Top 10 Meditation & Mental Health Apps (2025)
In today’s fast-paced world, stress, anxiety, sleep issues and mental overload have become common. Mindfulness, meditation and self care are no longer just hobbies — they’re essential for mental well-being. The good news: you don’t need to visit a therapist to start — modern apps bring guided meditation, relaxation exercises, sleep stories and mental health tools directly to your phone.
Here’s our curated list of the top 10 meditation and mental-health apps — perfect for beginners to seasoned meditators — updated for 2025. Whether you want better sleep, anxiety relief, focus, or simple calm, there’s something here for you.
Our Selection Criteria
We evaluated apps based on:
- Quality of guided meditations or mindfulness exercises
- Availability on both Android and iOS (where possible)
- Usability and user-friendly interface
- Range of features: meditation, sleep, anxiety/stress relief, mood tracking
- Free tier availability and cost of premium (if any)
- Reliability and privacy practices
Based on these, here are the top 10 apps in 2025.
1. Headspace
One of the most popular meditation apps globally. Offers guided meditation sessions for beginners to advanced users, sleep sounds and stories, stress-relief exercises, and daily mindfulness practice. Headspace’s easy UI and curated “meditation tracks” make it ideal for building a daily habit.
Key Features:
- Meditation for stress, anxiety, focus, and sleep
- Sleepcasts – soothing stories for better sleep
- Mindful movement & breathing exercises
- Progress tracking and streaks
2. Calm
Well-known for its relaxing music, sleep stories, and meditations. Calm also offers sessions for anxiety relief, gentle stretching, and “mindful walking.” Great for people who want both meditation and relaxation in one app.
Why It’s Great:
- High quality audio — sleep stories, nature sounds, music
- Guided meditations for beginners & advanced
- Breathing exercises and body-scan meditations
- Special content for stress, kids, work, focus, and relationships
3. Plum Village (by Thich Nhat Hanh)
Based on the mindfulness teachings of Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, this app focuses on simple, authentic mindfulness practices — from walking meditation to mindful breathing and “mindful living” teachings. A nice pick if you prefer a more spiritual / philosophical approach rather than generic guided meditations.
Highlights:
- Mindful breathing, walking, and living practices
- Daily Dharma talks and reflections
- Gentle guidance in simple language
- Free and open access
4. Sattva
A well-rounded meditation & wellness app drawing from ancient Vedic practices. Sattva offers guided meditations, chakra meditations, ambient sounds and music for concentration or sleep. Works well for spiritual seekers and people who prefer sound + meditation fusion.
Features:
- Guided meditations (stress, sleep, positivity, focus)
- Vedic chants, soothing music, soundscapes
- Breathing and mindfulness exercises
- Mood and habit tracking
5. Insight Timer
One of the largest free libraries of guided meditations, sleep music, and talks from meditation teachers around the world. Insight Timer is great if you like variety — you can choose from thousands of meditations, music tracks, and community sessions.
Why Use It:
- Huge collection — thousands of meditations & music tracks
- Sleep music & relaxing sounds
- Community groups & live sessions
- Custom timer for self-guided meditation
6. Smiling Mind
A nonprofit, not-for-profit mindfulness app aimed especially at young people, students, and families. Smiling Mind offers age-appropriate meditation programs, stress and anxiety relief exercises, and tools for sleep and focus. Good for first-time meditators or users focusing on emotional health.
Best For:
- Students and young adults
- Stress and anxiety relief
- Sleep hygiene and focus
- Free & accessible content
7. MyLife (formerly Stop, Breathe & Think)
MyLife offers personalized meditation suggestions based on your current mood. After a quick check-in about how you feel, it recommends meditations, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices tailored for you. Handy if you want dynamic, mood-driven mental health support.
Cool Features:
- Mood check-ins & tracking
- Short & long meditations based on your emotional state
- Breathing and relaxation exercises
- Sleep stories and calm music
8. Happify
Focused on improving mood and mental health through games, activities, and positive psychology. Happify uses science-backed exercises to reduce stress, fight anxiety, and build resilience. Good for people who prefer interactive, goal-oriented mental health tools instead of traditional meditation.
What It Offers:
- Activities and games for mood improvement
- Guided journaling and positivity exercises
- Stress and anxiety reduction modules
- Progress tracking and rewards
9. Proton Mind / Proton Wellbeing
From the makers of ProtonVPN and ProtonMail — Proton’s mental-health platform offers privacy-focused wellness tools. Great if you care about security and data privacy while using mental-health apps. Includes meditation, mindfulness, and mental-health resources with a strong privacy guarantee.
Why It Stands Out:
- Privacy-first approach
- Secure data storage and anonymity
- Meditation and mindfulness content
- Good for users concerned about data safety
10. BetterHelp / CBT & Self-Help Tools
For deeper mental health support, apps offering cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) tools, journaling, mood tracking, and self-help resources can be very valuable. While not strictly meditation apps, they complement mindfulness practices with structured mental-health support.
Use Cases:
- Guided CBT sessions (text/audio)
- Journaling and mood tracking
- Self-help exercises for anxiety, depression, stress
- Integration with meditation practices
🛠️ How to Choose the Right App for You
With so many options available, here’s how to pick a meditation/mental-health app that fits your lifestyle:
- Goal: Want sleep aid → pick Calm or Insight Timer. Need anxiety relief → Headspace or Smiling Mind. Prefer spiritual approach → Sattva or Plum Village.
- Time: Short on time? Use apps with 5–10 min sessions. Looking for deep work? Go for longer meditations or CBT tools.
- Privacy: If you’re concerned about data → choose privacy-focused apps like Proton Mind.
- Budget: Many apps offer free tiers; test them first before subscribing.
- Compatibility: Ensure the app works on your device (Android / iOS / Web).
📌 Tips to Get the Most from Meditation Apps
- Use them daily — consistency builds habit.
- Pick a fixed time (morning or night) for meditation.
- Create a calm, quiet space before using the app.
- Combine with healthy habits: good sleep, balanced diet, exercise.
- Be patient — mental wellness improves gradually with practice.
🏁 Final Thoughts
Mental well-being is a journey, not a destination. These top 10 apps provide powerful tools to help you reduce stress, improve focus, sleep better, and nurture calm in a chaotic world. Start slow, pick what fits your lifestyle, and let mindfulness guide you toward balance and inner peace.
Peace of mind is a daily practice — and with the right tools, it’s within reach.