Throughout your schooling there will always be periods where things can be really stressful, especially when you have lots of assignments or exams. Now if you’re someone who enjoys meditating to wind down or are trying to find ways to reduce stress, you might want to try some of the best free meditation apps.
And luckily, we’ve got you covered — keep reading to find out our app recommendations for meditation!
What is meditation?
First, let’s start with some myth-busting. We often associate meditation with religious practice. Though meditation originated in Ancient India, with ties to Hinduism and Buddhism, it’s since expanded rapidly.
Modern meditation can be anything you want it to be. It can be a time of prayer, a good walk, or simply just sitting in your own thoughts. As David M. Bader was quoted, “Be here now. Be someplace else later. Is that so hard?”
These free meditation apps provide many different forms for you to try.
#1. Insight Timer
Sourced from Insight Network Inc.
This app claims to have the largest free library of meditation in the world. It was also voted as best meditation app of the year by TIME magazine in 2018. That’s rather impressive!
Insight Timer provides playlists on different topics, like ‘sleep essentials’ and ‘finding inner peace’, which you can meditate to. It also offers live events!
This app is easy to navigate and has a wide variety of free functions, making it highly accessible.
Pros
- There’s an incredibly broad range of topics to choose from on this app, so you will likely find a meditation that works for you. You may like to focus on breathing, Zen meditation or activities that you can do whilst walking.
- You can set a timer for the amount of time you want to meditate, making Insight Timer interactive and versatile, according to your needs. You can work yourself up to meditating for longer periods of time.
- Live sessions are offered with specialists in their field. You can meditate with others whilst being guided by yogis and health practitioners.
Cons
- The background for Insight Timer gives out a white light, which users have reported to be distracting. If you are particularly sensitive to light, or meditating right before bed, this may be a challenge.
- There are in-app purchases available, so it’s possible to get sucked into paying for an app that you originally thought of as ‘free’.
Check out the app here!
#2. Simple Habit
Sourced from App Store
This one is designed for busy people who need a quick break. If you find yourself constantly occupied with rare occasions to stop and refocus, Simple Habit might be the ideal app for you.
Here, you’ll find audio meditations that go for as little as five minutes. As there is rarely a video element attached, you can take on Simple Habit any time — on the train, perhaps even in the shower!
Pros
- Simple Habit provided different types of meditation, including short training sessions to know how to meditate. There’s music and sleep sessions offered too.
- The short sessions on this app means you don’t need to take a huge chunk out of your day to meditate. It’s a great option for students if you just need a little pick me up.
Cons
- Though there is a free version, Simple Habit does have a hefty fee attached if you want to download sessions or gain access to premium mediations.
- Several years ago, Simple Habit was accused by Observer of ripping off apps such as Whil and Headspace. Though this seems to have been ratified, it is something to keep in mind.
Download the app here!
#3. Ten Percent Happier
Sourced from App Store
The name of this app really got us! Ten Percent Happier was designed by journalist Dan Harris who has worked for Nightline and Good Morning America.
You may know him from a viral video where he had a panic attack live on air in 2004. On the app (and a book by the same name), Dan teaches audiences the tips he’s learnt since then to be calmer and happier.
The app goes through short, strategic meditation to increase mindfulness in day-to-day life.
Pros
- Ten Percent Happier has been designed by someone who had personal experience with stress and did the research to figure out solutions. In this sense, it’s a trustworthy app that the author has invested ambition into.
- The app has over 500 meditations on different topics, including anxiety, focus and sleep, so you can tailor your meditation to specific needs each day.
Cons
- Like most of the apps we are discussing, the premium version of Ten Percent Happier is quite pricey. You’ll have access to most meditations for free, but some specific teaching tools are restricted for paid users.
Get the app here!
#4. The Mindfulness App
Sourced from The Mindfulness App
This app is designed as an easy introduction to meditation, ideal for beginners or users who like a lot of direction. On it, you’ll find meditations that last for a range of different times, as well as some education tools that will enhance your meditation practice.
There’s also a variety of different voices available, so you can pick the one you like best!
Pros
- This app has easy navigation. Users report that it is easy to toggle between different meditation types that last for varying degrees of time. It’s then an ideal app for people who don’t want to spend a lot of time tailoring their meditation routine!
- The Mindfulness App offers a lineal guide, so you can ease your way into meditating and learn as you go!
Cons
- This app seems to have some update issues, especially on the premium version. One user posted on the Apple app store that they have “purchased content in the past only to find that it has disappeared when the app has updated”. Bug issues appear to be a common problem with meditation apps, so keep this in mind if you do decide to pay for anything!
Find more info on the app here!
#5. Aura: Meditation & Mindfulness
Sourced from App Store
If you’re interested in an app that looks to relieve stress and anxiety, where your mindfulness needs are personalised by AI, this could be the one for you! With Aura, you can choose how you’re feeling and you’ll find meditations tailored to you.
With the free version, you’ll receive 3-minute mindfulness meditations everyday, be able to track your mood, set daily goals, personalise your meditation and more!
Pros
- As you use the app for an extended period of time, the app becomes more familiar with your needs and the type of meditations that work best for you
- A great variety of meditations to choose from
- Other functionalities aside from meditation, such as sleep, coaching and background noises
Cons
- If you are looking for meditations longer than 3 minutes, you will need to pay for a subscription to the app
- Some of the negative reviews have pointed out that they have been charged for using a free trial of the premium subscription
Learn more about the app here!
So there you have it!
Our recommendations for free meditation apps that will give you a moment of solace in a busy day! Of course, it’s important to remember that each person has different requirements, so you may need to try a couple before you find out what works for you.
Meditation, especially on apps, should never be a replacement for good mental health care. Get in touch with your school or a professional if you need some extra support.
For now though, happy meditating!
Lucinda Garbutt-Young hopes to one day be writing for a big-shot newspaper… or maybe just for a friendly magazine in the arts sector. Right now, she is enjoying studying a Bachelor of Public Communication (Public Relations and Journalism) at UTS while she writes on the side. She also loves making coffees for people in her job as a barista, and loves nothing more than a sun shower.
