Are you feeling anxious or declining concentration more than usual lately? Maybe you should think about meditation!
This simple relaxation technique is a very effective way to increase focus, reduce stress and improve sleep.
Luckily, learning to meditate is easier than ever thanks to apps that allow you to discover all relaxation techniques step by step, straight from your smartphone.
It doesn’t matter if you’re just a beginner or an experienced meditator, below are the 11 best free meditation apps in 2023, available for Android and iPhone.
What is meditation?
Meditation is a mental exercise that involves relaxation, focus and mindfulness. Meditation is mind-making physical exercise for the body. The exercise is usually performed individually, in a sitting position and with eyes closed.
Meditation does not mean becoming a different person, a new person, or even a better person. This is about training awareness and gaining a healthy sense of perspective.
Don’t try to turn off your thoughts or feelings. Learn to observe them without judgment. And eventually you may begin to understand them better.
Best Free Meditation Apps
Why is it good to meditate?
- Meditation can improve your emotional state by reducing stress levels, anxiety and depression.
- It can improve people’s emotional intelligence (which refers to the ability to understand and manage one’s own emotions), and has also been found to improve certain executive functions, including inhibition, which refers to controlling one’s own behavior.
- A great first line of defense for people who would like to experience less stress and improve the quality of their lives.
That is why, in addition to your physical health, it is important to find some time – at least a minute or two every day – for mental self-examination.
The best mobile meditation apps
Download them to start learning deep breathing techniques, guided meditation, and enjoy the many benefits of mindfulness.
1. The Mindfulness
The Mindfulness App
Beginners for meditation and gurus will find a lot of options with the app The Mindfulness.
A five-day guided exercise and introduction to the process help you get started, and time-guided or quiet meditations of 3 to 30 minutes will suit your busy lifestyle.
The app also offers personalized meditation options, reminders for alertness during the day, and statistics to track in your meditation diary.
2. Headspace
Headspace
Find calm, well-being and balance in your life with water meditation techniques and attentiveness for daily use.
Before bed, try any of his 10 sleep songs or 16 nature sound recordings.
The app builds personalized plans based on your input, so you can learn the basics of meditation and build them from there.
3. Sattva
Sattva
Sattva draws from the Vedic principles of meditation and contains meditations, chants and mantras provided by Sanskrit scholars.
Simple, authentic and deep meditations begin in the length of six minutes, and users can set goals to slowly extend their practice.
You can also track your progress using meditation diaries and browse collections of thoughts and playlists designed to encourage your sessions.
4. Calm
Calm
This award-winning meditation app features calming exercises, breathing techniques to help you relax, and even a Calm Kids section with meditations for kids between 3 and 17.
The new Sleep Stories section features great voice talent — you’ll recognize actor Matthew McConaughey or Jerome Flynn — to put you to sleep.
The recent calm app update creates a meaningful experience through Apple Watch, with three new breathing exercises, mind-based walking meditation, and calming exercises that you can all access directly from your watch.
5. Insight Timer
Insight Timer
More meditation is practiced on Insight Timer than anywhere else, and this app adds 10 or more free guided meditations every day.
Review thousands of guided meditations to get started building simple everyday habits.
Jump in in groups with discussions and community features and use music records and ambient sounds to calm the mind and promote sleep.
6. Stop, Breathe & Think
Stop, Breathe & Think
The meditation recommendations in this app are based on your emotions.
With the app, you can recognize how you’re feeling and then tame anxiety, reduce stress, breathe deeply, or sleep better with short, guided meditations, yoga videos and acupressure videos.
You can also track your mood and general progress, and log in to your diary daily.
7. 10% Happier
10% Happier
This app is designed for skeptics to help them keep going, so new added content weekly prevents meditation from becoming a boring thing.
Daily videos and guided meditations teach you what to do in the simplest way possible, while a range of content shows how to deal with stressors like anxiety and political stress.
8. Breethe
Breethe
Learn how to remove stress and sleep better in just five minutes a day with a personal trainer.
Breethe’s guided meditation series, inspiring conversations and mindfulness coach Lynne Goldberg’s master classes will help you navigate life’s challenges better and enjoy improved peace of mind.
Music playlists for better sleep on the app, nature sounds, and bedtime reading teach you how to enjoy a more peaceful sleep.
9. Simple Habit
Simple Habit
This meditation app was created to offer stress relief for busy people. Devote just five minutes a day and you’ll enjoy less stress, improved focus, better sleep and easier breathing.
The on-the-go feature teaches you how to quickly calm your nerves and improve mindfulness, while guided meditations for specific situations and symptoms help you tailor your experience.
10. Omvana
Omvana
Designed to act as a teacher of personal meditation and mindfulness, Omvana offers guided meditation for all aspects of your life.
Beginners and more experienced exercisers will benefit from guided meditations that range from 3 to 60 minutes and can adjust your stress level and your state of mind.
11. Meditation and Relaxation Pro
Meditation and Relaxation Pro
This relaxation app guides your meditations with the simplest but most effective techniques.
Meditation programs and sessions are designed to ease your stress, focus, sleep better, improve self-esteem, and find greater happiness, all in a format that’s intuitive and easy to follow.
Why we chose these apps
Some of these apps are recommended by experts in the field of consciousness and mental health. We have selected several based on positive user reviews.
Be that as it may, all of the following applications were selected because they met the following criteria:
- They’re great for beginners
- they are highly rated in app stores
- They offer a wide range of meditation styles.
- includes facilities designed for children and parents
- compatible with iOS and Android devices