Mindfulness is a powerful practice that research has shown can improve both your mental and physical well-being. One of the easiest tools available that you can use to practice mindfulness skills are meditations apps.
For this article I reviewed 14 highly-rated meditation apps to help you decide which app might be the right one for you.
Please Note: Other than the Oak Meditation app, all of these apps were tested on an Android device. Therefore, there may be some differences if you are using the app on an Apple device.
Keep reading to learn more about each of these meditation apps.
Table of Contents
**Apps with an asterisk are free or offer either a free version or an extended free trial.
Meditation Apps
Aura
Highlights:
- Attractive interface
- Lots of options to choose from so you can find audios that resonate with you
- Can sort contents by length
Possible Considerations:
- No free option
- Requires a credit card on file for free trial
- The many, many choices could be overwhelming for a beginner
- Occasionally has plugs for other companies in their audios (Hotwix, for example)
Other Features:
- Simple breathing tool
- Stories for kids
- Gratitude diary
- Inspirational quotes
Balance
Highlights:
- Each meditation is personalized to meet you where you’re at
- Designed well for beginners
- Incredibly long free trial
Possible Considerations:
- Requires a credit card on file for free trial
- No free version once free trial expires
- No option for background music on meditations
Other Features:
- Audios for kids
- Can choose between a male or female voice
Calm
Highlights:
- Attractive interface
- Lots of options to choose from so you can find audios that resonate with you
Possible Considerations:
- Requires a credit card on file for free trial
- Free version is extremely limited
- The many, many choices could be overwhelming for a beginner
Other Features:
- Audios for kids
- Breathing tools
- Gratitude and sleep check-ins
- Movement videos
Headspace
Highlights:
- Attractive interface
Possible Considerations:
- No free option
- Requires a credit card on file for free trial
- No option for background music on meditations
Other Features:
- Audios for kids
- Breathing tools
- Movement videos
- Can choose between different male or female voices for certain audios
- Option for closed captions
- Monthly stress check-ins to track stress over time
Healthy Minds
Highlights:
- Can opt for an “active” or sitting meditation
- Completely free
Possible Considerations:
- No option for background music on meditations
Other Features:
- Some audios have a transcript you can read
- Can choose between a male or female voice for some audios
Find in Stores Here:
- Healthy Minds in Google Play Store
- Healthy Minds in Apple Store
Insight Timer
Highlights:
- Lots of options to choose from so you can find audios that resonate with you
- Can tell the app how much time you have, and it will give you recommendations
Possible Considerations:
- The many, many choices could be overwhelming for a beginner
- Consistent requests for donations throughout the app
- Not clear what is free vs. premium until you’ve already tried to start the audio or video
Other Features:
- Unguided meditation tool
- Inspirational quotes
- Workshops and mentoring (for additional fees)
- Courses on various topics (Premium version)
Find in Stores Here:
- Insight Timer in Google Play Store
- Insight Timer in Apple Store
Meditation & Relaxation Guide
Highlights:
- The ability to unlock premium content permanently
Possible Considerations:
- The “free trial” said that it would immediately start charging $5/month
- Not as many options in terms of meditations and narrator voice
Other Features:
- Inspirational quotes
Find in Stores Here:
- Meditation & Relaxation Guide in Google Play Store
- Meditation & Relaxation Pro in Apple Store
Medito
Highlights:
- Completely free
- Lots of options to choose from
Possible Considerations:
- Videos take you to the YouTube app
- No way to favorite audios, although you can download your favorites to save them for later
Other Features:
- Can choose narrator for some audios
- Unguided meditation tool
- Inspirational quotes
The Mindfulness App
Highlights:
- Attractive interface
- Can search audios by teacher, topic, or duration
Possible Considerations:
- No free option
- Doesn’t show time progress through audio while listening
Other Features:
- Stress test to understand your stress level
- Can opt to receive encouraging messages as notifications
Find in Stores Here:
- The Mindfulness App in Google Play Store
- The Mindfulness App in Apple Store
Oak – Meditation & Breathing
Highlights:
- Completely free
- Designed well for beginners
Possible Considerations:
- There is a very similar app to this one on the Google Play store called “Meditation & Breathing Joy.” The features are similar but somewhat more limited. It has a free version and an $11/year premium version.
Other Features:
- Unguided meditation tool
- Breathing tools
- Can track progress
- Can choose between a male or female voice for meditations
Find in Stores Here:
- Oak – Meditation & Breathing in Apple Store
Serenity: Guided Meditation
Highlights:
- Very clean, organized interface
- Discounts offered in certain situations
Possible Considerations:
- Free trial is a time-limited offer (if you don’t start it right away after downloading the app, you can’t do it later)
- You can’t jump ahead (you have to complete the mediations in order)
Find in Stores Here:
- Serenity: Guided Meditation in Google Play Store
- Serenity: Guided Meditation in Apple Store
Simple Habit: Meditation
Highlights:
- Attractive interface
- Can search audios by teacher, topic, or duration
Possible Considerations:
- Only one option for background audio (forest sounds)
Find in Stores Here:
- Simple Habit: Meditation in Google Play Store
- Simple Habit Sleep, Meditations in Apple Store
Ten Percent Happier
Highlights:
- Attractive interface
- Can automatically turn on Do Not Disturb when a meditation is playing
Possible Considerations:
- No free option or option for a monthly subscription
- No option for background music on meditations
Other Features:
- Multiple different courses on various topics
- Podcasts on various topics
Find in Stores Here:
- Ten Percent Happier in Google Play Store
- Ten Percent Happier in Apple Store
UCLA Mindful
Highlights:
- Completely free
- Designed well for beginners
- Offers introductory meditations in 15 different languages
Possible Considerations:
- Not as many options in terms of meditations and narrator voice
- No option for background music on meditations
Other Features:
- Unguided meditation tool
Find in Stores Here:
- UCLA Mindful in Google Play Store
- UCLA Mindful in Apple Store
Final Thoughts
After testing all 14 apps, my favorite free app was Medito as it offers the most features and options of all the free meditation apps I reviewed. Oak was my second favorite free app, especially for beginners, although it is only available on the Apple Store at this time.
Balance offers the most generous free trial and the most personalization for each meditation among all of the apps that I reviewed.
Insight Timer probably offers the best free version of the paid apps, as many of the meditations and features are still included, although there are still lots of elements behind a pay wall.
If you happen to be a Kaiser Permanente health insurance member, Calm is definitely the best paid app option as you can get the premium version of the app for free.
Overall, I would say that with all of the free options out there, there is no reason to spend money on a mindfulness app unless you have found one that you really feel is worth the investment.
If you’re interested in learning more about different ways you can practice mindfulness, you can also check out my article “Mindfulness – 4 Simple Ways You Can Practice.”
I hope that this article has been helpful for anyone who is looking for the perfect meditation app for them. Let me know what your favorite mediation app is in the comments.
As a reminder, this blog post is not intended as professional counseling or clinical advice. This article is meant to provide you with some helpful information about meditation apps as a tool for practicing mindfulness. If you are struggling with your mental health, I encourage you to consider reaching out for additional support, professional or otherwise.
Kristel Roper is a licensed psychotherapist offering therapy services to individuals in the Sacramento area. She specializes in therapy for anxiety and OCD and especially enjoys working with young adults as they navigate the challenges of college, career, and beyond. Learn more about Kristel Roper’s Therapy Services.
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