long or as short as you’d like. If you’re just starting out, try for a few minutes a day and work your way up from there. Once you get the hang of it, you can meditate for up to an hour if you’d like.
The best time to meditate is first thing in the morning before the day gets away from you. But if that doesn’t work with your schedule, any time of day will do. Just be consistent about it and try to stick to a regular routine.
Benefits of Meditation
Meditation comes with a host of benefits, both mental and physical. Studies have shown that meditation can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, and increase focus and concentration.
Reduce Stress
Meditation can lower your stress levels by changing the way your brain responds to stressors. When you meditate regularly, you train your mind to better handle stress and anxiety-inducing situations.
Get Some Zzz’s
If you’re having trouble sleeping, meditation can help. The relaxation techniques you learn through meditation can help quiet a racing mind and ease you into a restful sleep.
Concentrate Better
Meditation improves focus and concentration by teaching you how to control your attention span. Once you know how to focus your attention, it becomes easier to tune out distractions and stay on task.
There are plenty of other benefits of meditation, but these are some of the most commonly cited ones. If any of these sound appealing to you, why not give meditation a try? With the help of one of these best meditation apps, you might just find that it’s the solution you’ve been looking for.
How To Choose The Best Meditation App For You
Now that we’ve gone over some of the best meditation apps on the market, it’s time to help you choose the right one for you. Here are a few factors to keep in mind as you make your decision:
- Cost: Many of the best meditation apps are free, but some do have paid features or subscription plans.
- Features: Does the app offer guidance, tracking, timers, or other tools that would be helpful to you?
- User reviews: Checking out what other people have said about an app can be helpful in getting a feel for whether or not it’s right for you.
- Ease of use: You want an app that’s straightforward and easy to use, especially if you’re new to meditation.
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to start exploring the best meditation apps on the market! And remember, the most important thing is finding an app that works best for you and your needs. So don’t get too caught up in comparing features—trust your gut and go with what feels right.
12 Best Meditation Apps
Here are our favorite meditation apps to help you get started:
1 Headspace App
Headspace is one of the best-known meditation apps, and for good reason. It’s straightforward and easy to use, with a wide range of guided meditations that cover everything from stress relief to improving your sleep. One of our favorite things about Headspace is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously – the app’s cute animations and lighthearted tone make meditation feel less like a chore and more like a game.
Headspace has a huge library of single meditations and courses that cover topics like anxiety, focus, and even compassion.
2 Calm App
Calm is another top contender in the meditation app space. What sets Calm apart from other apps is its focus on breathing exercises – an essential component of any effective meditation practice. The app also has a nice selection of relaxing background sounds, which can be helpful if you find it difficult to meditate in silence.
The Sleep Stories portion has a combination of voice actors to assist you to nod off, including Matt McConaughey and Jerome Flynn – that’s cool!
3 Smiling Mind App
Smiling Mind is a great meditation app for kids, but adults can benefit from it as well. The app offers a range of age-appropriate meditation programs, starting with mindfulness exercises for kids as young as seven all the way up to programs for teenagers. Smiling Mind is also one of the few meditation apps that’s completely free to use, with no ads or in-app purchases.
4 Stop, Breathe & Think App
Stop, Breathe & Think is another excellent meditation app, especially if you’re new to mindfulness and aren’t sure where to start. The app begins by having you check in with how you’re feeling emotionally and physically, then recommends a selection of guided meditations based on your needs.
5 Buddhify App
The Buddhify app is one of the best meditation apps because it’s so customizable. You can choose from more than 80 different guided meditations, all organized by activity and time of day. Whether you have five minutes while you’re waiting in line at the grocery store or a full hour to yourself, there’s a meditation that will fit into your schedule.
It’s really simple to use: you can make your own “wheel” of meditation techniques for quick access when you need them. Each one lasts four to 30 minutes, so you may find time to relax no matter how busy you are. You may use their timer to meditate on your own without assistance as your skills improve.
6 Breethe App
Breethe is one of the more comprehensive meditation apps available, with over 100 guided meditations spanning topics like anxiety, sleep, and focus. There are also longer programs lasting up to 30 days that can help you make meditation a habit. If you find yourself struggling to stick with a regular meditation practice, Breethe may be worth checking out. Each meditation session is only 5 minutes long, so it’s easy to find the time to sneak one in, even on your busiest days.
7 Insight Timer App
Insight Timer is one of the most popular meditation apps, with over 11,000 positive reviews in the App Store. It’s also one of the simplest to use: there’s a timer function if you want to meditate without guidance, or you can choose from over 130,000 guided meditations on topics like anxiety, focus, and relationships. One neat feature is the ability to see how many other people are meditating along with you at any given time – sort of like a virtual meditation group.
8 Aura App
Aura meditation app is all about personalized mindfulness, with a three-minute test to help the app assign you a “mindfulness coach” who will provide daily exercises based on your needs. The app also includes a mood tracker, so you can see how your meditation practice is affecting your overall well-being and has guided meditations as short as two minutes for days when you only have a few seconds to spare.
There’s also a mood tracker and a way to examine your emotional habits and establish reminders to take rest for mindfulness throughout the day.
9 Sattva App
Sattva is another great choice for those who are new to meditation, as it offers a comprehensive library of meditations, talks, and chants led by certified yoga and meditation teachers. The app also provides users with access to a community forum, so you can connect with other like-minded individuals on your journey to mindfulness.
Sattva allows you to create personal playlists based on mood, desire, or time of day. They may be played in sequence or mixed together, and they may incorporate your own selections.
10 Unplug App
Unplug the meditation app is another of our favorites because it offers something for everyone. The app has a free trial period with access to all features, so you can explore what works best for you before committing to a paid subscription.
With over 100 guided meditations led by world-renowned teachers, Unplug is great for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. The app also offers courses on specific topics like anxiety relief or improving sleep quality.
You don’t need much time to meditate when you use Unplug. Guided meditations are excellent, but you may also self-direct with unobtrusive timers and ambient noises. Because only a few minutes are needed, it’s ideal for releasing tension and relaxing during the workday.
11 Simple Habit App
The Simple Habit app is meant to help stressed-out individuals relax more and sleep better while also being more productive. Simple Habit has a large selection of meditations, including those for boosting self-confidence, shaking off anxiety, getting over a breakup, or simply being present. You’ll appreciate how each meditation is specifically labeled, making mindfulness something you can put to use at any time.
Another advantage of their premium membership is that you can use the app without an internet connection, making it even more convenient to practice mindfulness for a few minutes. It may also be beneficial to your mental health. The application includes unique meditation programs aimed at assisting you in overcoming panic attacks or reducing stress.
12 Glo App
Glo is a one-stop online yoga, meditation, Pilates, and fitness app that helps you feel better in your body and mind. With the world’s top instructors, practice at home or on the road. We’ll help you build a routine that’s tailored to your needs from elementary through expert levels.
You may take classes with instructors from all around the world, including professional trainers. You may also post your own exercises for others to complete and share on social media sites using a free Glo account. On the For You page, you’ll discover class suggestions tailored to your needs, search for go-to approaches, look through curated class collections, and stay up to date on Glo’s most popular classes and community favorites. You can learn from world-class experts from all around the globe thanks to live lessons that you may plan ahead of time.
The Bottom Line
Whether you are new to meditation or have been practicing for years, these apps can help improve your experience. With so many options available, you are sure to find an app that best suits your needs.
Headspace is our top choice because it offers a wide variety of content and features, all while remaining user-friendly. If you want a free option, we recommend Insight Timer, which also has a large selection of meditation practices to choose from.
Whichever app you decide to go with, make sure to give yourself some time to explore the different features and find what works best for you. Remember, the goal is to relax and de-stress—so don’t put too much pressure on yourself!
