10 Best Meditation Apps for iOS and Android in 2022 (Yoga Instructor-Reviewed)

With over 50 million downloads and 700,000 five-star reviews, Calm is a pioneer in the meditation industry. This app incorporates a nature theme wherein users are able to listen to different nature sounds to help them fall asleep or relieve stress and anxiety. 

Loved by beginners, Calm is easy to navigate and offers audio bedtime stories voiced by famous actors such as Matthew McConaughey and Jerome Flynn.

According to those who've tried the app, there is only one bedtime story available in audio for the free trial. This prompted many to purchase a subscription, as this is one of the best apps for those who have trouble sleeping. Many have noticed a positive change in their sleep habits after using the app!

Another well-known meditation app is Headspace, with over 60 million downloads across the globe. It's the best app for beginners attempting to start a mindfulness journey. Headspace offers step-by-step courses to improve one's focus and mindfulness. 

After downloading, you are allowed access to a ten-part basic course. A paid subscription gives you access to hundreds of guided meditations on topics like focus, exercise, sleep, and productivity. There are also "SOS" sessions for moments of stress, anxiety, or panic. 

Reviewers noted that the user interface could be a bit tricky for first-time users; however, it could be easily learned. Many were in awe at the captivating and engaging illustrations that accompany the guided courses and meditations, making this a popular choice for visual learners. 

For those who are always on call or have minimal free time, Aura is the best meditation app for busy people! The meditation sessions only take 30 seconds to 3 minutes a day with handpicked recommendations for your session. 

Reviewers commented that this was one of the few apps that didn't have a free version; it only has a seven-day free trial that requires credit card details to access the app. You can cancel the subscription if the app doesn't suit your expectations easily enough, though. 

A majority, though, ended up sticking with the app because of how easy it was to dive into meditation despite having a busy schedule. They say the app could find the best meditation session for any emotion they were feeling, whether it was stress, anxiety, sadness, joy, or annoyance.

Meditations with 10% Happier are taught rather than guided, wherein you get to learn the science and history of meditation during each session. The beauty of this app is that it has no sugarcoating. Each lesson is straight to the point to keep one's focus and geared towards those who aren't spiritually-minded. 

Those who have used the app for quite some time noticed a change in the interface that took away some of the personal touches. Now, generic-looking images are used. 

However, this didn't bother first-time users. They found the app effective in teaching the whole concept of meditation even for those with zero background knowledge. People were amazed that they could stick with the app for years without getting bored. 

This app offers daily reminders and keeps a record of your meditation journey so you can quickly glance through statistics and see your progress. If you're new to meditation apps and are looking to create your own customized session rather than following guided ones, this lets you do just that. 

The free version offers a five-day guided practice and intro to mindfulness, while the full version allows you to connect to your phone's Health app to track how long you've been meditating throughout the week. 

Some reviewers noticed the excessive notifications the app sends due to its "reminder" style experience. However, you can always turn them off if they become too annoying. The high-quality guided courses and easy-to-navigate user interface were praised by numerous reviewers! 

Buddhify is unique for its on-the-go meditation style which allows you to meditate wherever you are. The app advocates that you don't need to find the time to meditate, as it comes to you. The whole approach is practical and convenient. Best of all, there's no monthly subscription - only a one-time fee!

Some users wished there was the option of playing soothing music in the background while listening to the sessions, like with other apps. On a positive note, the app is more flexible, as you don't have to follow a strict order or program before you can make progress. 

There's also the feature of using a meditation timer for unguided meditations if you feel like going solo. The most recent update also added more diversity to the voices, satisfying the reviewer's wishes for different tones. 

This app comes with 30 free sessions with recommendations based on your current mood. From a long yoga video to a short winding down experience before bed, the recommendations are spot-on based on the adjectives you pick for your mood. The app is also kid-friendly, so they, too, can find calm and peace. 

Reviewers commented that the app recommended falling asleep meditations late at night as it assumed they were ready for bed. This poses a problem and extra reconfiguration steps for night owls. 

The app keeps a detailed log of your emotions before and after each session, so users were able to track their progress easily. Even the sticker rewards during milestones made adults smile and feel more motivated to continue. It took many just a few days of the free trial to get hooked and purchase the full version!

With over 30,000 completely free guided meditations, this app has an insane amount of readily available content. It allows you to see how many people are meditating with you at the moment too! Dubbed as the "Facebook" of meditation apps, you can also add friends and check in with other practitioners like you.

Reviewers advise those who are very new to the idea of meditation to perhaps take a short intro course before jumping into this app, as everything it offers might be overwhelming. 

However, many said the app is effective in keeping someone in the habit of meditation because of how it's designed. If you're not into long sessions, feel free to shorten the timer feature accordingly.

Yes, this one's completely free and 100% non-profit. It's also the best meditation app for the family as it's broken down into age groups, ranging from seven-year-olds to adults. It comes with structured programs such as Mindful Foundations, Sleep, Relationships, and Workplace.

More advanced practitioners often found this app to be too simple and a tad boring. However, it is perfect for those who are new to meditating and want to do it with family members. Parents were quite pleased that they could practice mindfulness with their children using a free app that contained high-quality sessions!

This app draws its meditation sessions from Vedic practices and offers chants and mantras from Sanskrit scholars. It's great for those who already know the basics and want to broaden their horizons. You can learn more about the origins and history of meditation from the experts themselves! 

The mantras, mudras, and chants help people to focus instead of waiting for vague instructions during a meditative state that can lead to one's mind wandering. 

Reviewers suggested for the creators to include the phonetics of each word, as it was sometimes difficult to hear the proper pronunciation. Other than that, this app has gotten many hooked into meditation for years.