Our Favorite Meditation Apps🧘🏽♂️
At this point there are many meditation apps out there.
They offer a whole range of approaches including guided meditation, teachings and philosophy, and interactions with others.
Here’s a list of some of the leading meditation apps that we think will resonate with our readers.
1. Headspace (iOS and Android)
Headspace is definitely one of the most popular meditation apps, and these days it offers a range of “tools for everyday life,” including guided meditations, sleepcasts, mindful movement, and focus exercises. Headspace offers a two week free trial and then it’s $69.99 per year.
2. Calm (iOS and Android)
Calm is the other biggest and baddest app of its kind, with more of a focus on relaxation, and plenty of celebrity cameos. Calm has guided meditations, sleep stories, de-stressing breathing exercises, and a dedicated music section. It also has a section designed for kids. Annual subscription costs $69.99.
3. Dare (iOS and Android)
Dare is a mobile app designed for reducing anxiety, panic attacks, worry, and insomnia. It’s based on a popular book on the subject by Barry McDonagh, and is rooted in MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction), MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy), and ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy). The app includes a mood journal, soothing exercises, and step-by-step advice to help rebuild control and balance.
4. Blackfullness (iOS and Android)
Mindfulness for African Americans is how Blackfullness describes itself. The content in this meditation app was developed in the Psychology Department at Spelman College, one of the U.S.’s most prominent HBCU’s. There are videos and culturally relevant meditations, daily affirmations, sound healings, breathing exercises, mood checks, and journaling features, all informed by African-centered guiding principles. All this, and Blackfullness is free!
5. Ritual (iOS and Android)
Ritual is a well designed mobile app that offers guided meditation and a nice focus on gratitude. We also appreciate that Ritual has some strong BIPOC representation amongst its teachers, and includes Christian and prayer-focused content, including commentary from the legendary Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries known for his work with gang members in LA. You’ll also find folks like Olympic gold medalist and mental health advocate Simone Manue in the app. There’s a 7 day free trial and then it’s $59.99 per year. Ritual was founded by Matt Bloom who holds a Ph.D. in psychology and spent more than a decade leading the Wellbeing at Work Research Program at the University of Notre Dame.