The first rule of mindfulness might be to switch your smartphone off. From checking emails at bedtime to constant, needy push notifications from mobile games, our phones can often feel like they amplify our daily stress.
Turning to your smartphone for respite from the digital clutter may feel as ridiculous as holding an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in a pub, with your inbox, social networks and Candy Crush Saga just a couple of taps away.
Still, mobile meditation apps are trying to help. There are hundreds available, although the pool of genuinely useful ones is much smaller. Here are five of the best to try out.
Meditation is a term used for many forms of relaxation. According to the Mayo Clinic, meditations can help with conditions including depression, sleep disorders, anxiety, and chronic pain. It might also be helpful as part of a treatment program for cancer and heart disease.
Meditation is one of the best ways to combat stress and the many health issues caused by or made worse by stress. Regardless of age, gender, or health status, anyone can benefit from some form of meditation. Here, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best meditation apps you can download and take with you anywhere.
This is a mindfulness and meditation app that is built around you. Buddhify is perfect for those who are ready to incorporate meditation and mindfulness into their entire day, with meditations that target every aspect of your life, from sleeping, to traveling, to being online. Even if you have never tried meditation before, Buddhify is a life-changer.
Favorite thing: There are 80 different guided meditation tracks, ranging from five to 30 minutes.
https://youtu.be/0gzrYQKoHfI
If calm is what you need, Calm is the app for you. It starts you out with a seven-day program. This is a great way for beginners to start meditation. Choose between options for sound and length of time, as well as scenes from nature for you to visually focus on while you meditate.
Other features include multiple guided as well as unguided sessions. When you decide you are ready for more than the seven-day program, you can pay for a subscription, which opens up a 21-day program.
Favorite thing: The seven-day sleep program for people who have difficulty sleeping.
Headspace makes it easy for people just learning the art of meditation. Their level one course features easy, 10-minute sessions for each day that will help you get into the habit of meditating regularly. There are reminders, and you can choose to focus on aspects like foundation, health, and performance.
Once you have mastered level one, you can purchase a subscription that allows you to access even more features and options so you can expand your practice.
Favorite thing: One great feature is the buddy system, which lets you and a friend encourage each other in your journey, as well as a personalized progress page.
MINDBODY gives you the ability to find the fitness and health services that are right for you. You can read reviews and book appointments right on the app. If you are looking for a new yoga studio, a massage therapist, or a deal on local classes, the MINDBODY app can help. It allows you to manage your schedule and goals in one convenient place.
Favorite thing: It can also track information from your Fitbit so you can keep on track with your fitness and health goals.
The Mindfulness App is a great tool for advanced meditation, but it’s especially helpful for beginners. Jump into a mindfulness session any time you have a moment free to yourself. You can set your reminders for the times of day that you need to take a quick break and relax.
Favorite thing: The app lets you set the length of each session, and choose whether you want silent or guided mindfulness sessions.
With Meditation Timer Pro, you can meditate in whatever manner you prefer, for as long as you like. It features default sessions as well as sessions that you can customize as your own. Each session includes prep time, intervals, and a cool down, with the ability to choose different sounds for each section.
Favorite thing: You can set duration, prep, and interval times when you create customized sessions.
Omvana gives you access to many meditation sounds, music, and guided sessions with meditation experts. Focus options include: mindfulness, stress, relaxation, sleep, and more. You can choose the length of each meditation session, from three minutes to an hour.
Favorite thing: One unique feature this app has is the background music mixer, which allows you to mix your music and create the perfect sessions for your needs.
Relax Melodies is designed with a good night’s sleep in mind. If you have difficulty getting to sleep or feeling rested in the morning, then this is the app to try.
Beyond sleeping, the app is great for any situation that requires calming sounds or music, like yoga, massage sessions, or just simple relaxation.
Favorite thing: There are lots of sound and music options, which you can mix to create a more personalized experience.
iPhone rating: 4 stars Free Android rating: 3.5 stars Free
Smiling Mind is a nonprofit that was created to increase happiness and compassion in the world, and this app is one step toward that goal. With programs designed by age group, this app is great for kids, teens, and adults.
Favorite thing: It makes meditation easy for all ages, and the simple design of the app adds to the ease of use.
The Take a Break app allows you to do just that — take a break. You can choose between a short break or a longer meditation break. Both options allow you to choose with or without music and, if you are new, there are easy instructions for how to get started.
The app was designed to give users a quick and uncomplicated break to help relieve stress whenever you need it.
Favorite thing: It is simple and straightforward without being bogged down with additional features.
Sattva is an advanced meditation timer that tracks your progress. This app features challenges and rewards to help encourage you, and features guided meditations and chants, as well as a heart rate monitor, mood tracker, and statistics feature.
Favorite thing: You can connect with a community of others who are working on their mindfulness and meditation practices.
Some of the free meditation/mindfulness apps are trending in a big way. Here are five we're happy we downloaded.
Insight Timer is one of the most popular free meditation apps out there, and it’s easy to see why. The app features more than 4,000 guided meditations from over 1,000 teachers—on topics like self-compassion, nature, and stress—plus talks and podcasts. If you prefer a quieter meditation, you can always set a timer and meditate to intermittent bells or calming ambient noise.
Right from the beginning, the app feels like a community; the home screen announces, “3,045 meditating right now / Home to 1,754,800 meditators.” After you finish a meditation, you’ll learn exactly how many people were meditating “with you” during that time; by setting your location, you can even see meditators nearby and what they’re listening to.
Insight Timer doesn’t recommend step-by-step sequences of meditations to follow; it’s more like a buffet.
Despite its extensive collection, Insight Timer doesn’t show you a list of teachers—which would be helpful, especially since they feature experts like Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, and Sharon Salzberg. And Insight Timer doesn’t recommend step-by-step sequences of meditations to follow; it’s more like a buffet. But these drawbacks hardly matter in the face of all the tempting choices.
Aura is a meditation app with a simple premise: Every day, you get a new, personalized, three-minute meditation. The same meditation never repeats; according to cofounder Daniel Lee, Aura’s teachers are constantly recording new tracks.
To personalize the experience, Aura initially asks about your age and how stressed, optimistic, and interested in mindfulness you are. The daily meditation that appears also depends on your mood: If you’re feeling great, Aura might suggest “Your Brilliant Heart;” select stressed, and you might get “You Have the Power.” If you like the day’s meditation, you can save it to your library for later listening.
Aura claims to target stress, anxiety, and depression. If a short meditation isn’t enough, you can also listen to relaxing sounds or try their Mindful Breather feature, where you synchronize your breath to an animated circle that gently expands and contracts—surprisingly effective. The home screen encourages you to jot down something you’re grateful for, another tool for well-being.
Aura is straightforward and sparse, but that’s part of the beauty. Particularly if you’re just getting started, or you don’t have lots of time to meditate, the simplicity of one meditation a day could be just what you need.
If other meditation apps expect you to dive right in, Stop, Breathe & Think wants to help you get acquainted with mindfulness first. A section called Learn to Meditate explains what mindfulness is, why it’s beneficial, and what to expect when you press play on your first track. It even covers some of the neuroscience of mindfulness and the physiology of stress, in case you’re still skeptical.
If other meditation apps expect you to dive right in, Stop, Breathe & Think wants to help you get acquainted with mindfulness first.
Then, it’s time to get started. Stop, Breathe & Think features nearly 30 free sessions, many of which come in different lengths (and different voices—from placid Jamie to friendly Grecco). Most of them are short, up to 11 minutes, and you can choose to work around themes like Breathe, Connect with Your Body, or Be Kind. Or, simply set a meditation timer and find calm amid the silence or relaxing forest sounds.
A progress page keeps track of how many days you’ve meditated in a row and your emotions, which you can record before and after each meditation. Plus, you can earn cute stickers: As a newbie, I’ve collected “Good Start” and “Tick Tock of Presence.” Stop, Breathe & Think is ideal for people who need some more structure and motivation to jumpstart their meditation habit.
Turning to your smartphone for respite from the digital clutter may feel as ridiculous as holding an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in a pub, with your inbox, social networks and Candy Crush Saga just a couple of taps away.
Still, mobile meditation apps are trying to help. There are hundreds available, although the pool of genuinely useful ones is much smaller. Here are five of the best to try out.
Meditation & Mindfulness
Meditation is a term used for many forms of relaxation. According to the Mayo Clinic, meditations can help with conditions including depression, sleep disorders, anxiety, and chronic pain. It might also be helpful as part of a treatment program for cancer and heart disease.
Meditation is one of the best ways to combat stress and the many health issues caused by or made worse by stress. Regardless of age, gender, or health status, anyone can benefit from some form of meditation. Here, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best meditation apps you can download and take with you anywhere.
The Best Meditation Apps ?
Buddhify
- iPhone rating: 4.5 stars $4.99
- Android rating: 4.5 stars $2.99
This is a mindfulness and meditation app that is built around you. Buddhify is perfect for those who are ready to incorporate meditation and mindfulness into their entire day, with meditations that target every aspect of your life, from sleeping, to traveling, to being online. Even if you have never tried meditation before, Buddhify is a life-changer.
Favorite thing: There are 80 different guided meditation tracks, ranging from five to 30 minutes.
https://youtu.be/0gzrYQKoHfI
Calm
- iPhone rating: 5 stars Free
- Android rating: 4.5 stars Free
If calm is what you need, Calm is the app for you. It starts you out with a seven-day program. This is a great way for beginners to start meditation. Choose between options for sound and length of time, as well as scenes from nature for you to visually focus on while you meditate.
Other features include multiple guided as well as unguided sessions. When you decide you are ready for more than the seven-day program, you can pay for a subscription, which opens up a 21-day program.
Favorite thing: The seven-day sleep program for people who have difficulty sleeping.
Headspace
- iPhone rating: 5 stars Free
- Android rating: 4.5 stars Free
Headspace makes it easy for people just learning the art of meditation. Their level one course features easy, 10-minute sessions for each day that will help you get into the habit of meditating regularly. There are reminders, and you can choose to focus on aspects like foundation, health, and performance.
Once you have mastered level one, you can purchase a subscription that allows you to access even more features and options so you can expand your practice.
Favorite thing: One great feature is the buddy system, which lets you and a friend encourage each other in your journey, as well as a personalized progress page.
MINDBODY Connect
- iPhone rating: 3 stars Free
- Android rating: 4 stars Free
MINDBODY gives you the ability to find the fitness and health services that are right for you. You can read reviews and book appointments right on the app. If you are looking for a new yoga studio, a massage therapist, or a deal on local classes, the MINDBODY app can help. It allows you to manage your schedule and goals in one convenient place.
Favorite thing: It can also track information from your Fitbit so you can keep on track with your fitness and health goals.
Mindfulness App
- iPhone rating: 4 stars $1.99
- Android rating: 4 stars $1.99
The Mindfulness App is a great tool for advanced meditation, but it’s especially helpful for beginners. Jump into a mindfulness session any time you have a moment free to yourself. You can set your reminders for the times of day that you need to take a quick break and relax.
Favorite thing: The app lets you set the length of each session, and choose whether you want silent or guided mindfulness sessions.
Meditation Timer Pro
- iPhone rating: 4.5 stars $0.99
With Meditation Timer Pro, you can meditate in whatever manner you prefer, for as long as you like. It features default sessions as well as sessions that you can customize as your own. Each session includes prep time, intervals, and a cool down, with the ability to choose different sounds for each section.
Favorite thing: You can set duration, prep, and interval times when you create customized sessions.
Omvana
- iPhone rating: 4.5 stars Free
- Android rating: 4.5 stars Free
Omvana gives you access to many meditation sounds, music, and guided sessions with meditation experts. Focus options include: mindfulness, stress, relaxation, sleep, and more. You can choose the length of each meditation session, from three minutes to an hour.
Favorite thing: One unique feature this app has is the background music mixer, which allows you to mix your music and create the perfect sessions for your needs.
Relax Melodies
- iPhone rating: 5 stars Free
Relax Melodies is designed with a good night’s sleep in mind. If you have difficulty getting to sleep or feeling rested in the morning, then this is the app to try.
Beyond sleeping, the app is great for any situation that requires calming sounds or music, like yoga, massage sessions, or just simple relaxation.
Favorite thing: There are lots of sound and music options, which you can mix to create a more personalized experience.
Smiling Mind
iPhone rating: 4 stars Free Android rating: 3.5 stars Free
Smiling Mind is a nonprofit that was created to increase happiness and compassion in the world, and this app is one step toward that goal. With programs designed by age group, this app is great for kids, teens, and adults.
Favorite thing: It makes meditation easy for all ages, and the simple design of the app adds to the ease of use.
Take a Break!
- iPhone rating: 4.5 stars Free Android rating: 4 stars Free
The Take a Break app allows you to do just that — take a break. You can choose between a short break or a longer meditation break. Both options allow you to choose with or without music and, if you are new, there are easy instructions for how to get started.
The app was designed to give users a quick and uncomplicated break to help relieve stress whenever you need it.
Favorite thing: It is simple and straightforward without being bogged down with additional features.
Sattva
- iPhone rating: 3 stars Free
Sattva is an advanced meditation timer that tracks your progress. This app features challenges and rewards to help encourage you, and features guided meditations and chants, as well as a heart rate monitor, mood tracker, and statistics feature.
Favorite thing: You can connect with a community of others who are working on their mindfulness and meditation practices.
Free Meditation/Mindfulness Apps Worthy of Your Attention
Some of the free meditation/mindfulness apps are trending in a big way. Here are five we're happy we downloaded.
Insight Timer
- Available for iOS and Android
Insight Timer is one of the most popular free meditation apps out there, and it’s easy to see why. The app features more than 4,000 guided meditations from over 1,000 teachers—on topics like self-compassion, nature, and stress—plus talks and podcasts. If you prefer a quieter meditation, you can always set a timer and meditate to intermittent bells or calming ambient noise.
Right from the beginning, the app feels like a community; the home screen announces, “3,045 meditating right now / Home to 1,754,800 meditators.” After you finish a meditation, you’ll learn exactly how many people were meditating “with you” during that time; by setting your location, you can even see meditators nearby and what they’re listening to.
Insight Timer doesn’t recommend step-by-step sequences of meditations to follow; it’s more like a buffet.
Despite its extensive collection, Insight Timer doesn’t show you a list of teachers—which would be helpful, especially since they feature experts like Jack Kornfield, Tara Brach, and Sharon Salzberg. And Insight Timer doesn’t recommend step-by-step sequences of meditations to follow; it’s more like a buffet. But these drawbacks hardly matter in the face of all the tempting choices.
Aura
- Available for iOS and Android
Aura is a meditation app with a simple premise: Every day, you get a new, personalized, three-minute meditation. The same meditation never repeats; according to cofounder Daniel Lee, Aura’s teachers are constantly recording new tracks.
To personalize the experience, Aura initially asks about your age and how stressed, optimistic, and interested in mindfulness you are. The daily meditation that appears also depends on your mood: If you’re feeling great, Aura might suggest “Your Brilliant Heart;” select stressed, and you might get “You Have the Power.” If you like the day’s meditation, you can save it to your library for later listening.
Aura claims to target stress, anxiety, and depression. If a short meditation isn’t enough, you can also listen to relaxing sounds or try their Mindful Breather feature, where you synchronize your breath to an animated circle that gently expands and contracts—surprisingly effective. The home screen encourages you to jot down something you’re grateful for, another tool for well-being.
Aura is straightforward and sparse, but that’s part of the beauty. Particularly if you’re just getting started, or you don’t have lots of time to meditate, the simplicity of one meditation a day could be just what you need.
Stop, Breathe & Think
- Available for iOS and Android
If other meditation apps expect you to dive right in, Stop, Breathe & Think wants to help you get acquainted with mindfulness first. A section called Learn to Meditate explains what mindfulness is, why it’s beneficial, and what to expect when you press play on your first track. It even covers some of the neuroscience of mindfulness and the physiology of stress, in case you’re still skeptical.
If other meditation apps expect you to dive right in, Stop, Breathe & Think wants to help you get acquainted with mindfulness first.
Then, it’s time to get started. Stop, Breathe & Think features nearly 30 free sessions, many of which come in different lengths (and different voices—from placid Jamie to friendly Grecco). Most of them are short, up to 11 minutes, and you can choose to work around themes like Breathe, Connect with Your Body, or Be Kind. Or, simply set a meditation timer and find calm amid the silence or relaxing forest sounds.
A progress page keeps track of how many days you’ve meditated in a row and your emotions, which you can record before and after each meditation. Plus, you can earn cute stickers: As a newbie, I’ve collected “Good Start” and “Tick Tock of Presence.” Stop, Breathe & Think is ideal for people who need some more structure and motivation to jumpstart their meditation habit.
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