If you’re looking to calm your mind and relax your body, many meditation apps are available to help you do that. While some people may be hesitant to try meditation, it can be quite simple and effectively reduce stress levels.
There are many different meditation apps available both for iOS & Android, so it’s important to find one that’s right for you. Some apps focus on guided meditation, while others provide a more traditional approach. Meditation apps also cater to specific needs, such as anxiety or sleep. Read this article and find out why you need to download the meditation app now!
Why Should You Mediate?
Meditation has been shown to offer a host of mental and physical benefits. For example, researchers have found that regular meditation can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, increase focus and attention span, and even boost immunity.
For students, these benefits are especially important. Stress and anxiety can interfere with learning and performance in school, and poor sleep quality can lead to fatigue and difficulty concentrating. Studies show that by practicing meditation, students can help themselves stay calm and focused, even during challenging situations.
There is also growing evidence that meditation can help improve academic performance. For example, one study found that students who participated in a mindfulness meditation program had better grades and standardized test scores than those who did not meditate.
Top 15 Mediation Apps
Here are 15 of the best meditation apps to help you calm your mind and relax your body:
1. Headspace
Headspace is one of the most popular meditation apps, with over 10 million users worldwide. It offers a wide range of guided meditations for both beginners and experienced meditators. There are also meditation exercises for specific needs, such as anxiety relief or better sleep.
Nonetheless, some users have complained about the app being monotonous at times. In addition, Headspace puts a stronger emphasis on beginning courses, which might be a negative for devout meditators.
Headspace offers a free 14-day trial for its new subscribers. After that, their monthly premium membership costs about $1.65 per month.
2. Calm
Calm is another popular meditation app known for its simple and elegant design. It offers a variety of guided meditations, as well as meditation exercises and sleep stories. There’s also a breathing exercise feature that can help you relax and focus your mind.
Still, Calm may not be the right choice if you’re looking for a meditation app with more social interaction. The app doesn’t allow users to add “friends” in the same way that other apps do, so you won’t be able to track each other’s progress or meditate together.
For only $49.99 a year, you can subscribe to Calm and receive a 7-day free trial.
3. Stop, Breathe, & Think
Stop, Breathe, & Think is an app designed to help you increase your mindfulness. It offers a variety of guided meditations, as well as yoga and acupressure exercises. You can also use the app to track your mood and see how your meditation practice affects your overall well-being. The basic free version includes a sufficient number of meditation exercises for users to work on.
Still, if you want more features, you can pay a monthly subscription fee of $11.99 to access more than the basics. Second, it requires a certain level of emotional literacy to get the most out of the app. If you need to become more familiar with mindfulness and how to apply it to your life, you may not find the app as helpful as someone who is.
4. Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a free meditation app designed for adults and children. It offers a variety of meditation programs, as well as games and activities, to help improve your mental well-being. Aside from the soothing music, each session incorporates an animated video lesson if you want to delve further into the topic.
Smiling Mind is an app that anyone can use for free.
5. Breathing Space
Breathing Space is an app that’s designed to help you relax and de-stress. It offers several different breathing exercises, as well as guided meditations. You can also use the app to track your progress and set goals for your meditation practice.
Breathing Space has undergone clinical trials and is beneficial in improving mood, decreasing feelings of isolation, and reducing problem drinking.
Their monthly premium membership costs about $1.19 per month.
6. Omvana
Omvana is an app that offers a wide range of meditation resources, including guided meditations, music, and soundscapes. It also has a library of over 700 hours of meditation content from expert teachers. Omvana also provides a feature that allows you to construct your own sound and meditation combination. The program also has a timer so you can sit and relax for a long time.
Omvana has two versions: a free and a premium subscription. The latter offers a 7-day free trial for new users, after which it costs $5.9/month.
7. Insight Timer
Insight Timer is a free meditation app that offers over 11,000 guided meditations from over 2,500 teachers. It also has a library of ambient sounds and music to help you relax and focus. You can also use the app to set goals and track your progress.
When you first join Insight Timer, the sheer size of the meditation library can be overwhelming. And without a guide to help you navigate it, you can feel a little lost. In addition, if you want access to workshops and mentoring, you’ll have to pay additional costs on top of the premium subscription.
If you’re interested in trying Insight Timer, you can do so risk-free for seven days. After that, if you decide it’s worth keeping, then their premium plan costs $60/year.
8. Buddhify
Buddhify is an app that’s created to help you fit meditation into your busy day. It offers a variety of guided meditations, as well as exercises and courses. You can also use the app to track your progress and set goals for your practice.
If you’re looking for a meditation app to help you form a new habit, Buddhify isn’t the greatest option since there is no sense of progression.
For only $30 a year, you can have access to Buddhify’s membership.
9. Mindvalley
Mindvalley is a meditation app that allows you to set timers, track your progress, and learn new techniques. It also provides a library of guided meditations, which can be helpful if you’re new to meditation or struggling to find the time to meditate on your own. The app is free to download, but there is a subscription fee to access all of the features.
Mindvalley is a great option for those looking for an easy-to-use meditation app with flexible scheduling and various guided meditations. However, the subscription fee may be a deterrent for some users.
Mindvalley’s monthly membership fee is $59.
10. Aura
Aura is a popular meditation app that offers a variety of features to help you relax and de-stress. Some main features include guided meditations, breathing exercises, and a relaxing music player. You can also track your progress over time and set goals for yourself.
One of the great things about Aura is that it is very user-friendly and easy to use. The app has a clean and simple interface, making it perfect for those new to meditation. The guided meditations are also very helpful, as they can help you focus and relax your mind.
However, one of the downsides of Aura is that it is not free. The app costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. Still, considering the number of features and benefits the app offers, many people feel it is worth the price!
11. Breathing Room
Breathing Room is an app that’s designed to help you relax and de-stress. It offers many different breathing exercises, as well as guided meditations. You can also use the app to track your progress and set goals for your meditation practice. In addition, it aids in the development of more meaningful relationships among students.
After seven days of free trial, subscribers pay $9.99 per month or $119.99 per year.
12. Sattva
Sattva meditation app is one of the most popular and well-known meditation apps available. It has a large library of guided meditations, a customizable meditation timer, and tracking tools to help you monitor your progress. It also includes a challenges section, which helps keep you motivated to meditate regularly.
While Sattva is a great meditation app, it does have some drawbacks. Some people need help navigating the interface. Additionally, the app can be quite expensive, especially if you want to unlock all the features.
Sattva’s regular lifetime membership cost is $108.
13. Brain.fm
Brain.fm is an app that plays specially composed music to help you focus, relax, or sleep better. The music is based on scientific research and is designed to stimulate your brainwaves to achieve the desired state. The app has three main modes: focus, relaxation, and sleep. Each mode has different music to help you achieve the desired state.
Brain.fm offers a 20-minute power nap section that can help you feel refreshed and energized to confront the rest of your day easily.
If you’re interested in giving Brain.fm a try, they offer a free trial with no obligation to continue afterward. In addition, the monthly subscription cost is only $6.99, which makes it very affordable for most people.
14. Calm Counter
Calm Counter meditation app is designed to help you learn how to meditate and also provides a way to track your progress. One of the great things about Calm Counter is that it’s very user-friendly. The interface is clean and simple, and the app walks you through each step of the meditation process. It also provides a progress tracker to see how your meditation practice is improving over time.
However, there are a few downsides to Calm Counter. One is that it provides fewer features than other meditation apps on the market. Additionally, it’s only available for some platforms.
Calm Counter is also one of the more affordable meditation apps, and a monthly subscription costs just $2.99. So it’s a great option for those who want to try meditation but don’t want to spend much money on it.
15. Ten Percent Happier
Ten Percent Happier is a meditation app that was created to help people learn how to meditate and manage their stress. The app has a variety of features that make it a great choice for people who want to learn how to meditate. The app includes a library of meditation guides, a progress tracker, and a community forum.
Still, the main drawback for someone is that there are neither soundscapes (rain, crackling fire, or ocean waves) nor background music to use in meditation.
Ten Percent Happier offers a free trial; however, if you like the product and wish to continue using it, you must pay the yearly membership fee of $99.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking to start meditating or are simply curious about what’s out there, check out some of the best meditation apps on the market. From personalized programs to simple timers, these apps have something for everyone. And who knows? After giving one a try, you’ll be hooked and ready to tackle mindfulness head-on!
