Top 5 Mindfulness Meditation Apps of 2020
Meditation is a mind and body relaxation practise which has soared in popularity over the past decade, and for good reason. Clinical studies suggest Mindfulness Meditation may significantly reduce stress, anxiety and depression as well as improve overall Health and Well-Being. By practising Meditation daily for just four weeks the brain structure changes, regenerating white matter and reversing brain degeneration.
With the advances in technology and having an overwhelming number of apps to choose from it has become increasingly easier and more accessible to learn meditation techniques simply with the touch of a finger. However, with such a staggering choice of apps available comes the question of which app is best?
Below, our Content Strategist Mandy uncovers the top 5 Mindfulness Meditation apps of 2020 which have been tried and tested by her to help you to become a happier, healthier version of you.
Calm (featured within Be A Looper app)
About: Calm is a beautifully illustrated guided Meditation app which also offers an extensive range of tranquil music and sounds for complete mind and body relaxation. We recommend Calm for those seeking a combined visual and auditory sensory experience.
Features:
Won Apple “App of the Year” in 2017
Available for IOS and Android.
Beautifully illustrated with breath taking landscape and nature back drops.
Meditations are categorized: i.e self-care, personal growth, anxiety, sleep.
Easy to navigate with the option of saving favourites from each category.
A wide variety of free content.
Extremely relaxing sleep sounds listed under soundscapes which can be set on a timer for up to 8 hours 55 minutes, perfect as background relaxation while drifting off to sleep.
Many different relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, music, soundscapes and various meditation categories.
About: Award winning app Insight Timer, previously referred to by New York Times as “the most popular free Meditation App,” is a guided Mindfulness App with content by some of the world's most recognized meditation and mindfulness experts, neuroscientists, psychologists and teachers. We recommend Insight Timer for those looking to explore more Meditation Practices other than Mindfulness. Insight Timer offers something for everyone, whether it be spirituality or religion based Meditation, movement such as Tai Chi or various forms of Yoga, repetition mantras or sleep meditation for children users will be spoilt for choice.
Features:
Available for IOS and Android.
Made Time Magazine’s Top 50 Apps in 2016.
Many forms of Meditation practises available with something for everyone.
A large selection of relaxation music available.
A good selection of sleep soundscapes, bedtime tales and sleep meditation for both adults and children.
About: Smiling Mind is a free Australian based Mindfulness Meditation app which was developed by psychologists and educators to help support healthy minds. We recommend Smiling Mind for those new to Mindfulness Meditation looking for a FREE app with no hidden costs.
Features
Completely FREE with no hidden costs
Available for IOS and Android.
Great for beginners with well-structured categories explaining Mindfulness, the benefits as well as a step by step how to guide.
Different content for different age groups from at young as 3 years.
Meditation sessions for children and adults as well as content for the classroom, work and for health care workers.
Easy to navigate with downloadable content.
About: Designed to fit into even the busiest of schedules, and provide a momentary sense of calm in any environment, we recommend Simple Habit for those individuals who are always on the go.
Features:
Available for IOS and Android and web.
Customised plans tailored to suit based on user’s age, time available, topics of interest and goals.
Variety of different categories including Meditation, motivational talks and stories, inspirational interviews, audio therapy, self-improvement and coaching.
Challenges for users to achieve a meditation goal together.
Extensive number of teachers to choose from each with their own style, technique and list of topics.
A good ‘On the go’ section where the user selects what they are doing and how they are feeling which generates a personalised meditation to suit.
About: Sanvello is an app which provides those suffering from stress, anxiety and depression the tools and techniques to help combat Mental and Physical Health. Created by Clinical Experts in collaboration with a team of therapists, doctors and researchers Sanvello provides a variety of Mindfulness Meditation categories with FREE premium content during Covid 19. We recommend Sanvello to those seeking an extensive variety of free Mindfulness content during Covid 19 or simply wanting to try before they buy.
Features:
Premium version is completely free during Covid 19.
Available for IOS and Android.
Beautifully illustrated and easy to navigate with categories clearly listed.
Ability to choose the background sounds to listen to while being coached through the Meditation.
Many different stress triggers addressed.
A variety of different categories aimed towards health and well-being. i.e Meditation, Thoughts, Goals and Guided Journeys addressing techniques to affectively deal with depression and anxiety.
Includes a community section for users to share their thoughts and feelings.
Image credit: People photo created by yanalya