The Best Meditation Apps for 2025

Living our crazy, fast-paced lives makes us human beings look for calm and peace more and more. Some choose hatha yoga and its relaxation breathing techniques by attending group classes right after a workday or week. But many meditate in the middle of their busy day, as soon as they have some free time from their duties. To do so, they use modern technology—more specifically, their smartphones with installed meditation applications.

What are they? Are they effective? How much do they cost to use on a regular basis? We studied the most popular meditation apps of 2025, downloaded them on a smartphone, and tested them ourselves. What follows is the result of what happens when ordinary people use mental health apps to get the utmost benefits.

A Comparison Table of Popular Meditation Apps

App Name	Best Suited For	Price (USD / GBP)	Free Trial	Distinctive Feature
Headspace	Absolute beginners & routine-building	$12.99 / £9.99 per month or $69.99 / £49.99 per year	7 days (monthly plan) / 14 days (annual plan)	Playful, animated guidance and goal-oriented programs
Calm	Sleep, relaxation & stress relief	Around $14.99 / £12.99 per month or $69.99 / £55 per year; lifetime $399.99	7 days	Celebrity-narrated sleep stories and polished soundscapes
Insight Timer	Variety-seekers & community connection	Free core version; $9.99 / £5.99 per month or $59.99 / £35 per year for premium	7 days (premium only)	Huge free library (200k+ meditations) with global teachers
Smiling Mind	Families, schools & children	Entirely free	Not applicable	Age-specific mindfulness programs, especially for education
Waking Up	Deep thinkers & philosophy-minded meditators	$19.99 / £16.99 per month or $129.99 / £99 per year	14–30 days (varies)	Mix of meditation, philosophy, and neuroscience insights

Headspace

• Level: Beginner—Intermediate
• Age of users: 16+ (children’s version — 7-12 years old)

Headspace is like a kind teacher who takes you by the hand and says, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll explain everything.” We installed it on iPhone and Android — it works stably. Having no previous experience in meditation, we hoped that it would really suit beginners — and we were not mistaken. The app is ideal for adults, especially those who are hearing the word “meditation” for the first time and don’t know where to start.

Suitable For

It works equally well for both men and women. But it is especially catchy for its gentleness — as if someone is sitting next to you and patiently explaining how the mind works. 

I particularly liked the programs for pregnant women: calm sessions on acceptance, breathing, and emotional stability. Just what you need during this fragile period.  

Headspace also has programs for children. The sleepcasts proved to be particularly effective. Audio stories with a soothing voice, natural sounds, and a gradual decrease in volume literally “lull” the child to sleep. It’s like a bedtime ritual: you turn on “Journey to the Moon” — and in 10 minutes, your child’s breathing is even and the lights are off. 

Headspace does not allow children under the age of 13 to create their own accounts. Instead, they access the content through the parent profile. On the one hand, it is safe — the child does not wander through adult meditations. On the other hand, there is practically no parental control in the application: there is no password, no restrictions on the time of use, or the ability to disable certain sections.

What We Liked about Headspace:

• Very friendly, animated interface (cute cartoon heads, smooth transitions)
• Dan Harris’ voice is calm, not annoying, but with an accent (American British)
• Structured courses: “Meditation for Beginners,” “Sleep,” “Stress,” “Focus”
• Separate sessions for pregnant women (emotional support)
• Mini-meditations lasting 1–3 minutes — ideal for breaks
• There are “Sleep Stories” (with actors’ voices, e.g., Matthew McConaughey)

What We Did Not Like: 

• The subscription is expensive — $12.99 per month or $69.99 per year
• The free period is only 14 days, then it is only paid.
• No long meditations (>20 min) in the free version
• The content becomes monotonous over time.

Calm

• Level: Beginners—Intermediate
• Age: 13+ (there is Calm Teens for ages 13–17), sleepy tales — from age 5

“My husband couldn’t sleep for the third night in a row because of problems at work. We turned on “Sleepy Tales” — and after 7 minutes he was already snoring!” This is not a joke—it’s a review from one of the app’s users that we found while preparing this article for publication. Calm is truly the best in its class when it comes to sleep aid and reducing anxiety. 

Of course, meditation is not the only way to manage stress — many also support their mental well-being with natural supplements for mood balance and anxiety, which can complement relaxation practices.

The app offers everything: meditation, music, nature sounds, breathing practices, and, of course, legendary fairy tales featuring stars from Hugh Jackman to Harry Styles. Tamara Levitt’s voice is one of the calmest in the industry: warm, measured, without dramatic pauses.

The interface is luxurious: background videos with ocean, forest, rain — you watch and immediately relax. But the price — $14.99 per month or $69.99 per year — makes you think. Yes, the content is good, but after a month, it becomes noticeable that the plots are repeated, and there are almost no deep meditations. 

On Android, offline mode sometimes crashes. One more point: as in Headspace, children quickly get used to fairy tales; children may get upset when the Wi-Fi is turned off and the fairy tale does not load. The dependence on ritual is real. 

Calm is like a spa on your phone: cozy, beautiful, expensive. Suitable for those who want emotional hugging rather than practice. If you can’t sleep, are nervous before a meeting, or just want to feel cared for, we believe that Calm is your choice.

Suitable For

There are separate programs for pregnant women and even for teenagers (Calm Teens), which is rare. It is especially popular among women, but men quickly get hooked too—especially after a hard day at work.

What We Liked about Calm:

• Luxurious design: natural background videos (forest, ocean), quiet music
• Tamara Levitt’s voice is one of the calmest and pleasant in the industry
• of “Dream Tales” featuring celebrities (Harry Styles, Idris Elba)
• Daily meditation “Calm Daily” — 10 minutes, new every day
• Programs: “Anxiety Management”, “Mindfulness at work”, “Pregnancy”
• Built-in nature sounds and music for sleep/focus

What We Did Not Like: 

• There’s a lot of content — you can get lost.
• The subscription is expensive $14.99/month or $69.99/year
• There are a few meditations for deep practice (Zen, Vipassana, etc.)
• Offline mode is unstable on Android

Insight Timer

• Level: Beginners—Expert
• Age: 14+ (There is content for children and teenagers, but the interface is a bit complicated for younger ones)

We installed Insight Timer with the thought, “Let’s see if 95% of the content is really free.” It turned out to be true. What’s more, there are over 130,000 meditations, courses, lectures, and audio practices here.

Suitable For

The app is suitable for everyone: beginners and those who meditate for an hour a day. There are programs for children, teenagers, adults, seniors, expectant mothers — even for those interested in tantra or Zen Buddhism.

The app’s cool feature is a timer with bells: you can set it for 30 minutes with 5-minute intervals — perfect for Zen practices. They also have live group meditations: yesterday, we were on Zoom with 400 people from 30 countries — weird, but it worked. Best of all, it’s free. 

Yes, there is a paid version (Insight Timer Plus — $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year), but it is not mandatory: it unlocks access to courses with certificates, an improved timer, and offline downloads. However, the interface is outdated, overloaded, and full of ads for paid courses. 

The audio quality varies: sometimes there is background noise, sometimes the voice is too quiet. There is no unified structure — you have to find what suits you. But the freedom of choice is enormous. 

Insight Timer is like the internet in 2005: rough around the edges, but infinitely rich. If you don’t want to pay and are willing to dig around, this is for you. 

What We Liked about Insight Timer:

• The largest community: 130,000+ free meditations
• 95% of content is free (rare!)
• Different styles: from Buddhist practices to sound vibrations and tantra
• You can choose the voice: male, female, different accents, languages 
• Timer for independent meditation (with bells)
• Courses from renowned teachers (Shinzen Yang, Tara Brach)
• “Real-time group meditation” feature

What We Did Not Like:

• The interface is cluttered (lots of tabs, difficult to navigate).
• Audio quality varies—some recordings have noise or poor microphone quality.
• There is no unified structure—you have to search for what you want yourself.
• Lots of spiritual/esoteric content (not suitable for everyone).

Smiling Mind

• Level: Beginners
• Age: 7–65 years old (programs by age: 7–9, 10–12, teens, adults, seniors)

We installed Smiling Mind because we heard, “It’s free and for kids.” And indeed, the app was created by Australian psychologists and is used in schools. 

Suitable For

It is ideal for parents, teachers, and school psychologists. The programs are divided by age: from 7 years old to adults.

For adults, the content is more straightforward: no fairy tales, music, or beautiful videos—just practice. The voices are neutral, without any “spiritual sweetness,” which is nice.

The entire app is completely free, with no ads and no subscriptions. There are no hidden fees, which is rare. The interface is simple, almost boring—as if you were in an educational system. 

But this is compensated for by reliability: the methods are scientifically proven, and the support of psychologists is evident. Smiling Mind is not for those who want comfort. It is for those who want their children (and themselves) to learn to manage their emotions without drama or mysticism. 

And yes, there is no parental control in the app, but there is no need for it: children cannot go beyond their age-appropriate program, and access to content is only through a shared account. It’s safe, simple, and honest. This is especially valuable in an era when everything is turning into a subscription.

What We Liked about Smiling Mind:

• Australian non-profit project (created by psychologists)
• Programs by age: 7–9 years old, 10–12, teens, adults, seniors
• Focus on education and schools — can be used in the classroom
• Voices are calm, neutral, without “mysticism”
• Topics: school, sports, emotions, sleep, work
• Completely free and without advertising

What We Did Not Like:

• The content for adults is less profound than Calm or Headspace.
• There are a few meditations for pregnant women.
• There is no “luxurious” sound—it sounds like a school lesson.

Waking Up

• Level: Intermediate—Expert (also suitable for beginners with an interest in philosophy)
• Age: 18+ (due to complex content, abstract concepts, and topics such as death, non-duality, and the illusion of the self)

We installed Waking up after hearing: “If you’re tired of ‘pink clouds’ and want something with brains, this is the app for you.” And we weren’t wrong. Waking Up, created by neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harris, is perhaps the most serious meditation app we’ve tested. 

Suitable For

It is primarily suitable for adults—men and women who want to understand how the mind works, rather than just “feel calmer.” It is especially relevant for those who are skeptical about spiritual practices but want to work with mindfulness in a scientific way. 

Age group: 18 and older. The content is complex, with deep concepts (such as “no self” or “non-duality”) that may be difficult for teenagers to understand. Pregnant women can use it, but the content is not specifically adapted for them. Not suitable for children.

The thing about Waking Up is that it’s not just a bunch of meditations, but a structured path. The app starts with a 30-day “Basic Course” where Sam Harris explains what mindfulness is, how attention works, and how the mind creates suffering. Each day has a short theory part (5–10 minutes) + practice. By the fifth day, you realize that this isn’t about “breathing and relaxing,” but rather “looking directly at what you call ‘I’ and asking: does it exist?” This can be uncomfortable. It can cause resistance. But that’s what makes the app so powerful. 

The app also offers alternative approaches: for example, meditation with Vipassana teachers, Zen masters, and yogis. There is a “Practice without a goal” feature, where you simply sit without focusing on anything. This is rare. Another feature is the mindfulness journal, where you can record which practices you have done and read short notes from Sam. The interface is minimalistic, without animations or “cartoonish” elements — just text, audio, and a timer. But it works stably, offline — no problems.

What about the pricing? $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year—one of the highest among all. However, there is an important detail: if you cannot afford the payment, you can still use the application for free. Yes, we are not mistaken: there is indeed a special form on the website where you indicate that you cannot pay and get access forever. That’s Sam Harris’ principle: mindfulness should not be a privilege of the rich.

What We Liked about Waking Up:

• A deep intellectual foundation — a combination of neuroscience, philosophy, and meditation, not just “relax and breathe.”
• A structured path for growth — a 30-day core course and thematic modules leading from basic awareness to complex concepts (such as non-duality).
• Practices that change perception — not just mindfulness, but techniques aimed at directly experiencing “no self” and liberation from identity.
• Free access for those who cannot pay — a humane approach.
• Daily meditation with a new lesson — maintains regularity and provides constant “food for thought.”
• High-quality content from an expert — Sam Harris — not just a teacher, but a scientist and critic, which adds credibility and depth.

 What We Did Not Like:

• It may seem complicated and distant for beginners looking for simple relaxation.
• Few practices for sleep and anxiety—no “bedtime stories” or light lulling sessions.
• Minimalist interface—looks dry and not as friendly as Calm or Headspace.

Meditation for Cynics, Atheists, and Skeptics: the Best Apps

If you’ve read this far, you’ve probably heard things like, “Meditation is amazing!” “You’ll feel a rush of energy!” “You’ll connect with the universe!” — and immediately rolled your eyes. We understand. Of course, it’s not uncommon to find people who are skeptical about meditation and spiritual practices. 

We have good news, especially for them: there are apps designed specifically for skeptics. Apps where no one talks about “soul vibrations,” suggest “cleansing your chakras,” or whisper “you are part of cosmic consciousness.” Instead, they offer explanations, structure, data, and practices that work, even if you don’t believe in them.

Waking Up is the best choice if you think, “This is all nonsense.”

This app is like a Harvard lecture on mindfulness. Sam Harris says it straight: “I’m an atheist. I’m a neuroscientist. I don’t believe in the soul. But meditation is a tool for understanding consciousness.“ And then, without any fluff or mysticism, he explains how the mind creates suffering, how attention can be trained like a muscle, and why the ”I” that you feel is more of a process than an object. We gave it to our engineer friend, who used to close YouTube if the title contained the word “spirituality.” Two weeks later, he said, “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m less angry in traffic jams.” It works. Even if you resist it.

Insight Timer — when you want choice, not preaching

There is no single voice here, no “teacher” telling you how to live. Instead, there are 130,000 meditations from different people: scientists, doctors, former military personnel, and psychologists. You can choose a practice from a Stanford neuroscience professor or from a therapist who says, “This isn’t about enlightenment, it’s about not snapping at your coworker.” 

There are filters: “scientific approach,” “no spirituality,” “practical awareness.” And yes, almost everything is free. It’s like going to the library and choosing a book on psychology rather than esotericism.

Editor’s tip: If you’re skeptical, don’t be afraid of meditation. Just choose the right app. 

What Are the Best Free Meditation Apps?

We’ve all heard it: “Mindfulness is an investment in yourself.” But you know what else is an investment? Food, rent, and your electric bill. And when it comes to a $13-a-month subscription for “yet another app,” most of us just close the screen and say, “Okay, maybe next year.” We decided: what if there were decent, free alternatives that didn’t make you pay for every minute of peace of mind?

As we mentioned earlier in this article, Smiling Mind is a meditation app where absolutely everything is free, no subscriptions, no ads, no hidden fees. This app is like a school lesson that doesn’t try to sell you anything. Created by Australian psychologists, it is used in schools. Programs for children, teenagers, and adults — everything is free. 

Another interesting mobile app is Insight Timer. Here you will find a huge library of meditations with free access. More than 130,000 meditations, courses from renowned teachers, a timer for independent practice, live group sessions — and 95% of the content is available free of charge. Yes, there is a paid version (Plus — $9.99/month), but you can use the app for years and not even notice that you’re missing anything. We found practices here for mindfulness, breathing, sleep, and anxiety — all without spending a single dollar. And if you prefer physical relaxation methods, products like Dead Sea Magnesium Oil can help release muscle tension, making meditation even more effective.

Our verdict: the best free app is Smiling Mind (if you want structure) and Insight Timer (if you’re looking for a choice). 

FAQ

Is Calm or Headspace Better?

Oh, this question is like “Which do you prefer: Pepsi or Coca-Cola?”, only with meditation. We’ve been testing both for at least a month, and here’s our verdict.

Calm lulls you to sleep: fairy tales with the voices of stars, beautiful ocean videos, and Tamara Levitt’s voice that makes you want to fall asleep right away. It’s great if you’re nervous, don’t sleep well, or just want someone to quietly say, “Everything’s going to be okay.”

Headspace is more educational. It’s all step by step: “Today we will breathe. Tomorrow is to notice thoughts.” It is suitable if you are a beginner and do not understand what to do with this meditation at all.

What did we choose? For sleeping — Calm. For the first steps, use Headspace. But to be honest, both are expensive. And if you are not ready to pay $70 per year for a voice in headphones, look further.

What is the Best Free Meditation App in 2025?

If you don’t want to pay, don’t pay. In 2025, there are apps that provide quality content for free. Real, no catch.

The best options:

• Smiling Mind — 100% free, scientific approach, great for children and adults.
• Insight Timer — 130,000+ free meditations, courses, timer, live sessions. Yes, the interface is a bit outdated, but the content is awesome.

Headspace and Calm offer trial periods, but then block almost everything. So you can’t really call them free. Smiling Mind and Insight Timer, on the other hand, give you access to everything simply because they can.

Can Meditation Apps Really Help with Anxiety?

The short answer is yes, but not in the way advertised.

We did not become “internally calm beings floating above the earth.” However, after 3–4 weeks of regular practice, we noticed the following:

• It has become easier to reboot after stress.
• Cling to disturbing thoughts less.
• We’ve started to notice when we’re nervous, and that’s already half the battle.

Best Apps for meditation, like Calm, Headspace, and Waking Up, provide tools that work, especially if you’re a beginner. Breathing techniques are particularly effective during panic attacks. But it’s important to understand that this is not a pill. It’s like exercise—the more regular you are, the better the results. And if you have severe anxiety, an app is not a substitute for therapy. But as a supplement? Yes. It works. Especially when you’re in an elevator, your heart is pounding, and all you have is your phone.

Some people also notice positive effects when they combine meditation with nutritional support for anxiety and mood balance, creating a more holistic approach to stress management.

Our main advice: don’t chase after the perfect app. Don’t expect miracles after your first meditation. Just give it a try. Even if you’re skeptical. Even if you don’t believe.

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