Meditation is one practice I could not do without, and try to do it daily. I have probably tried every meditation app under the sun over the last 10 or so years. Below are 3 apps I keep coming back to. Each has a different feel to it, and the cost for the apps range from completely free to about £20 per month. It depends on what you want out of the app and how much you are going to use it.

I should also make it clear - I am not saying you need an app to meditate! Absolutely not, but for me I often (not always) find the guidance helpful and it is a good way to track what I am doing.

Insight Timer

This is probably the one I have come back to the most over the last 10 or so years. It is free, with a paid subscription to access additional content, but honestly, the free version offers so much.

One great thing about Insight Timer is that any teacher worldwide can become a teacher on the app and upload their meditations and courses. So you will find a huge variety of teachers and teachings - there is literally something for everyone.

The other great thing about this app is that is has (as the name would suggest) a timer, that you can set for any period of time, and you can adjust the "bell/sound" at the beginning and end of the desired time. Most of the other apps do have this option as well. I find this really good when I know I have busy days and cannot commit to a 10+ minutes guided mediation. I set the timer for one minute, and if I do that, that's enough that day. Set the bar low and see how consistent you can be.

Headspace

Another one I keep coming back to, although less so recently. Headspace was co-founded by Andy Puddicombe, a former Tibetan Buddhist monk. The app was initially focussed on mindfulness meditation with a focus on mental wellbeing. It has grown massively and now includes sleep support and meditations and courses for all sorts of life situations and challenges, movement practices and videos. There are even two different Headspace podcasts.

I think you either love it or hate it. The app interface is simple to use, but it is a unique user experience. There are some great courses on meditation basics that guide you right through developing the skills of mindfulness meditation.

There is a limited free version of the app. And then to get full use there is a monthly or annual subscription. I can't find prices on the website, but from memory, the annual subscription was less than £50.

Open

This is my current favourite that I have been using for over a year now. Open is a breathwork and meditation app that has a unique user experience that is modern and clean. The sessions are engaging and varied.

The big difference I have found with this app is the inclusion of breath work practises, which can have a profound effect on energy and mental state. The breathwork practises, and to some degree the meditations, are often paired with music / sounds. We're not talking sound baths, but modern electronic music that evokes a whole different experience. Also some of the meditations include a bit of breathwork at the beginning to help you settle.

There are default daily meditation and breathwork practices, so you don't have to think about what to choose, or you can search by category. A great part of the app is course, for example, the 21 day nervous system reset.

There is pretty generous free trial (I think it's 30 days), but then the app is around £20 per month. So not worthwhile if you're only going to use it once in a while, but if you enjoy the approach and use it frequently, I think it can be worth it, depending on your situation.

Let me know your thoughts on these apps, have you tried any of them? Are there others you would add to the list?