Last Updated on May 27, 2024 by Jhonni Jets
Mindfulness has attracted increasing popularity in recent years as research demonstrates its many mental and physical health benefits. However, fitting regular mindfulness practice into a busy schedule can be challenging. Thankfully, there are now many high-quality mindfulness apps available for iOS devices that make practicing mindfulness more accessible than ever. This article highlights 9 of the best mindfulness apps for iPhone and iPad based on features, reviews, and effectiveness.
Calm
As one of the most popular meditation apps, Calm offers over 100 guided meditations across a variety of lengths and topics. Sessions include classics like breathing meditation as well as more specific themes like meditations for anxiety, stress relief, and sleep. Calm’s guided experiences are beautifully produced with calming narration and ambient music or nature sounds. Beyond meditations, Calm has Sleep Stories – bedtime stories for adults narrated by celebrities and experts to help you unwind before sleep. An annual subscription unlocks Calm’s full library, but you can also access their Daily Calm program with one free meditation each day. Calm is very beginner friendly and a great choice for those wanting to explore different types of mindfulness practices.
Headspace
Similar to Calm in quality and popularity, Headspace was founded by former Buddhist monk Andy Puddicombe and takes a more structured approach to teaching meditation. Headspace has a beginners program that guides you through the fundamentals of meditation over 10-15 minute sessions across several weeks. This helps establish a regular practice. They also have packs for topics like stress, focus, confidence and more. Each meditation is narrated calmly and incorporates relevant imagery. A subscription unlocks their entire library, but the basic features like their take10 program that offers a 10-minute guided session each day are free. Headspace’s learn-as-you-go curriculum makes it excellent for mindfulness newbies or those looking to deepen their practice systematically.
Insight Timer
Standing out for its massive library of over 25,000 free guided meditations, Insight Timer has content for every interest and experience level. Meditations come in various lengths and cover topics from chakras and aura cleansing to gratitude, compassion, and living in the present moment. You can search by teacher to follow your favorite voices. Insight Timer also has talks, articles and online community to support your practice. While most content is free, a subscription provides ad-free experiences and exclusive premium meditations. Insight Timer has an intuitive interface and diverse range of options, allowing you to discover new types of mindfulness on your own terms. It’s an excellent choice for the curious explorer seeking to expand their practice.
Ten Percent Happier
Founded by ABC news anchor Dan Harris after his own struggles with anxiety inspired him to learn meditation, Ten Percent Happier delivers top quality content rooted in science. In addition to guided meditations, the app features interviews and “Mini-Courses” taught by respected experts and teachers from various contemplative traditions. Lessons cover introductory meditation, stress, anxiety, focus, sleep and loving-kindness practices. While not as visually polished as apps like Calm, the emphasis on evidence-based mindfulness makes Ten Percent Happier authentic and informative. A subscription unlocks full access, but their daily meditations are free. It’s well suited for practical, intellectually-engaged types seeking to understand mindfulness on a deeper level.
Simple Habit
Simple Habit takes a straightforward approach to mindfulness with hundreds of guided sessions across breathing, meditation, sleep and more. Their lessons are presented conversationally by founder and licensed counselor Pedro Oliveira and feel warmly comforting yet not overly scripted or fluffy. In addition to audio sessions, Simple Habit offers PDF manuals explaining techniques in an easy to follow manner. The app has become especially popular among beginners and busy professionals looking for tools to quickly unwind and destress. While visual design is basic, Simple Habit delivers consistent, effective guidance in developing lifelong self-care skills. Their premium content is also very affordable, making it a top choice for those on a budget.
Mindfulness Daily
As the name implies, Mindfulness Daily provides brief, high-impact mindfulness practices you can fit into your schedule. Their 3-10 minute sessions span sitting meditation, body scans, breathing exercises and more – making it perfect for short mindfulness breaks throughout the day. Each session is led by mindfulness expert and psychologist Dr. Michelle Craske who guides reflections in a warm, insightful way. Additional resources teach mindfulness foundations like the three types of attention and four noble truths. Mindfulness Daily provides j ust the right doses of mindful awareness for busy schedules. The free version allows access to one meditation daily, while a subscription unlocks all sessions. It’s an ideal companion for anyone committed to regular practice but needing short, efficient sessions.
Stop, Breathe & Think
Stop, Breathe & Think has a clean, modern aesthetic and hosts hundreds of guided experiences including meditations, games and tracking activities. The meditations span breathing, gratitude, self-care and relaxing nature scenes. Games like meditative mazes and puzzles add a fun element to mindful practices. You can also track daily moods and activities to see patterns over time. Stop, Breathe & Think’s social feed lets you follow other users and comment on their journeys, building a supportive community. Their thoughtfully-crafted mindfulness tools successfully blend wellness and technology. While many sessions are free, premium subscriptions provide exclusive pack-based meditation programs on deeper topics. It’s great for bringing mindfulness into a balanced, integrated lifestyle.
Balance
Dedicated specifically to stress management and relaxation, Balance offers sessions targeting anxiety, empowerment, self-esteem and more sensitive topics. The meditations incorporate compassionate affirmations and mental imagery to help rebuild your wellbeing from the inside out. Each is carefully crafted by co-founders psychologists Drs. Sherry Benton and Tara Brach, who guide reflections with therapeutic nuance and care. Additional resources offer education on mindfulness techniques like breathing and body scans. While design is less polished than competitors, the empathetic nature of Balance makes it ideal for those healing from adversity or in need of extra nurturing guidance. Both free and premium subscriptions are affordable options to enhance your mental wellness routine.
Smiling Mind
Created by psychologists and educators, Smiling Mind supports mindfulness for both personal wellness and in schools. Their menu includes introductory meditations, focused sessions and mindful activities for specific age groups from teens to seniors. Rather than narration, most experiences use calming ambient music and natural tones which creates a tranquil space for exploration. Additional learning modules help users understand how mindfulness can help reduce stress, build resilience and improve relationships. While targeting younger audiences and workplaces, Smiling Mind offers simple yet profoundly impactful tools applicable to all. It’s a wonderful choice for bringing more mindfulness into family life and helping kids establish these beneficial habits early.
With so many diverse options, it can be challenging to choose the ideal mindfulness app to support your needs and lifestyle. These 10 apps rated highly for features, ease of use, guidance quality and positive reviews. Whether you’re just starting your mindfulness journey or looking to branch out, consider trying a few to see which one resonates with your experience level and goals for overall wellbeing and personal growth.
Conclusion
Mindfulness meditation continues gaining widespread acceptance as a science-based wellness practice. Convenient mobile apps have significantly helped more people benefit from mindfulness by overcoming common barriers of time, access to instruction and commitment issues. The selections highlighted here represent the top platforms supporting various mindfulness needs from stress relief to deeper contemplative exploration. With a few minutes of daily practice aided by high-quality guided content, mindfulness apps empower ongoing self-care skills and resilience. By complementing an active lifestyle, regular mindfulness practice optimizes mental, emotional and physical health for balanced living. These leading apps equip users with helpful tools for bringing more presence, clarity and calm into each moment.