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Meditation has become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to reduce stress, improve focus, and promote overall well-being. With so many apps available, it can be difficult to know which ones are truly the best. That is why we are bringing you the 5 best meditation apps to try.
Overview of the 5 Best Meditation Apps in 2024
| App | Our Rating |
| Headspace | Best overall |
| Calm | Best for sleep and relaxation |
| Insight Timer | Best budget |
| Shine | Best for daily inspiration and self-care |
| ShutEye | Best for sleep |
From beginner-friendly options to those that offer more advanced practices, these apps are sure to help you find the peace and focus you’re looking for.
How We Chose Our Best Meditation Apps
Generally speaking, we’d like to select a diverse group of meditation apps that are highly rated, user-friendly, and effective for a wide range of users. In fact, we hope that this information will help you find the app that best suits your needs and preferences. Thus, here is a detailed process of how we chose the best meditation apps available.
- Research: We conducted extensive research on various meditation options that are currently available. We looked at user reviews, ratings, and feature lists to get a sense of what different apps offer.
- Test: We tried out a variety of apps to get a sense of their user experience and effectiveness. We took note of which apps we found most helpful and user-friendly.
- Compare: We compared the apps we tested against each other and against our initial list of research. We took note of which apps stood out in terms of user ratings, features, and effectiveness. Not all apps are strictly meditation apps – you can also find meditation features in popular sleep tracking apps.
- Select: We selected the top 5 meditation apps that we believe to be the best based on our research and testing. These apps had high ratings, a variety of features, and positive reviews from users.
- Review: We reviewed the apps again to ensure they are still relevant and updated as of 2024. We also checked if any major changes happened within the apps or if any new apps have surpassed these in terms of popularity or functionality.
- Additional Information: We also considered other important factors, such as the cost of the app, whether apps are available for both iOS and Android and if it’s suitable for different age groups or lifestyles.
Do Guided Meditation Apps Really Work?
There is a growing body of research suggesting that meditation can have a variety of positive effects on mental and physical health. Studies have found that consistent meditation can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, improve focus and attention, and even lower blood pressure, and improve overall cardiovascular health.
Meditation apps can be useful tools to help people establish and maintain a regular meditation practice. They provide guided meditations, reminders, and tracking features that can make it easier for people to stick with the practice. Additionally, the apps can offer variety and convenience; you can use them at any time and place, and they often offer different types of meditations, such as daily mindfulness, guided, or movement meditations.
However, it’s important to note that meditation apps alone might not be enough to achieve the full benefits of meditation, and other factors such as consistency and mindset are also important. It’s best to use the apps as a complement to other practices and to work with a qualified teacher, if possible.
Additionally, it’s also important to note that individual experiences may vary, and some people may find that the apps are not effective for them. It’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any meditation practice, especially if you have any underlying conditions.
What Is The Number 1 Meditation App?
1. Best overall: Headspace
Headspace offers a wide variety of guided meditations for different purposes, including stress relief, focus, and sleep. With a user-friendly interface and simple animations, Headspace makes it easy for beginners to get started with meditation. The app also includes a feature called “Take10,” which is a free 10-day trial of the app’s beginner’s program, perfect for anyone who wants to try out the app before committing to a subscription. You can also download meditations to listen to them offline.
| Pros | Cons |
| • User-friendly interface, • A wide range of meditations for different purposes, • Take 10 free trial. | • The cost of membership may be too high for some users. • The app’s interface may be confusing to navigate for some. |
Rating: 4.8 stars on the App Store and 4.6 stars on Google Play
Price: Free to download, subscription starts at $12.99/month, $69.99/year
Core features: Guided meditation, personalized programs, sleep meditation, sounds, and tracking progress.
2. Best for sleep and relaxation: Calm
Calm app offers guided meditations, nature sounds, and bedtime stories to help users relax and sleep better. With a wide range of meditations for different levels of experience, this app is perfect for anyone looking to improve their sleep, reduce stress, or just relax. It also includes a feature called “Calm Body,” which also offers guided exercises and stretches to do during the day. In place of meditations for sleep, app users can find sleep stories.
| Pros | Cons |
| • A wide range of meditations for different experience levels, • Calm Body feature, • Stories to help you sleep. | • Limited free content. |
Rating: 4.8 stars on the App Store and 4.6 stars on Google Play
Price: Free to download, subscription starts at $19.99/month, $69.99/year
Core features: Guided meditation, sleep stories, nature sounds, and tracking progress.
3. Best budget: Insight Timer
Insight Timer offers thousands of completely FREE guided meditations, talks, and music tracks from a variety of teachers and musicians. With a vast library of meditations and a social community of meditators, this app is perfect for those looking to connect with other people on the same journey. It also allows users to track their progress and join meditation groups, making it easy to stay motivated. Premium subscription unlocks more features.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Large library of meditations, • Social community, • Progress tracking. | • Not all features are free. |
Rating: 4.8 stars on the App Store and 4.6 stars on Google Play
Price: Free version, subscription starts at $9.99/month, $59.99/year
Core features: Guided meditation, talks, music, and tracking progress.
4. Best for daily inspiration and self-care: Shine
Shine offers a variety of daily inspiration, self-care activities, and meditations to help users build positive habits and improve their mindfulness and well-being. With a focus on mindfulness and self-care, this app is perfect for anyone looking to make positive changes in their life. It also includes a feature called “Shine Together”, which enables users to connect with a supportive community of people who are working on similar goals.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Daily inspiration, • Self-care activities, • Shine Together feature. | • Limited access without a premium subscription. |
Rating: 4.8 stars on the App Store and 4.6 stars on Google Play
Price: Free to download, free options available, subscription starts at $8.99/month
Core features: Daily inspiration, self-care activities, guided meditation, and community.
5. Best for sleep: ShutEye
Although not exclusively a meditation app, ShutEye® offers a variety of features, such as guided meditations, sleep meditations, sleep stories, and white noise, to help you relax and fall asleep more easily. ShutEye® also includes a sleep-tracking feature that allows you to monitor your sleep patterns and see how different factors, such as caffeine intake or exercise, affect your sleep. It’s a great, beginner-friendly option for those who want to meditate to improve their sleep. And since it’s a sleep app, it’s a great complement to any of the meditation apps we’ve mentioned earlier; it can enhance the benefits of meditation by providing you with better sleep quality and detailed sleep metrics.
| Pros | Cons |
| • Sleep meditation and guided meditation, as well as relaxation exercises • A wide variety of sleep sounds • Extensive sleep tracking features | • May not be suitable for experienced meditators, but a great choice if you want to know more about your sleep |
Rating: 4.8 stars on the App Store and 4.6 stars on Google Play
Price: Free to download with 7-day free trial. Subscription starts at $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year
Core features: Sleep tracking and sleep sounds. Guided meditation, sleep meditation, and relaxation exercises.
Sleep meditation has become an essential practice to improve our well-being and lead a balanced life. Engaging in guided meditation before sleep can have a profound impact on our sleep quality and overall mental health. By focusing on our breath and releasing any tension in our bodies, sleep meditation aids in relaxation, allowing us to drift off into a deep and restorative slumber. It helps calm down the racing thoughts and anxieties that often keep us awake at night.
The Takeaway
In conclusion, mindfulness and meditation apps can be a great way to improve your mental well-being and reduce stress. Finding the right meditation app for you takes time but hopefully, with this guide, you will be able to find the best meditation app that suits your needs. Try out one of these apps for yourself and see how it goes!
