An app is a tool for practice, not treatment. Several of the makers below say so themselves: the VA writes that Mindfulness Coach does not replace treatment with a health care professional, and UCLA describes its meditations as educational rather than clinical. If worry has started to shape your days, our article on when anxiety becomes the default may help you decide whether to talk to someone.
The federal National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says meditation and mindfulness are usually considered low risk. It also notes that some people report negative effects, most often anxiety or low mood. If a practice leaves you feeling worse, stop and mention it to a clinician.
The list starts with the free, publicly funded or nonprofit options, then moves to subscription apps. Prices change, so we describe only the pricing model.
The list
1.Mindfulness Coach
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD | iOS and Android | Free
Best for: A structured, step-by-step introduction to mindfulness
Built by the VA's National Center for PTSD for veterans, service members and anyone else who wants to learn mindfulness. It offers a gradual, self-guided training program instead of an endless library, which suits people who want to be told where to start.
The VA says any data you create are only as secure as your phone, so use your device's lock and security features.
- The VA describes it as a free and publicly available mobile app
- Includes 12 audio-guided mindfulness exercises, goal-setting and tracking, and reminders
- The VA says it does not replace treatment with a health care professional
2.PTSD Coach
VA National Center for PTSD and DoD's DHA Connected Health | iOS, Android and online | Free
Best for: People dealing with stress symptoms after a trauma, and their families
Despite the name, the VA says it is for anyone who wants to learn about and manage symptoms after a trauma, not only veterans. It includes information about PTSD, self-checks for tracking symptoms and short tools such as guided relaxation.
There is a browser version, PTSD Coach Online, for people without a smartphone. The VA notes that PTSD often needs professional evaluation and treatment, and the app is meant to support that, not replace it.
- The VA describes it as a free and publicly available mobile app for anyone who wants to learn about and manage symptoms after a trauma
- Available for iOS and Android, with a desktop version, PTSD Coach Online
3.UCLA Mindful
UCLA Health | iOS and Android | Free
Best for: Short basic meditations, including in languages other than English
From UCLA Mindful, the mindfulness education center at UCLA Health. It keeps things simple: basic meditations to get started, wellness meditations for people living with difficult health conditions, and a timer for practicing on your own.
It is a good pick if you want a plain starting point, or practice in a language other than English.
- UCLA Health offers it free for iOS and Android
- Basic meditations in 19 languages, according to UCLA Health
- The App Store listing says the meditations are educational and are not clinical treatments
4.Healthy Minds Program
Humin (formerly Healthy Minds Innovations) | iOS and Android | Free, donation-supported
Best for: People who like a science-based framework and a long, structured program
Made by Humin, formerly Healthy Minds Innovations. It is built on a framework developed by neuroscientist Richard Davidson and colleagues. Practices follow its four-part framework of awareness, connection, insight and purpose, with both sitting and active options you can do while going about your day.
Humin says the app is free and supported by donors.
- Humin states the app is entirely free, supported by donations
- Available on the App Store and Google Play
- Built on a scientific framework by Dr. Richie Davidson, Dr. Cortland Dahl and Dr. Christy Wilson-Mendenhall, per Humin
5.Medito
Medito Foundation (nonprofit, Netherlands) | iOS and Android | Free, no ads
Best for: A full-featured meditation app with no paywall
Medito is run by a registered nonprofit in the Netherlands, which says every meditation, course and feature is free, with no ads and no premium tier. It covers guided meditation, courses and sleep content.
Its code is published openly, which may appeal to people who care about how an app is built.
- The foundation states: no paywalls, no ads, no trials and no premium tier
- Free on iOS and Android
- App code is public under the AGPL license
6.Insight Timer
Insight Network Inc. | iOS and Android | Free library, optional subscription
Best for: Variety: many teachers, traditions and lengths
Insight Timer is a very large library of guided meditations from many teachers, plus a simple timer for silent practice. The range is its strength and its challenge: quality and style vary by teacher, so it helps to find a few voices you trust and stay with them.
Most content is free. One optional in-app subscription adds courses, offline listening and player features.
- The App Store listing describes one optional in-app subscription for courses and offline listening
- Offers guided meditations, sleep content, breathwork and a meditation timer
7.Headspace
Headspace Inc. | iOS and Android | Subscription, with a free trial
Best for: A polished, guided daily routine
Headspace offers guided meditations, sleep content and short exercises for stress, with a clear design that suits beginners. Its App Store listing says it also offers therapy, mental health coaching and an AI companion, which are separate from the meditation library.
It is subscription-based, with a free trial and monthly or annual plans.
- Offers a free trial, then monthly or annual subscription plans
- Available on Apple and Android devices
8.Calm
Calm.com, Inc. | iOS and Android | Some free content, optional subscription
Best for: Sleep stories, soundscapes and winding down at night
Calm covers meditation, sleep, music, gentle movement and soundscapes. Its Sleep Stories and soundscapes make it a natural fit for the end of the day.
The app is free to download and some programs are free; much of the content needs an optional paid subscription, and a free trial may be offered.
- Its App Store listing says Calm is free to download, some programs and features are free, and some content needs an optional paid subscription
- Offers meditation, Sleep Stories, music, movement and soundscapes
Before you download: privacy
Mental health apps can collect sensitive information. The Federal Trade Commission suggests reading the privacy notice before you sign up, checking whether the app shares your information and why, and reviewing the settings to limit what it collects.
HIPAA, the federal health privacy law, generally covers your health care providers, not most apps you choose on your own. The VA makes this point about its own apps: data you log belong to you, and privacy rules apply once you share them with a provider. Use a passcode, and think twice before typing details you would not want stored.
- Read what the app collects and who it shares data with
- Turn off tracking or sharing you do not need
- Skip optional account sign-ups if the app works without one
When an app is not enough
Apps can help you practice skills between sessions or on your own. They are not a substitute for care when anxiety is interfering with sleep, work or relationships, or has lasted for weeks. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health advises against using meditation to replace conventional care or to put off seeing a provider.
Some VA apps, such as CBT-i Coach for insomnia, are designed to be used with a clinician rather than alone. If you would like to work with someone in person, see our guide to individual counseling in Charlotte.
If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Questions people ask
- Are free mindfulness apps any good?
- Several free options come from the VA, UCLA Health and nonprofits. Free versus paid mostly changes the size of the library, not whether you can build a practice.
- Can a meditation app treat anxiety?
- An app is a practice tool, not treatment, and several makers on this list say so. If anxiety is affecting daily life, talk with a health care provider or therapist.
- Do I need to pay for a subscription to start?
- No. Every app here offers something free, whether a full app, a free library or a trial. Try a free option for a couple of weeks before paying.
Sources
- Meditation and Mindfulness: Effectiveness and Safety, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Does your health app protect your sensitive info?, Federal Trade Commission
- Mindfulness Coach, VA National Center for PTSD
- CBT-i Coach, VA Mobile
- Caring for Your Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health
Published by Laura Bass Counseling as general information, not personal advice or an endorsement. Details change: confirm anything you rely on with the organization itself. Published .