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15 Top-Rated Daily Meditation Apps for Better Sleep & Relaxation

15 Top-Rated Daily Meditation Apps for Better Sleep & Relaxation

Beginners Guide

Discover essential meditation apps that can elevate your mindfulness practice. Find the right tools to enhance your journey—read the article now!

By Art of Living Editorial Team

At the Art of Living editorial desk, our team of writers, editors, and wellness practitioners come together to share insights rooted in ancient wisdom and modern living. From yoga and meditation to breathwork, mindfulness, and personal transformation, we’re dedicated to bringing you stories and guidance that inspire a more conscious, joyful life.

Updated on: 6th October 2025

Posted on: 19th August 2025

1. Introduction

Are you having trouble finding a meditation app that fits into your packed schedule? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. We have all the intel you need to find the perfect app for your meditation needs.

Meditation helps you focus your awareness to reach a calm and relaxed mental state. I discovered that incorporating just a few minutes of meditation into your daily routine can help reduce stress and anxiety. It can improve your sleep quality, sharpen focus, and help manage chronic pain. Apps like Calm offer guided sessions that range from three minutes to longer periods. These work great for both beginners and experienced practitioners. Headspace is renowned for its mini-meditations, which provide quick moments of zen while you’re on public transport or before a stressful meeting.

The Art of Living Journey App stands out among today’s best meditation apps, offering deep, guided meditation and breathwork. This app combines ancient yogic wisdom with modern needs through customized meditation paths, powerful breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya, and expert talks by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Our detailed list of the top 15 meditation apps has something for everyone, whether you’re looking to reduce stress, improve sleep, or find inner peace.

2. Art of Living Journey App

Art of Living Journey app

The Art of Living Journey App stands out among meditation apps by focusing on authentic spiritual practices with roots in ancient wisdom. Based on Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s teachings, this app takes a comprehensive approach that goes beyond simple mindfulness.

Art of Living Journey App features

The app offers users a vast library of guided meditations suitable for all skill levels. Users can access:

  • Powerful breathing techniques that include the research-backed SKY Breath Meditation method to reduce stress and boost energy
  • Thousands of meditations, gentle yoga flows, and practical wisdom in seven different languages
  • Content designed for sleep, anxiety, focus, and emotional balance
  • Series that work with live online courses like Art of Living Part 1, Sahaj Samadhi Meditation, and Art of Living Part 2 (formerly known as the Silent Retreat)
  • Special wisdom videos and daily inspiration from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

The app also features a Practice Builder that allows users to create their own daily routine by combining various elements.

Art of Living Journey App pricing

Users can try the Digital Membership at $5.99 per month with a 14-day free trial. The app offers two premium plans for those who want more:

Journey Basic ($19.95 monthly) provides access to online meditations, courses, microlearning capsules, in-person meetups, and 10% discounts on merchandise.

Journey Premium ($34.95 monthly) adds unlimited SKY meetups, a $400 discount on silent retreats, exclusive courses, and 25% discounts on books and merchandise.

Art of Living Journey App’s ease of use

The app offers rich content, but some users have reported technical issues. Audio tracks can sometimes take a while to load, and downloads may require multiple clicks. All the same, most users find the interface friendly with well-laid-out sections for different meditation types.

The app could benefit from filters for language or duration to enhance the user’s experience. Users also want a dark mode option for nighttime use.

The Art of Living Journey App is best for

This app serves people who want deeper spiritual elements in their meditation practice. It works best for:

  • People looking for authentic yogic wisdom with modern meditation techniques
  • Anyone interested in powerful breathwork practices like SKY Breath
  • Meditators who value community connections through meetups and live sessions
  • People who want a complete approach for mind, body, and spirit

The Art of Living Journey App’s practices have reached over 100 million people worldwide, making it one of the most trusted meditation resources today.

3. Calm

better night's sleep

Calm has evolved into a leading meditation app, boasting over 100 million downloads and 1.5 million five-star reviews. This award-winning mindfulness app, 11 years old, provides a complete approach to mental wellness that appeals to both beginners and experienced meditators alike.

Calm features

The app stands out with its rich content library. Here’s what you’ll find:

  • Hundreds of guided meditations hosted on topics such as anxiety, focus, and sleep
  • Daily Calm sessions—10-minute guided meditations updated every morning with different wellness themes
  • Six types of customizable breathing exercises, including Relax, Balance, Restore, Focus, Energize, and Unwind
  • Sleep Stories narrated by celebrities like Matthew McConaughey, LeBron James, and Cillian Murphy
  • Calm Masterclasses taught by mindfulness experts and professionals on topics ranging from breaking bad habits to conscious parenting
  • Calm Kids section with age-appropriate content for children as young as 3 years old

The music section features hundreds of curated soundtracks arranged in six categories: focus, lullabies, relax, sleep, soundscapes, and nature melodies.

Calm pricing

Calm uses a “freemium” model. You can access limited daily meditations, breathing exercises, mood tracking, and select sleep stories with the free version. Full access costs $14.99 monthly or $69.99 annually (equivalent to $5.83 per month).

The app also offers specialized plans: a Family Plan for up to six users at $99.99 per year, student discounts through Amazon Prime Student ($8.99/year after a 3-month trial), and a lifetime membership for $399.99.

Calm’s ease of use

The app’s interface keeps things simple in some areas but presents challenges in others. You’ll find a minimalist playback interface with only essential buttons for play/pause and stop. This considered design choice aligns with Calm’s mission to reduce distractions during meditation sessions.

Despite that, the app’s overall navigation can feel cluttered and confusing. Sessions within sections lack logical organization, and content is scattered across multiple categories.

Calm is best for

Calm works best when you have a versatile approach to mindfulness, especially when you’re experiencing workplace stress or need to focus during work. Beginners who want to learn proper breathing techniques will find the dedicated breathwork section valuable.

The app emphasizes Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) without religious or spiritual themes, unlike the Art of Living Experience App’s focus on yogic wisdom. The resilient kids’ section makes mindfulness accessible to children, making it an ideal choice for families.

4. Headspace

restful sleep

Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk, founded Headspace, which has become the second most downloaded mindfulness app globally, second only to Calm. The app helps users establish a daily meditation habit through its user-friendly interface.

Headspace features

The app has a vast library with over 1,000 guided meditations and mindfulness exercises. Beyond simple sessions, you’ll find:

  • Sleepcasts—45 to 55-minute audio tours of fictional realms paired with white noise to improve sleep quality
  • Ebb, an AI companion that provides individual-specific recommendations based on your emotional state
  • Mental health coaching with trained professionals to get personalized care
  • Specialized content categories including Meditate, Sleep, Move, and Focus
  • Eight mindfulness techniques derived from Burmese and Tibetan Buddhist traditions

Research shows that Headspace can reduce anxiety in just two weeks, while ten days of use decreases stress by 12%.

Headspace pricing

The app is free to download with limited access to guided meditations. Full access comes with two options:

  • Monthly subscription: $12.99 with a 7-day free trial
  • Annual subscription: $69.99 ($5.83/month) with a 14-day free trial

A family plan costs $99.99/year for six accounts, and students pay $9.99/year. K-12 teachers and school staff in several countries can get free memberships.

Headspace’s ease of use

Colorful, playful designs and cartoon characters make the app’s interface simple to navigate. Users can see their progress through statistics on session completion and meditation time. The app works well on both smartphones and computers.

Headspace is best for

Headspace is well-suited for those new to meditation who prefer structured sessions with a short duration. The app shows impressive results if you have:

  • Sleep difficulties (improves sleep efficiency after just 7 days)
  • Stress and burnout (reduces burnout after 4 weeks)
  • Anxiety and focus issues (cuts mind wandering by 22% after 15 minutes)

The thing I love about the Art of Living Journey App is its more profound yogic wisdom compared to Headspace’s more secularized approach to mindfulness.

5. Insight Timer

nature sounds

Insight Timer stands out from other meditation apps with its massive free content library. The platform’s community-driven approach makes it impressive, especially when you want variety and affordability in meditation resources.

Insight Timer features

The app has the world’s most extensive free guided meditation library, featuring over 270,000 tracks from psychologists, spiritual leaders, and mindfulness teachers. You’ll find:

  • Thousands of free meditations, nature sounds, ambient music, and bedtime tales to help you sleep better
  • Breathwork techniques guided by certified teachers
  • Live yoga classes streaming throughout the day at no cost
  • Community spaces to connect with other meditators in groups and chat
  • A customizable meditation timer with bells, gongs, and background sounds
  • Mood tracking and journaling capabilities

The app’s platform-style approach sets it apart from apps like the Art of Living Journey App. It brings together listeners and meditation guides who create and share their own content.

Insight Timer pricing

The simple version of Insight Timer is free and surprisingly complete. Members can access the timer, a complete library of 220,000+ guided meditations, talks, podcasts, music tracks, playlists, groups, and live events without limits.

The premium “Member Plus” subscription costs $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year ($5.00/month). This upgrade allows you to access courses, listen offline, utilize advanced player features (including rewind/fast-forward), enjoy high-quality audio, premium tracks, and advanced journaling.

The app also offers workshops ($25-$250) and mentoring sessions ($220-$1,450).

Insight Timer’s ease of use

The app’s interface allows for personalization through questionnaires when you first start using it. You can search for specific meditation types by mood, length, voice preference, or background music. All the same, some users feel overwhelmed by the big content library.

Insight Timer is best for

Insight Timer works great for:

  • Budget-conscious meditators wanting extensive free content
  • People with specific mental health concerns like anxiety, depression, or PTSD
  • Individuals with ADHD who find traditional meditation challenging
  • Those who prefer connecting with a community of like-minded practitioners

The app offers more self-directed exploration in a variety of teaching styles, unlike the Art of Living Journey App’s structured approach.

6. Smiling Mind

better mental health

Smiling Mind, Australia’s leading mental health non-profit organization, makes meditation readily available through its free app, which has helped over 8 million people worldwide. The app focuses on mental fitness for all age groups, taking a prevention-first approach rather than a treatment-first approach.

Smiling Mind features

The Smiling Mind Mental Fitness Model forms the app’s core with five main pillars:

  • Live Mindfully: Developing present-moment awareness
  • Embrace Flexible Thinking: Cultivating adaptive thought patterns
  • Grow Connection: Building healthy relationships
  • Act Purposefully: Engaging in meaningful activities
  • Recharge Your Body: Supporting physical wellbeing

The app offers more than 700 lessons, practices, and meditations, organized into over 50 curated collections. A standout feature includes content in Indigenous Australian languages, such as Kriol, Ngaanyatjarra, and Pitjantjatjara. Users can download content offline, create customized routines, track their moods with wellbeing check-ins, and monitor progress through the mental fitness tracker.

Smiling Mind pricing

Smiling Mind remains completely free—a rarity among quality meditation apps. This reflects their non-profit mission to create lasting change in mental health across generations. The app supports millions of Australians yearly without any federal government funding.

Smiling Mind’s ease of use

The app’s user-friendly interface reflects its straightforward approach. The content utilizes color codes for different age groups—children, teens, and adults—making it easy to navigate. Sessions are clearly marked with their duration, ranging from 3 to 60 minutes. Users can adjust audio settings, add closed captions, save favorites, and download sessions for offline use.

Smiling Mind is best for

Smiling Mind works particularly well for:

  • Families looking for age-appropriate content (programs for ages 5-12 and adults)
  • Educational settings (children can practice privately without group pressure)
  • Beginners who want a structured introduction to meditation
  • People seeking quality content without subscription costs

The Art of Living Journey App focuses on deeper spiritual practices through guided meditations and Sudarshan Kriya, while Smiling Mind takes a more practical approach to mental wellness.

7. Oak

reduced anxiety

Oak Meditation app takes a simple approach to mindfulness. The app focuses on what works without overwhelming its users. Silicon Valley investor Kevin Rose created this free app to help people turn meditation from an occasional experiment into a daily habit.

Oak features

Oak’s content is organized into three main sections:

  1. Meditate: This section has guided mindful meditation (perfect for beginners), Loving-Kindness meditation (to cultivate appreciation and acceptance), and Unguided sessions (for experienced meditators).
  2. Breathe: You’ll find three breathing exercises with animations and visual prompts—Deep Calm, Box, and Awake. These exercises can last up to six minutes.
  3. Sleep: The app helps you fall asleep with soothing background sounds and guided breathing exercises.

Oak lets you customize almost everything. You can choose meditation sessions ranging from 5 to 30 minutes, select a male or female instructor, and choose from background sounds such as cave water, fireplace, rain, and Tibetan “om”. The app tracks your progress through badges and mindful minutes. It even works with Apple HealthKit.

Oak pricing

Oak stands out from other premium meditation apps because it’s completely free. You won’t find any subscription fees, in-app purchases, or ads. The founder puts it simply: “We’re free to all. No monthly fee or ads”.

Oak’s ease of use

Oak keeps things simple with a clean design. New users find the app easy to use because it doesn’t bombard them with too many choices. You can customize your meditation timer with starting, interval, and ending bells, as well as natural background sounds. Users appreciate the clean, distraction-free environment that allows them to focus on meditation instead of navigating complex menus.

Oak is best for

Oak works well for:

  • Minimalists who want a straightforward meditation experience without extras
  • Self-experimenters who like mixing technology with traditional meditation techniques
  • Beginners ready to build a consistent meditation practice
  • Experienced meditators who prefer unguided sessions with customizable timers

The Art of Living Journey App might offer deeper spiritual practices through Sudarshan Kriya and yogic wisdom. Oak, however, teaches you basic meditation skills so you can eventually practice on your own without the app.

8. Aura

self-awareness

Aura utilizes artificial intelligence to create individual-specific meditation experiences that adapt to your priorities through mood tracking and feedback. The app, nicknamed the “Spotify of mindfulness,” has over 7 million users worldwide with a 98% satisfaction rate.

Aura features

Aura’s complete content library serves the wellness needs of all types:

  • Extensive Meditation Library: Thousands of guided meditations ranging from 3-20 minutes, perfect for busy schedules
  • Sleep Support: Meditations, sleep tales, and soothing soundscapes that improve rest quality
  • Mental Wellness Tools: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), hypnosis, breathwork exercises, and life coaching sessions
  • Personalization Engine: AI-powered recommendations based on billions of data points that improve as you use the app
  • Wellness Tracking: Mood tracking, gratitude journaling, and progress visualization tools

The app introduced AI-powered family safety tools recently that analyze language patterns and online behavior to support children’s mental health.

Aura pricing

Aura offers several subscription options:

The free version gives you one new 3-minute session every two hours. Premium subscriptions cost $69.99 per year ($5.83 per month) or $11.99 per month. Family plans let household members share access. The app sometimes offers promotional discounts of up to 30% off the annual price.

Aura’s ease of use

You’ll start with a five-minute questionnaire that helps Aura understand your needs and priorities. The interface has quick filtering options by duration, guide gender, topic, and guidance level. You can also adjust background music volume and sound effects—a great feature if you’re sensitive to sound.

Aura is best for

Aura works best if you want:

Short, practical meditation sessions that fit into busy schedules. Content that adapts to your changing moods and priorities. Different meditation styles from various instructors and approaches, AI-driven recommendations that match your preferences

The Art of Living Journey App may offer more profound yogic wisdom and powerful Sudarshan Kriya breathing practices. Still, Aura excels at providing quick and accessible wellness solutions for daily life.

9. Simple Habit

stress management

Simple Habit began when former banking analyst Yunha Kim sought a way to manage stress through brief meditation sessions. The app now stands as the “Netflix of meditation,” bringing together numerous meditation teachers on a single platform.

Simple Habit features

The app focuses on five-minute guided meditations tailored to specific situations. You’ll find:

  • On-the-Go Options: Meditations sorted by activities like commuting, walking, working, or handling a tough day
  • Goal-Based Content: Sessions that help with sleep, stress reduction, and better focus
  • Diverse Teacher Library: Many meditation instructors with unique styles, unlike apps with just one teacher
  • Offline Access: You can download meditations to use without internet

New content appears regularly, marked with pink tags, making it easy to identify fresh additions.

Simple Habit pricing

The app offers several pricing options:

  • Free Version: You get basic access to starter courses and select meditations with a week to try it out
  • Monthly Subscription: $11.99 per month
  • Annual Plan: $89.99 per year ($7.49 monthly) — most people choose this option
  • Lifetime Access: Pay $299 once and keep it forever

Teachers earn money through revenue sharing, much like Spotify’s model.

Simple Habit’s ease of use

The app features a clean design with a dark gray background and window-style blocks displaying meditation titles. Each session concludes with innovative suggestions for related meditations, based on the theme or the teacher, which helps users stay committed to their practice.

The search feature works well. You can type in keywords or select common suggestions, such as “stress” or “sleep”. The meditation screen keeps things simple with just the controls you need.

Simple Habit is best for

Simple Habit works best for:

  • Very Busy People: Surgeons getting ready for operations, entrepreneurs handling stress, and students preparing for exams
  • Goal-Oriented Meditators: Users who want specific results rather than general mindfulness
  • Situational Practitioners: People who need quick meditations for specific moments

While the Art of Living Journey App focuses on deep yogic practices and Sudarshan Kriya, Simple Habit makes quick meditations available that fit naturally into busy schedules.

10. Breethe

feel calm

Breethe customizes meditation experiences through its “My Life Kit” feature, which adapts to your specific life situations. The app has surpassed 10 million downloads in 90 countries. It works as an “all-day (and night!) inner wellness partner for anxiety, stress, sleep, and more”.

Breethe features

The app’s extensive library contains over 1,700 tracks with various options:

  • Relaxation Music & Sleep Sounds: Nature melodies, calm music playlists that match different moods, and sleep stories that help even “hardcore insomniacs”
  • Guided Meditations: Hundreds of series that tackle specific life challenges with relatable titles like “My Boss is a Jerk”
  • Hypnotherapy Sessions: Breethe uniquely offers these sessions to help with life’s challenges and better sleep
  • Breathing Exercises: Videos that teach calming breathing techniques
  • Daily Structure: Morning alarms combined with meditations to “start your day on the right foot”

The app has added “Made4You Meditations” that create personalized sessions based on individual scenarios.

Breethe pricing

The app offers a free version that includes numerous meditations. Premium features cost $14.99 per month or $89.99 per year. Users can also buy a lifetime membership for $179.99.

Breethe’s ease of use

The app’s interface maintains a “light-hearted, playful and down-to-earth tone” and feels like “having a chat with a friend”. Content is organized into accessible sections—Start Your Day, Take a Break, and Go to Sleep—making it easy to fit into busy schedules.

Breethe is best for

Breethe works particularly well for:

  • People who want customized wellness support beyond basic content libraries
  • Users with sleep problems who can benefit from hypnotherapy and visualization
  • Anyone looking for an app that fits their daily life challenges

Unlike the Art of Living Journey App, which focuses on ancient yogic wisdom and Sudarshan Kriya for deep inner peace, Breethe provides practical meditation tools for everyday situations.

11. Ten Percent Happier

happier

ABC news anchor Dan Harris had a panic attack on live TV. This experience led him to create Ten Percent Happier (now “Happier”), which evolved from a skeptic’s personal story into a premium meditation platform. The app helps curious users turn their interest in meditation into a regular practice through relatable, easy-to-follow content.

Ten Percent Happier features

Happier’s rich library contains over 500 guided meditations that cater to various moods and situations. The app has sections that include:

  • Guided Meditation Courses: Programs like “Unlearn to Meditate,” “10% Nicer,” and “Meditation for Skeptics” teach fundamentals and help users overcome challenges
  • Singles Tab: Stand-alone meditations that address specific needs like morning routines, stress relief, and neurodivergence support
  • Sleep Hub: Dedicated meditations and relaxing pre-bed stories to help with insomnia
  • Podcast Hub: Four distinct podcasts, including “Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris” and “Twenty Percent Happier with Matthew Hepburn”

Expert teachers like Sharon Salzberg and Sebene Selassie start each session with an introduction video that makes complex concepts easy to understand.

Ten Percent Happier pricing

Happier keeps its pricing simple:

  • Free Version: Limited content, including “The Basics” course and “The Dalai Lama’s Guide to Happiness”
  • Premium Subscription: $99.99 annually with a seven-day free trial

The app stands out by not offering monthly plans. This premium pricing model ensures fair compensation for teachers.

Ten Percent Happier’s ease of use

Independent reviews gave the interface 5/5 stars for its accessible navigation. Users must complete sessions in order, as each meditation builds on previous lessons. The profile hub displays your progress, including meditation days, minutes completed, and weekly streaks.

Ten Percent Happier is best for

The app works exceptionally well for:

  • Meditation skeptics and beginners who want friendly instruction
  • People with anxiety and stress who can use 80+ targeted guided sessions
  • Anyone dealing with sleep problems who needs guided relaxation techniques
  • Users who prefer clear, structured progress paths

The Art of Living Journey App focuses on ancient yogic wisdom and Sudarshan Kriya for profound transformation. Happier takes a different path with its secular, science-based approach to mindfulness.

12. MyLife Meditation

whole family

MyLife Meditation started as “Stop, Breathe & Think” and has grown into an award-winning emotional wellness platform. The app caters to children, teenagers, and young adults. It stands out as a digital mental health tool that adapts to each user’s emotional state.

MyLife Meditation features

MyLife Meditation creates tailored experiences through several unique elements:

  • Daily wellness check-ins evaluate physical and mental states. Users can select up to five emotions from 114 options
  • Mood tracking compares emotions before and after meditation and shows visual charts of emotional patterns
  • A library of over 400 mindfulness activities includes guided meditations, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques
  • Content specifically designed for sleep, anxiety, ADHD, body positivity, and mindful parenting
  • Expert-led journaling prompts help process emotions
  • Acupressure videos teach techniques to manage stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep

The app features several specialized programs. Susan Kaiser Greenland, founding faculty member of UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center, created a 30-day “Mindful Parent, Mindful Child” program.

MyLife Meditation pricing

MyLife uses a freemium model:

  • The free version gives access to foundational meditations and simple features
  • Premium subscription costs $9.99 monthly or $58.99 annually

MyLife Meditation’s ease of use

The easy-to-use interface guides users through a five-step check-in process. These include a breathing prompt, physical state assessment, mental state evaluation, emotion selection, and meditation recommendation. Navigation becomes straightforward with this approach, though selecting from 114 emotion options might overwhelm some users.

MyLife Meditation is best for

The app works best for:

  • Children, teens, and young adults who want to develop emotional awareness
  • Beginners who need short, guided sessions (many under 10 minutes)
  • People who wish to gain analytical insights into their emotional patterns
  • Users looking for meditation recommendations based on their current feelings

MyLife focuses on emotional intelligence development through modern mindfulness techniques, whereas the Art of Living Journey App emphasizes ancient yogic wisdom and Sudarshan Kriya for profound transformation. Research shows that consistent users were 82% less likely to experience anxiety.

13. Buddhify

mindfulness

Buddhify takes a different approach to regular meditation apps with its wheel interface, which allows you to practice mindfulness during daily activities. The app addresses the most significant problem most people face: finding time to meditate.

Buddhify features

The app’s colorful wheel design makes it special. Each segment shows different meditation types based on what you’re doing or how you’re feeling:

  • Over 200 guided meditations from 4-30 minutes, written and voiced by carefully selected teachers
  • Meditations linked to activities like walking, managing stress, work breaks, and falling asleep
  • Five experienced guides created 11 hours of meditation content
  • Social features let you meditate with friends, partners, or colleagues
  • Kids get their own wheel with 60 meditations created by youth mindfulness experts

Buddhify pricing

The app uses a simple one-time payment instead of monthly subscriptions:

  • iOS: $4.99 upfront cost
  • Android: $2.99 upfront cost
  • Optional annual membership: $30.00 for extra features

You gain access to all core features for life after purchasing the app.

Buddhify’s ease of use

The colorful wheel interface offers numerous customization options. “Edit Mode” enables users to create their wheels by selecting their preferred categories. The app has a Solo Timer for independent meditation. You can save all meditations to listen offline, which works great during travel or in areas with poor signal.

Buddhify is best for

This app works great for:

  • People who can’t find a specific meditation time
  • Anyone who wants to meditate while doing daily activities
  • Families looking to teach mindfulness to kids through age-appropriate content
  • People who prefer paying once instead of a monthly subscription

While the Art of Living Journey App focuses on yogic wisdom and Sudarshan Kriya for profound transformation, Buddhify helps you fit meditation into your busy modern life, wherever you are.

14. Meditopia

body scans

Meditopia stands out as a multilingual meditation platform that serves cultural needs in more than 60 countries. Millions of people can now practice mindfulness through content in 11 languages. This makes meditation accessible to non-English speakers worldwide.

Meditopia features

The app’s content library adapts to each user’s needs:

  • Over 1,000 guided meditations, articles, sleep stories, and relaxing sounds
  • Individual-specific programs created from complete emotional assessments
  • Content that targets stress reduction, anxiety management, and better sleep
  • Meditation suggestions based on your current emotions and activities
  • Music playlists with specific frequencies that activate different brain areas

The app organizes meditation content by activity and challenge. Users can find help with workplace scenarios and relationship difficulties. The sleep meditations have shown results in lowering heart rate and increasing melatonin levels.

Meditopia pricing

The app uses a freemium model with these options:

  • Free version with basic content
  • Premium subscription with monthly, 3-month, 6-month, and yearly plans
  • Yearly and 3-month memberships start with a 7-day free trial
  • Monthly membership begins with a 3-day free trial

Meditopia’s ease of use

Users complete an assessment during registration to create their personal mindfulness program. The accessible interface organizes content into categories such as “Start Your Day,” “Take a Break,” and “Go to Sleep.” Users can download meditations to use them without an internet connection.

Meditopia is best for

The app works best for:

  • International users who want content in their native language
  • People seeking meditation based on their emotional state
  • Anyone with sleep problems
  • People who need workplace-specific mindfulness practices

The Art of Living Experience App facilitates a more profound transformation through ancient yogic wisdom and the Sudarshan Kriya. Meditopia makes meditation accessible across language barriers and offers personalized emotional support.

15. Sattva

Sattva app

Sattva combines ancient Vedic wisdom with modern technology to inspire daily meditation. The app draws from meditation principles that have helped millions for thousands of years. Authentic Sanskrit scholars who understand the mind’s subtle workings deliver these practices.

Sattva features

Sattva has a detailed meditation toolkit that includes:

  • 100+ guided meditations ranging from short 6-minute sessions to extended practices
  • Sacred sounds, including Vedic mantras and chants for more profound meditation
  • Meditation music and a customizable meditation timer
  • Mudras (hand positions) that make energy flow easier and release blocked energy
  • Heart rate monitor and mood tracker to assess pre-/post-meditation states
  • Detailed statistics show your progress via calendar, map, charts, and graphs
  • Curated collections based on mood, desire, and time of day
  • Community features for group meditation and challenges
  • Live video event capabilities to host spiritual sessions
  • Personalized dashboard with widgets for favorite features

The “Meditative Wisdom” collection combines soothing music with topic-based wisdom from spiritual teacher Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Sattva pricing

Sattva is available at no cost:

  • 100% Free

Sattva’s ease of use

Beginners can start with simple yet profound six-minute meditations and use goal-setting tools to build consistency. Advanced meditators benefit from detailed tracking features, milestone trophies, and challenges. The app offers personalized reminders and offline access to practice anywhere, conveniently.

Sattva is best for

Sattva works best for:

  • Spiritual seekers drawn to authentic Vedic meditation traditions
  • Practitioners interested in Sanskrit mantras and chants
  • Detail-oriented meditators who value tracking their meditation trip
  • People who enjoy group meditation experiences

The Art of Living Journey App offers powerful Sudarshan Kriya techniques with tailored journeys, while Sattva delves into ancient wisdom through its extensive library of Vedic mantras and chants.

16. Balance

one on one coaching

Balance leads the way in individual-specific meditation with its “personal meditation coach” approach. This achievement earned them Google’s Best App of the Year Award. The brilliant meditation app adapts to your needs as you progress through your mindfulness experience.

Balance features

The app’s adaptive programming sets it apart as it evolves with your progress. You’ll answer daily questions about your meditation experience and goals. The app then creates guided sessions from thousands of audio files specifically tailored to you. The content library has structured 10-day Plans that teach basic meditation skills. You’ll also find bite-sized Singles for quick practice and interactive sleep tools.

The app goes beyond standard meditation sessions with innovative features:

  • Wind Down activities use bilateral stimulation to help you relax before sleep
  • Immersive Meditations combine vibrations and sound effects
  • Animated breathing exercises give quick stress relief
  • Specialized content helps with anxiety, focus, grief, and better sleep

Balance pricing

Balance stands out with a generous one-year free trial—longer than any other meditation app. After your trial ends, you can choose from:

  • Monthly subscription: $11.99
  • Annual subscription: $69.99 ($5.83/month)
  • Lifetime access: $399.99 one-time payment

Balance’s ease of use

Independent reviews gave the user-friendly design a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. A brief assessment helps create your custom program when you first download the app. The soothing color palette avoids bright colors or distracting elements. Each meditation screen displays practical details, including duration, mindfulness skills, and guide options.

Balance is best for

Beginners seeking structured meditation guidance will find this app ideal. The smart adaptation works well for individuals who enjoy tracking progress and building skills. People seeking deeper spiritual practices might prefer the Art of Living Journey App instead. That app provides authentic yogic wisdom and powerful Sudarshan Kriya techniques for transformational breathwork.

Balance provides about 60 meditations across 20 plans. The app’s strength lies in tailoring each session to your unique meditation needs, rather than offering a vast library of content.

17. Comparison Table

App Name Key Features Best For Pricing Unique Selling Point Content Library
Art of Living Journey App • Guided meditations

• SKY Breath technique

• Yoga flows

• Expert talks

• Practice Builder

• People seeking deeper spiritual practice

• Users looking for authentic yogic wisdom

• Community-focused meditators

• Digital: $5.99/month

• Basic: $19.95/month• Premium: $34.95/month

Authentic spiritual practices & Sudarshan Kriya Thousands of meditations in 7 languages
Calm • Daily Calm sessions

• Sleep Stories

• Breathing exercises

• Masterclasses

• People managing workplace stress

• Better sleep seekers

• Families

• Free limited version

• Premium: $69.99/year

• Family: $99.99/year

Celebrity-narrated sleep stories Hundreds of meditations
Headspace • Sleepcasts

• AI companion (Ebb)

• Mental health coaching

• Move & Focus content

• People new to meditation

• Sleep improvement

• Stress reduction

• Monthly: $12.99

• Annual: $69.99

• Family: $99.99/year

Well-laid-out approach for beginners 1,000+ guided meditations
Insight Timer • Live yoga classes

• Community spaces

• Timer with bells

• Mood tracking

• Cost-conscious users

• Community seekers

• ADHD practitioners

• Free extensive library

• Premium: $59.99/year

Largest free meditation library 270,000+ tracks
Smiling Mind • Mental Fitness Model

• Indigenous language content

• Well-being check-ins

• Age-specific content

• Families

• Educational settings

• Beginners

Completely free Free, complete mental health focus 700+ lessons
Oak • Three meditation types

• Breathing exercises

• Sleep sounds

• Progress tracking

• Minimalists

• Self-experimenters

• Independent practitioners

Completely free Simple and effective design Core collection (not specified)
Aura Personalized meditations, mood tracking, sleep stories, life coaching, short micro-meditations People who want tailored, daily recommendations based on mood Free basic plan; Premium ~$11.99/month or $59.99/year
~$11.99/month or $59.99/year
AI-driven personalization with input from therapists and coaches
30,000+ tracks including guided meditations, sleep music, and cognitive therapy talks
Simple Habit 5-minute sessions, offline mode, daily streak tracker, expert teachers Busy professionals and commuters Free limited plan; Premium ~$11.99/month or $89.99/year Designed for quick meditations fitting into busy schedules 2,000+ sessions categorized by situation (stress, focus, sleep)
Breethe Full wellness ecosystem: meditations, hypnotherapy, sleep music, coaching, and masterclasses Beginners wanting structured, lifestyle-wide guidance Free limited access; Premium ~$12.99/month or $89.99/year Combines meditation with therapy, coaching, and sleep improvement 1,500+ guided meditations, sleep aids, life coaching series
Ten Percent Happier Evidence-based meditation, practical mindfulness for skeptics, top teachers (e.g., Dan Harris, Joseph Goldstein) Skeptical beginners or those wanting secular mindfulness Free trial; ~$12.99/month or $99.99/year Journalistic, science-backed approach to mindfulness 500+ video/audio courses, live events, and podcasts
MyLife Meditation (formerly Stop, Breathe & Think) Emotion check-ins, recommendations based on current mood, kid-friendly options Beginners and families Free version; Premium ~$9.99/month or $58.99/year Emotional self-awareness integrated into meditation 400+ guided meditations, yoga videos, and mindfulness activities
Buddhify Wheel of meditation categories, offline mode, one-time purchase Self-guided meditators and travelers One-time purchase ~$4.99–$9.99 Pay-once model with no subscriptions 200+ meditations organized by activity (walking, waking up, work breaks)
Meditopia Deep emotional themes, journaling, personalized playlists, multi-language support Global users seeking emotional healing and self-reflection Free limited plan; Premium ~$10.99/month or $59.99/year Strong focus on emotional well-being and cultural inclusivity 3,000+ meditations in 10+ languages, stories, and reflections
Sattva Authentic Vedic meditations, Sanskrit mantras, guided wisdom from Indian masters Practitioners drawn to traditional, spiritual roots Free basic access; Premium ~$12.99/month or $108/year Rooted in Vedic tradition, includes chants and pujas 1,000+ tracks including guided meditations, chants, and daily wisdom cards

18. FAQs

meditation basics

Q1. What are some of the top-rated meditation apps for better sleep and relaxation? Some highly rated meditation apps include Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, the Art of Living Journey App, and Buddhify. These apps offer guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and other features to help improve sleep and relaxation.

Q2. Are there any completely free meditation apps available? Yes, there are some excellent free meditation apps. Insight Timer offers the largest free library with over 270,000 meditations. Smiling Mind is another completely free app with comprehensive content for all ages. Oak also provides basic meditation and breathing exercises at no cost.

Q3. How do meditation apps personalize the experience for users? Many apps, such as Balance and Meditopia, utilize questionnaires and AI to create personalized meditation programs. They adapt content based on your goals, emotional state, and meditation experience. Some apps like Buddhify organize meditations by daily activities to fit seamlessly into your routine.

Q4. What unique features do some meditation apps offer beyond basic guided sessions? Some apps offer innovative features, such as Calm’s celebrity-narrated sleep stories, Headspace’s animated educational videos, Buddhify’s wheel interface for on-the-go meditation, and the Art of Living’s Sudarshan Kriya breathing technique. Sattva provides authentic Vedic chants and mantras for a more traditional approach.

Q5. How much do premium meditation app subscriptions typically cost? Premium subscriptions for meditation apps generally range from $5 to $15 per month or $40 to $70 per year. Many offer free trials, and some have lifetime access options. While free versions are available, paid subscriptions usually provide access to more content and features.

19. Conclusion

short meditations

The correct meditation app can make all the difference between sticking to a regular practice and giving up after a few tries. Examining the top 15 meditation apps reveals how each platform offers its unique approach to mindfulness, relaxation, and improved sleep.

Calm and Headspace are great starting points for newcomers with their well-laid-out programs. Oak and Smiling Mind provide you with high-quality content at no cost. Insight Timer shines with its massive, free library of over 270,000 tracks, while Buddhify takes a different approach by integrating meditation into your daily activities.

Most meditation apps help users deal with stress and anxiety through quick, easy-to-follow sessions. The Art of Living Journey App takes things further by offering authentic spiritual practices based on ancient yogic wisdom. This blend of traditional wisdom and cutting-edge technology creates something unique that you won’t find on other meditation platforms.

I’ve tried many meditation apps, and the Art of Living Journey App offers the most comprehensive approach to inner well-being. You get meditation sessions tailored to your needs, and powerful breathing techniques like Sudarshan Kriya do way more than just help you relax. Additionally, live sessions with certified teachers offer a valuable way to receive guidance that apps alone can’t provide.

You’ll find something useful in these meditation apps, no matter what you’re looking for – better sleep, less stress, or a deeper spiritual connection. The best app for you depends on your goals, schedule, and your preferred approach to practicing mindfulness.

Note that staying consistent is more important than choosing the right app. A daily five-minute practice beats long sessions sometimes. Start your practice today and you’ll soon find why millions of people have adopted this life-changing habit for better sleep, less stress, and deep inner peace.

Go beyond the apps—Experience the practice that changes everything

Sudarshan Kriya

Meditation apps can help you relax before bed, but true transformation comes from learning directly with experienced teachers. The Art of Living Part 1 Course introduces you to SKY Breath Meditation, a powerful, research-backed practice that improves sleep, reduces stress, and brings lasting calm into your daily life.

And the best part? You can explore more and even register for your course right inside the Art of Living app—making it easier than ever to bring proven breathwork and meditation into your routine.

🌙 Better rest. Brighter days. A calmer you.
👉 Download the Art of Living app and sign up for the Part 1 Course today.

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