Key takeaways
- When picking the best meditation apps, we considered the variety and types of meditations offered for the cost.
- We also made sure it was available for iPhone and Android.
- We chose Healthy Minds as the best overall because it’s free with a variety of options.
After researching top meditation apps, choosing the best ones to test based on price and features, we chose three that cater to both experienced meditators and those looking to establish a new meditation habit.
Our senior editor, Chelsea Logan, has used Headspace for several years and stands by it. But when she tested meditation apps in April 2024, she encountered a dark horse. “[Healthy Minds] is completely free, and there’s a wide variety of content,” she says.
Since it’s accessible with actually good content, we crowned it best overall. It’s a great app for cutting your teeth that still has plenty to offer experienced meditators. It has enough content to last you well into a budding meditation regimen.
And when it’s time to upgrade and you’re looking for more content, we recommend Headspace or Calm. Both are quality (and similar) medication apps that may appeal to different meditation personalities.
Let’s get into it.
Simple Habit‘s subscription cost is more than Headspace or Calm. While it offers quality meditations, we didn’t find it worth the extra cost. However, it does offer a free version that still lets you access a decent amount of content. You can also set daily reminders, so it may be a good option for getting your meditation footing.
If you prefer the Simple Habit interface, it offers a lifetime purchase option at the same cost as Calm.
Variety
options for short, long, and themed meditations
Accessible
Available for both iPhone and Android
Easy to use
No confusing interfaces
$12.99 monthly
$14.99 monthly
$399 lifetime
Yes and no. We’ve found that Healthy Minds is a perfectly suitable, free mediation app with a large enough library to satisfy many meditators. However, you may hit a point that you need more content, and in that case, Headspace and Calm are easy to use with a wider variety for the regular meditator.
Healthy Minds is a free meditation app that we thoroughly enjoyed. It’s run by a nonprofit. You can donate but don’t have to. Insight Timer is another totally free option with a decent meditation library.
Headspace and Calm are two popular meditation apps that offer similar benefits.
You may want to choose Headspace if you:
- are new to meditation
- want a more structured meditation practice
- want access to shorter, quick meditations
You may want to choose Calm if you:
- have some meditation experience
- want access to lengthier stories and music
- want a less structured meditation practice
Don’t be afraid to try different apps until you find one that works for you. You don’t have to invest in a monthly subscription to experience a quality meditation app, but you may want to once you establish a regular habit.
