10 Best Meditation and Mindfulness Apps for Stress Relief

10 Best Meditation and Mindfulness Apps for Stress Relief

Mental health issues are at the forefront of today’s news and public health concerns. Finding moments of calm can be challenging. A 2023 study found that regular meditation can reduce stress and anxiety (Komariah et al.). 

Thankfully, there’s no shortage of available meditation and mindfulness apps available. 

This article contains a curated list of the 10 best meditation and mindfulness apps to help you find your perfect digital zen companion.

Contents

The Benefits of Meditation Apps

Woman standing in  a yoga pose in the park
Credit: Styled Stock Society

Mindfulness apps show promise in improving mental health and overcoming barriers to in-person treatments. Early research indicates they help with attention, reduce negative thinking, and promote psychological distance from thoughts (Macrynikola et al., 2024).

Meditation apps have many advantages:

Top 10 Meditation and Mindfulness Apps

1. Headspace

Headspace
Source: Headspace

Headspace is a popular meditation app known for its user-friendly interface and colorful animations. It offers a wide range of guided meditations for beginners to advanced practitioners.

Key Features:

  • Extensive library of guided meditations
  • Sleep stories and soundscapes for better rest
  • Focus music playlists for improved productivity
  • Animated videos explaining meditation concepts
ProsCons
Beginner-friendlyLimited free content
High-quality productionSubscription required for full access
Structured coursesMay feel repetitive for advanced users

Use case

A stressed office worker uses Headspace‘s short meditations during lunch breaks to refocus and reduce anxiety.

To learn more, visit:

2. Calm

A man lying down smiling listening to headphones
Source: Calm app

Calm is a versatile meditation app that offers a variety of features to promote relaxation and improve sleep quality. It’s known for its celebrity-narrated sleep stories and daily meditation sessions.

An 8-week study by Huberty et al. (2019) with college students found that using the Calm app significantly improved mindfulness and self-compassion in short-term contexts. Results were comparable to in-person programs, but with added convenience and ease of use. 

Puzia et al. (2020) proposed that as kids grow older, they’re more likely to use Calm for stress, depression, and anxiety, while younger kids often use it for better sleep. 

Key Features:

  • Daily Calm feature for consistent practice
  • Celebrity-narrated sleep stories
  • Breathwork exercises and body scan meditations
  • Masterclasses taught by mindfulness experts
ProsCons
High-quality sleep contentExpensive subscription
Regular updatesLimited free features
Variety of meditation stylesSome users find narration too slow

Use case

An insomniac uses Calm’s sleep stories and soundscapes to create a relaxing bedtime routine and improve sleep quality. (This was me.)

To learn more, visit:

3. Insight Timer

Insight Timer app

Insight Timer boasts the largest free library of guided meditations, making it a popular choice for those seeking variety without a subscription. It also offers live events and courses led by renowned teachers.

Key Features:

  • Vast library of free guided meditations
  • Live events and group meditations
  • Customizable meditation timer with ambient sounds
  • Courses led by renowned teachers
ProsCons
Extensive free contentCan be overwhelming for beginners
Diverse range of teachersInconsistent audio quality
Strong community featuresPremium features require subscription

Use case

A curious meditator explores different meditation styles and teachers using Insight Timer’s vast free library.

To learn more, visit:

4. Buddhify

Source: Buddihify

Buddhify takes a unique approach with its wheel interface, offering meditations categorized by activity and mood. It’s designed for on-the-go practice and includes content for both adults and children.

Key Features:

  • Meditations categorized by activity and mood
  • Short sessions for on-the-go practice
  • Kid-friendly content for family mindfulness
  • Unique wheel interface for easy navigation
ProsCons
Affordable one-time purchaseLimited content compared to subscription apps
Offline access to all meditationsLess frequent updates
Situation-specific meditationsNo free trial available

Use case

A busy parent uses Buddhify’s short, activity-specific meditations to stay mindful throughout a hectic day.

To learn more, visit:

5. Ten Percent Happier

Source: 3PlayMedia

Founded by skeptic-turned-meditator Dan Harris, Ten Percent Happier offers a science-based approach to meditation. It features video lessons from respected teachers and personal coaching options.

Key Features:

  • Science-based approach to meditation
  • Video lessons from respected meditation teachers
  • Personal coaching option for personalized guidance
  • Integration with Apple Health for tracking
ProsCons
Evidence-based contentHigher price point
High-quality video productionLimited free content
Personal coaching availableMay not appeal to those seeking spiritual content

Use case

A meditation skeptic uses Ten Percent Happier to learn the scientific benefits of mindfulness and build a consistent practice.

To learn more, visit:

6. Smiling Mind

Developed by psychologists and educators, Smiling Mind is a completely free app offering age-specific programs for children and adults. It also includes workplace programs for stress management.

Key Features:

  • Age-specific programs for children and adults
  • Workplace programs for stress management
  • Completely free with no ads or in-app purchases
  • Evidence-based approach to mindfulness
ProsCons
Entirely freeLimited content compared to paid apps
Programs for all agesFewer features than some competitors
No ads or upsellsAustralian accent may not appeal to all users

Use case

A school implements Smiling Mind’s youth programs to teach mindfulness and emotional regulation to students.

To learn more, visit:

7. Simple Habit

Simple Habit focuses on short, 5-minute meditations designed for busy lifestyles. It offers situation-specific meditations and features to improve sleep quality.

Key Features:

  • 5-minute meditations for busy lifestyles
  • Situation-specific meditations (e.g., anxiety before a meeting)
  • Offline mode for meditation on-the-go
  • Sleep aid features for better rest
ProsCons
Quick, targeted meditationsLimited depth in short sessions
Offline accessSubscription required for full access
Situation-specific contentMay not suit those seeking longer practices

Use case 

A time-strapped entrepreneur uses Simple Habit’s 5-minute meditations between meetings to stay focused and calm.

To learn more, visit:

8. Waking Up

Source: Health Life Recovery

Waking Up offers in-depth exploration of meditation theory and practice. It includes conversations with spiritual teachers and scientists.

Key Features:

  • Founded by neuroscientist Sam Harris
  • In-depth theory and practice of meditation
  • Conversations with spiritual teachers and scientists
  • Moment feature for quick mindfulness breaks
ProsCons
Intellectual approachMay be too complex for beginners
High-quality contentLimited guided meditation variety
Combines science and spiritualityHigher price point

Use case 

A philosophy enthusiast uses Waking Up to deepen their understanding of consciousness while developing a meditation practice.

To learn more, visit:

9. Balance

Source: A Sweat Life

Balance offers personalized meditation plans that adapt to the user’s goals and experience. It provides mix-and-match meditation components and detailed progress insights.

Key Features:

  • Personalized plans based on user goals and experience
  • Adaptive programs that evolve with your practice
  • Mix-and-match meditation components
  • Progress insights and streak tracking
ProsCons
Highly personalizedRequires consistent use for best results
Adapts to user progressLimited community features
Flexible meditation buildingNewer app with less content than some competitors

Use case 

A goal-oriented meditator uses Balance to create a customized practice that evolves with their needs and tracks their progress over time.

To learn more, visit:

10. Aura

Aura offers short, science-backed mindfulness exercises, stories, and life coaching sessions to help patients manage stress, anxiety, and sleep issues.

Key Features:

  • Personalized daily meditations based on mood
  • 3-minute mindfulness exercises for quick stress relief
  • Sleep stories and sounds for better rest
  • Life coaching sessions on various topics
  • Mood tracking and gratitude journaling
ProsCons
AI-powered personalizationLimited free content
Short, manageable sessionsSome users find the AI recommendations repetitive
Wide variety of content typesSubscription required for full access
Integration with Apple HealthLess extensive library than some competitors

Use cases 

  • A busy professional uses Aura’s 3-minute mindfulness exercises during work breaks to reduce stress and improve focus throughout the day. 
  • A therapist recommends Aura to clients as a supplementary tool for managing anxiety between sessions, utilizing the app’s mood tracking and personalized meditation features.

To learn more, visit: https://www.aurahealth.io/

Choosing the Right App for You

Woman doing the Cobra yoga pose at the beach
Credit: Styled Stock Society

When selecting a meditation app:

  • Consider your specific goals (stress relief, sleep improvement, focus enhancement)
  • Take advantage of free trials to test different app features
  • Look for content and teaching styles that resonate with you
  • Check for integration with your devices and health apps
  • Read user reviews to get real-world perspectives on each app’s strengths and weaknesses

Conclusion

By carefully evaluating your needs and exploring these top meditation apps, you can find the perfect tool to support your mindfulness journey and reduce stress in your daily life.

Incorporating meditation into your daily routine can significantly reduce stress and improve overall well-being. With these top 10 meditation and mindfulness apps, you’re sure to find the perfect digital guide for your journey to inner peace.

The best app is the one you’ll use consistently. Try one today, and take the first step towards a calmer, more focused you.

References

Huberty, J., Green, J., Glissmann, C., Larkey, L., Puzia, M., & Lee, C. (2019). Efficacy of the Mindfulness Meditation Mobile App “Calm” to Reduce Stress Among College Students: Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR MHealth and UHealth, 7(6). doi.org/10.2196/14273

Komariah, M., Ibrahim, K., Pahria, T., Rahayuwati, L., & Somantri, I. (2023). Effect of Mindfulness Breathing Meditation on Depression, Anxiety, and Stress: A Randomized Controlled Trial among University Students. Healthcare, 11(1). doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11010026

Macrynikola, N., Mir, Z., Gopal, T., Rodriguez, E., Li, S., Cox, M., Yeh, G., & Torous, J. (2024). The impact of mindfulness apps on psychological processes of change: A systematic review. Npj Mental Health Research, 3(1), 1-16. doi.org/10.1038/s44184-023-00048-5

Puzia, M. Laird, B., Green, J. & Huberty, J. (2020). Parents’ Perceptions of Their Children’s Engagement in a Consumer-Based Meditation Mobile App: Cross-Sectional Survey Study. JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting, 3(2). doi:10.2196/24536

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