Best free Android apps for Meditation and Mindfulness

Smartphones are an inseparable part of our everyday lives, and using them compulsively makes them an enemy of our mindfulness. Rather than treating the usage of smartphones as an enemy, we should consider ways to use our smartphones as a tool to aid our mindfulness practices.

Here is a list of the Best free Android apps for Meditation and Mindfulness that could help better your emotional and mental health. These science-based, comprehensive exercises will help you cultivate a sense of inner peace throughout your daily life.

Best Free Android Apps for Meditation and Mindfulness

The Mindfulness App

The first app on our list of Android Apps for medication and mindfulness is The Mindfulness App. It is a good app for beginners as the session starts with a five-day introduction to mindfulness along with guided meditations to get you familiar with meditating. The app also offers a premium subscription that includes access to courses on relationships, focus, calmness, and 250+ guided meditations.

Features

• It offers timed sessions that are anywhere from 3 to 30 minutes
• The timed sessions can be customized
• The trackers show your ‘streaks’ of meditation days for motivation
• Includes meditations on a variety of topics and in a variety of lengths
• Can add favorites and filter searches

Pros

• Offers a beginner course for newcomers
• Lower cost than some similar apps

Cons

• Offers a smaller library of meditations than some similar apps
• Does not provide kids-friendly content.

Pricing

• Free
• Premium- $9.99/monthly or $59.99/year

Link- https://www.themindfulnessapp.com/

Calm

The second app on our list of Android Apps for medication and mindfulness is Calm. One of the most popular apps on the markets, Calm has skyrocketed to the trending top 10 charts in the health space. Daily guided meditations are easy to complete in schedule-friendly sessions, ranging from 3 to 25 minutes and targeted programs help address anxiety, stress, or a lack of sleep. It’s free to download, although the free content is limited.

Features

• Offers auditory bedtime stories
• Can track your progress in the form of time meditated and daily streaks.
• Also offers a section for kids
• Mood tracking over time
• Plays real-life visuals and nature sounds
• Ability to share and use guest passes

Pros

• Masterclasses taught by experts in the wellness field
• Easy-to-use and kids-friendly interface

Cons

• One of the more expensive meditation apps.
• Less organized and difficult to navigate than some of the medication apps.

Pricing

• Free
• Premium- $49.99/year or $399.99 in a lifetime

Link- https://www.calm.com/

Headspace

The third app on our list of Android Apps for medication and mindfulness is Headspace. This app has the largest variety of meditations, with guided sessions for beginners and less-structured programming for more advanced practitioners. Headspace is said to be one of the most frequently downloaded mindfulness apps in the world, only second after Calm, garnering millions of downloads.

Features

• Attractive interface and a well-organized library of meditations.
• Has through daily meditation 10 minutes at a time.
• The app gives you a daily reminder to practice

Pros

• The workout classes are taught by Olympians
• Offers significant discounts for families and students

Cons

• The monthly subscription is on the expensive side
• Headspace’s student and family plans are only available through the website

Pricing

• Free
• Subscription: Rs 124.92/month or Rs. 1499/year

Link- https://www.headspace.com/

Smiling Mind

The fourth app on our list of Android Apps for medication and mindfulness is Smiling Mind. It is an evidence-based, not-for-profit mindfulness app. It has a clean interface that engages people with simple animations and clear organization that makes it easy to navigate. Smiling Mind is extremely beginner-friendly, and you can start from scratch.

Features

• Offers over 300 free meditations and mindfulness programs for both adults and children.
• Structured guidance with a 35-session beginner course, along with many other meditations on the app.
• Research-based mindfulness programs are categorized and themed to make it easier for the user to explore through.

Pros

• Wide variety of exercises for all ages
• Entirely free other than the business plan

Cons

• Annoying, repetitive wellness check-ins
• Does not say how many exercises to do in a day

Pricing

• Free

Link- https://www.smilingmind.com.au/

Insight Timer

The Fifth App on our list of Android Apps for medication and mindfulness is Insight Timer. Insight Timer is mostly aimed at more experienced meditators. However, the Insight Timer app also offers some guided meditation sessions, music tracks, and ambient sounds.

Features

• Offers features like meditation music and a free meditation timer that allows you to practice unguided.
• Also offers yoga, mood tracking, private monitoring, and workshops.
• Provides an extensive library for free.

Pros

• Can access much of the app for free
• User-friendly navigation and affordable pricing

Cons

• The free trial is only a week-long
• Limited customization options for meditation sessions

Pricing

• Free
• Member plus- $9.99/month or $59.99/year

Link- https://insighttimer.com/en-in

Ten Percent Happier

The sixth app on our list of Android Apps for medication and mindfulness is Ten Percent Happier. It released dozens of free guided meditations to help people cope during the height of the pandemic. It is an education platform that offers a variety of wellness courses, podcasts, meditations, and expert coaching.

Features

• Offers 500+ guided meditations, covering topics such as anxiety, parenting, focus, and relationships.
• It releases new content weekly.
• It echoes the candid communication style and humor of Dan Harris
• Designed to fit into user’s busy schedules.

Pros

• Includes programs tailored to anxiety
• Bite-sized stories and inspiration for mindfulness on the go
• Can choose the length of any meditation to fit the amount of time you have

Cons

• No clear path or curriculum to follow
• There are no soundscapes, or ambient music to add to meditations or listen to
• None of the meditations are geared toward kids and teens

Pricing

• Free
• Membership- $99.99/year

Link- https://www.tenpercent.com/

Simple Habit

The seventh app on our list of Android Apps for medication and mindfulness is Simple Habit. Simple Habit particularly offers a variety of short meditation sessions suitable for busy people. Simple Habit promises to improve users’ lives with just five minutes of mindfulness and meditation per day.

Features

• The ‘On-the-go’ button is a great feature for quick meditation.
• Create a personalized plan by inputting your meditation goals.
• Nudge you with timed reminders to complete a mindfulness practice each day.
• Track your progress with streak-tracking

Pros

• 5 minutes sessions for busy people
• Mindfulness programs tackle all topics

Cons

• Occasional glitch/recording quality issues
• Some courses might feel too short

Pricing

• Free
• $89.99/year
• $299.99 in a lifetime

Link- https://www.simplehabit.com/

Healthy Minds

The eighth app on our list of Android Apps for meditation and mindfulness is Healthy Minds. It is a basic and no-frills meditation app that’s entirely free thanks to donors. This simple meditation app focuses on four main pillars of wellness: awareness, insight, connection, and purpose.

Features

• Beginner-friendly lessons are broken down into smaller chunks, making them easier to digest.
• The program requires you to only complete one session per day.
• Completely science-backed program
• Lessons move through the pillars: awareness, insight, connection, and purpose in a prescribed order

Pros

• It’s not loaded with ads or product placements
• Short, podcast-style lessons
• Extensive content in each “pillar”

Cons

• The Healthy Minds Program is not customizable
• If a lesson is closed before completion, it starts over
• Lesson transcripts for visual learners are only available in the Foundation module

Pricing

• Free

Link- https://hminnovations.org/meditation-app

UCLA Mindful

The ninth app on our list of Android Apps for meditation and mindfulness is UCLA Mindful. It is one of the best in research-based mindfulness meditation with the guidance of the UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center. It’s also a mostly free app because UCLA is a public university and it receives funding from grants and individual donors.

Features

• Offers practice on posture, breathing, thoughts, and feelings.
• It offers nine online Mental and Physical training classes for an additional fee
• The free audio meditations are separated into basic Meditations and Wellness Meditation
• The basic meditations range from 3 to 13 minutes and wellness meditations range from 8 to 14 minutes.

Pros

• Extensive library of free resources
• Meditations available in 16 languages
• Free informative newsletter and podcast available

Cons

• Some of the longer videos take more time to load
• Classes seem to be focused on clinicians or professionals
• The app is basic and minimal

Pricing

• Free

Link- https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/ucla-mindful-app

Breathe

The Last App on our list of Android Apps for meditation and mindfulness is Breethe. This app is best for people looking for support to sleep better and reduce stress, restlessness, and anxiety. The app’s sleep music playlists, nature sounds, and bedtime readings can teach you how to enjoy more restful sleep.

Features

• ‘Day & Night’ tab makes it easy to choose the content most relevant to the time of day.
• Choose goals to prioritize, like learning to meditate, destress or deal with anxiety
• Can customize the length of breathe in and exhale out.

Pros

• The library section is easy to navigate and clearly labeled.
• Variety of meditation types available

Cons

• Constant free-trial pop-ups
• Requires monthly payment after first 14 days

Pricing

• Free
• Premium- $12.95/monthly or $89/year or $170 in a lifetime.

Link- https://breethe.com/

Best Free Android App for Meditation and Mindfulness

Calm is one of the best meditation apps as it features meditation practices,calming sounds, ambient music and sleep stories.Calm stands out for its ease of use and attention to detail.it is perfect for both newcomers and meditation enthusiasts.

Conclusion

Meditation apps are a great way to learn meditation habits. They can help keep you on track and send you reminders to practice your meditation habits daily. There are a number of meditation apps to choose from, so make sure you choose the one that best fits your lifestyle and goals. It’s better to try different apps until you find one that suits you.

FAQs – Best Free Android Apps for Meditation and Mindfulness

Is there a totally free meditation app?

Insight timer, healthy minds and smiling mind are totally free meditation apps with decent performance and easy-to-use interface.

Is Headspace or Calm better?

It depends on what your priority is. The Calm app is more about relaxation and sleep and Headspace is a better choice for people who want to learn how to meditate.

Is Healthy Minds app free?

The Healthy Minds Program App is freely available as it is funded by donations.

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