10 Best Mindfulness Apps to Help You Survive 2020

If there was ever a year where we needed a little help with calming anxiety, becoming more mindful, and taking care of our well-being—2020 would be it. Since we can’t jet set to a wellness retreat in Costa Rica right now meditation and mindfulness apps are here to help. Practicing meditation on a regular, if not daily, basis can help reduce stress, promote focus, concentration, and improve sleep. 

Here are 10 of the best meditation and mindfulness apps to help you cope with stress, anxiety, and just...everyday life. 

1. Calm

With peace of mind comes a feeling of stillness and calmness. Calm clearly had that in mind when they were naming their popular meditation app (over 50 million downloads!). Within the app, you’ll find a suggested ‘Daily Calm’ or you can choose one that is more tailored to your needs and desired outcome. For example, choose a meditation specific to breaking bad habits, setting goals, letting go of guilt, anxiety, stress, and more. Users will also enjoy sleep stories told by ‘famous voices’ such as Matthew McConaughey. Purchase the app for $70 per year or give it a try with a free 7-day trial. 

2. Aura

No time? No problem. The Aura app provides its users with short, 3-minute meditations that relieve stress and anxiety simply and effectively. Within the app, you’ll also have access and ability to track your moods, keep a gratitude journal, participate in ‘challenges,’ and listen to the sounds of nature. You won’t be able to replay meditations unless you purchase the app for $59.99 a year, however, the free version still offers plenty of perks. 

3. Insight Timer

Insight Timer is one of the best-rated budget meditation apps because it offers over 20,000 guided meditations for free. Users of the app can choose and filter the meditations based on goals, mood, or intention—and meditations last anywhere from a minute to over an hour. Upgrade to a paid membership for $59.99 and unlock all sorts of special features like 10-day courses, offline listening, and fast-forward/rewind abilities. 

4. Headspace

Guided courses, quick meditations, and adorable illustrations and graphics are what you’ll find with Headspace. They call themselves the “gym membership for your mind” and assert that the mind is a muscle that deserves just as much attention as your calves or biceps. The app will help guide you to silence and observe your thoughts as well as sleep music and soundscapes. Try the app for free for 7 days, then pay $13 a month or try for two weeks and pay $70 for the year. 

5. Buddhify

Meditations are organized by theme and activity in the Buddhify app. Widely known as one of the best apps for anxiety, you can choose meditations based on activities such as ‘waking up,’ ‘traveling,’ ‘work break,’ ‘walking in the city,’ or ‘waiting around’. Or, you can choose a meditation based on theme or mood like ‘can’t sleep,’ ‘feeling stressed,’ ‘pain and illness,’ or ‘difficult emotions’. Or if you’d prefer something a bit more generalized, the ‘just meditation’ category might be perfect for you. Access limited free meditations within the app or upgrade to a full membership for $30 a year. 

6. Smiling Mind

Developed by psychologists and educators, Smiling Mind is a free, not-for-profit mindfulness app that offers courses for people of all ages. This is a great app for younger kids that are struggling with the happenings of today as well as adults who just need a little help quieting their thoughts and calming their mind. 

7. Simply Being

Featuring voice-guided meditations and nature sounds, Simply Being is another free app that is perfect for both beginners and professionals. Decide how long you’d like to meditate (ranging from 5 to 30 minutes), and listen to a coach, music, nature sounds, or silence. Simply Being urges its users to relax, calm the mind, and experience the present moment. 

8. Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics (10% Happier)

If you’re a skeptic of meditation or think your brain is too ‘all over the place’ to be calmed, Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics (10% Happier) hears you. The app, which is wonderful for beginners, connects users with teachers and experts that will guide you through the basics of meditation. In fact, you can personally reach out to your coaches and teachers with any questions about your practice, and they’ll usually respond within a day. The app costs $100 a year and they offer a 7-day trial. 

9. Breethe

The Breethe app will follow users throughout their day from the time they wake up to the time they go to bed to help them stay on track with meditation and mindfulness practice. With guidance and supportive tools, this app offers five-minute meditations, and short talks on how to overcome pressure, live with inner peace and practice self-love and compassion. Use the “My Place” feature to customize your favorite meditations and explore suggested courses. 

10. Simple Habit

Some people might think that meditation is sitting in silence and stillness for hours on end. Simple Habit wants to prove that it just takes five minutes a day to find inner peace. Much like Buddhify, users are able to choose meditations (mostly brief sessions) based on activity or theme such as ‘morning,’ ‘commute,’ ‘tough day’, ‘sleep,’ and more. Perfect for calming your mind while doing your normal activities. The app costs $12 per month or $90 annually.

Written by Ashley Brewer for Knockaround.