9 Best Meditation Apps Like Aura
| App Name | Best For | Key Features | AC Rating | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life7 | Complete mental wellness | Binaural beats, sleep stories, CBT tools, breathing exercises | 4.8/5 | Free trial, then weekly/monthly/yearly plans |
| Insight Timer | Free meditation content | 200,000+ free meditations, community features, live events | 4.7/5 | Free with optional premium |
| Headspace | Beginner friendly meditation | Structured courses, animations, sleep content, daily meditations | 4.6/5 | Monthly and yearly subscription |
| Calm | Sleep improvement | Sleep stories, celebrity narrators, Daily Calm, relaxing music | 4.5/5 | Monthly and yearly subscription |
| Balance | Personalized meditation | AI personalization, skill tracking, custom sessions | 4.5/5 | Free 1 year trial, then paid |
| Waking Up | Deep meditation practice | Philosophy lessons, Sam Harris teachings, nondual awareness | 4.6/5 | Yearly subscription |
| Smiling Mind | Families and children | Age specific content, school programs, completely free | 4.4/5 | Completely free |
| Happier | Meditation skeptics | Video introductions, anxiety courses, expert teachers | 4.3/5 | Yearly subscription |
| Oak | Simple meditation | Unguided options, breathing exercises, minimalist design | 4.2/5 | Free with optional paid course |
#1. Life7 – Best for Complete Mental Wellness
Life7 is my top pick for anyone looking for an all in one mental wellness app. It goes way beyond basic meditation.
This app offers everything you need to improve your mental health in one place. You get guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and even cognitive behavioral therapy tools. The library is huge with content for stress, anxiety, sleep problems, and focus issues.
What makes Life7 stand out is the variety of sound therapy options. You can access binaural beats with delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma waves. There are also solfeggio frequencies at 432 Hz and 528 Hz. Plus you get white noise, brown noise, pink noise, and green noise for sleep.
The app includes SOS sessions for panic attacks and anxiety emergencies. You also get hypnotherapy, vagus nerve stimulation, and transcendental meditation sessions.
Key Features:
- Daily new sessions including meditation, music therapy, and wisdom content
- Gamified progress tracking with XP rewards and streaks
- Backdrop mode to mix soundscapes with other audio content
What I like: I really appreciate how Life7 combines so many wellness tools into one app. The gamification keeps me motivated to meditate daily. The variety of sound frequencies helps me find exactly what works for my mood. The 8D sleep audio is incredibly immersive and helps me fall asleep faster than anything else I have tried.
What I don’t like: The free content is a bit limited compared to the full library. You will need to upgrade to access everything the app has to offer.
Pricing: 7 day free trial available. Offers weekly, monthly, and yearly subscription plans with frequent special offers.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#2. Insight Timer – Best for Free Meditation Content
Insight Timer has the largest free meditation library on the planet. It features an extensive free meditation library with over 200,000 free meditations.
This app is perfect if you want tons of options without paying anything. The app also offers yoga, mood tracking, private mentoring, and workshops. You can find meditations for any topic from sleep to stress to chakra balancing.
The community aspect is really special. Connect with like-minded individuals in the Insight Timer community, join live events, and track your meditation progress with personalized stats.
Key Features:
- There is a premium version available for $60 per year with additional features
- Courses and workshops on various topics including stress management
- Watch and engage with teachers in Live Meditations and Yoga Events every hour of the day
What I like: I love that almost everything is free. The vast majority of Insight Timer’s content is free, making it accessible to everyone. The diversity of teachers and meditation styles means I never get bored. The community groups help me stay accountable.
What I don’t like: With so much content available, some users may find it difficult to choose where to start. The sheer volume of options can feel overwhelming for beginners.
Pricing: While much of the content is free, the Insight Timer premium plan costs $9.99 monthly or $59.99 annually and comes with a seven-day free trial.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#3. Headspace – Best for Beginner Friendly Meditation
Headspace makes meditation simple and fun for people just starting out. Headspace’s courses help new users build confidence as they learn meditation exercises and mindfulness techniques.
The app uses friendly animations that teach you the basics of mindfulness. The app has a bright design and is easy to use, featuring animations that help guide and explain the exercises.
Andy Puddicombe, a former monk, guides most sessions with his calm voice. People can choose a meditation session that lasts for a few minutes or opt for a longer session.
Key Features:
- Over 500+ guided meditations covering anxiety, stress, sleep, and more
- Sleepcasts and sleep sounds for better rest
- Progress tracking to follow your mental health journey
What I like: The structured approach is perfect for beginners. I appreciate how the app teaches you why meditation works, not just how to do it. The animations make complex ideas easy to understand. The sleep content has really helped improve my nighttime routine.
What I don’t like: Those looking for free content can’t find it in the Headspace app; all of their meditations and mindfulness exercises are locked behind a paywall.
Pricing: Headspace costs $12.99 monthly with a seven-day free trial or $69.99 annually with a 14-day free trial.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#4. Calm – Best for Sleep Improvement
Calm is the go to app if you struggle with sleep. Our most popular sleep offering is our Sleep Stories, which are bedtime stories designed to help you drift off to sleep.
The celebrity narrators are a nice touch. Many of our narrators are also names you may already be familiar with, from artists like Harry Styles and Michael Bublé to actors and actresses such as Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey.
With over 500 Sleep Stories in our library, we have a library fit for both adults and kids.
Key Features:
- Exclusive music tracks for focus, relaxation, and sleep, with new music added weekly
- Daily Calm, which is updated every morning, offers an original 10-minute guided meditation
- The app lets you customize the volume and speed of each breathing exercise
What I like: The sleep stories are genuinely relaxing and help my mind stop racing at night. The Daily Calm gives me a perfect way to start each morning. The nature sounds and scenes create a peaceful atmosphere even when I am not meditating.
What I don’t like: The app can seem confusing as it lacks a defined starting place. Many of the meditations seem more geared towards those who already have the basics of meditation.
Pricing: Calm costs $16.99 monthly or $79.99 annually and comes with a seven-day free trial.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#5. Balance – Best for Personalized Meditation
Balance learns about you and adapts your meditation experience over time. The Balance app is a smart meditation app that personalizes your meditation programs based on your current meditation level, how often you meditate, and which skills you master.
It asks you some questions on the app to find out about your personal situation, needs, preferences and goals and then tailors meditations.
As you continue to interact with the app, gain experience, answer more questions and so on, it will further refine and progress your meditations.
Key Features:
- Personalized guided meditations tailored to your mood and goals
- 10-day Plans to help you develop your meditation skills
- 10 concrete meditation techniques to build your practice: Breath Focus, Body Scan, and more
What I like: The personalization is incredible. The app remembers what works for me and adjusts accordingly. Balance costs $69.99 annually and comes with a remarkable one-year free trial. That gives plenty of time to see if it works for you.
What I don’t like: The meditation library is on the smaller side, especially when compared to apps like Headspace, Calm, or Insight Timer.
Pricing: Balance offers two auto-renewing subscriptions at $11.99/month and $69.99/year. One year free trial available.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#6. Waking Up – Best for Deep Meditation Practice
Waking Up is for people who want to understand the philosophy behind meditation. Don’t just meditate. Understand the theory of mindfulness, with the best of ancient wisdom pressure-tested by modern science.
Learn the fundamentals of mindfulness from Sam Harris—neuroscientist, author, and creator of Waking Up—as he also guides you into the deep end of meditation.
Techniques include mindfulness (Vipassana), Loving-Kindness, body scans, yoga nidra, and nondual awareness practices from Dzogchen, Zen, and Advaita Vedanta.
Key Features:
- Introductory Course—a transformative 28-day program, for both beginners and experienced meditators
- A vast library of meditations, theory sessions, life courses, conversations, and Q&As
- Community—connect with members to discuss meditation, philosophy, psychedelics, and more
What I like: This app taught me why meditation matters, not just how to do it. The lessons paired with meditations help concepts stick. The quality of teachers is outstanding. Sam Harris explains complex ideas in ways that actually make sense.
What I don’t like: By Day 14, Harris requests that we “relax the concept of the body” and “examine the difference between attention and consciousness”, which feels entirely too advanced to be aimed at a beginner.
Pricing: Priced at US$119.99 per year or US$19.99 per month. Harris offers a free thirty-day trial, and potential users are also able to request a free one-year subscription if they are unable afford the cost.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#7. Smiling Mind – Best for Families and Children
Smiling Mind is completely free and designed for all ages. We believe everyone should have the tools to thrive—that’s why the Smiling Mind App has remained free for individuals and families to access for over 12 years.
The Smiling Mind App has 700+ lessons, practices and meditations and 50+ curated collections.
There’s a range of content for minds of all ages and stages, with children’s collections suitable for ages 5 to 12, and adult collections that take you from beginner practice to everyday habits.
Key Features:
- Meditations in Indigenous Australian languages (Kriol, Ngaanyatjarra & Pitjantjatjara)
- Programs for kids and families including sleep, emotional skills development, back to school, and much more
- Download content to use offline
What I like: The app is always free and they never try to charge you an insane amount of money to subscribe or progress through the programs. The age appropriate content means my whole family can use one app. As a 100% not-for-profit organisation, Smiling Mind exists solely to create positive impact.
What I don’t like: The narration sounds technical at times. The background sound is repetitive and does not complement the narration.
Pricing: Completely free forever.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#8. Happier (formerly Ten Percent Happier) – Best for Meditation Skeptics
Happier was created for people who are not sure meditation will work for them. The Happier app is largely geared towards those who are new to mindfulness, are skeptics of meditation, or haven’t practiced meditation for a while and need a refresher.
The name Ten Percent Happier comes from the idea that meditation doesn’t have to completely transform your life in order to be helpful.
Unique features such as meditation video introductions and in-app podcasts set this app apart.
Key Features:
- Over 500 guided meditations led by relatable expert teachers
- Offers topic-specific meditations and mindfulness exercises
- Video introductions that explain each meditation course
What I like: The video introductions help me understand what each meditation is trying to teach. The teachers feel relatable and not overly spiritual. The anxiety specific courses have been really helpful for managing stress at work.
What I don’t like: The favorites function only works on individual meditation sessions. There are no soundscapes or ambient music to add to meditations.
Pricing: There is a limited free version and a premium version for $99.99 per year.
Platforms: iOS and Android
#9. Oak – Best for Simple Meditation
Oak is perfect if you want meditation without all the bells and whistles. Oak Meditation has been my main squeeze during white-knuckled times. I love how simple it is, and how I’m not constantly bombarded with ads to level up to a paid membership.
The app focuses on the basics of meditation and breathing. It’s the perfect meditation app for just dipping a toe into guided or un-guided meditations when you need some zen.
Also nice to be able to customize the gender of the narrator, length of meditation and more.
Key Features:
- Simple meditation timer for unguided practice
- Breathing exercises with visual guides
- Multi-day course if you’re willing to pay for it
What I like: The clean interface helps me focus without distractions. The free version has everything I need for a basic practice. I appreciate that the app does not push me to upgrade constantly. The breathing exercises are easy to follow.
What I don’t like: If you’re a serious meditator looking for lots of content, this may not be for you. The library is smaller than other apps.
Pricing: Free with optional paid course.
Platforms: iOS only
What is the Best Free Meditation App Like Aura?
If you want a completely free experience, Smiling Mind has remained free for individuals and families to access for over 12 years. For the largest free library, Insight Timer features an extensive free meditation library with over 200,000 free meditations.
However, if you want the most complete wellness package with a free trial, I recommend Life7. It combines meditation with binaural beats, sleep sounds, breathing exercises, and therapeutic tools all in one place. The gamification features help you build a consistent habit.
How Do I Choose the Right Meditation App?
Think about what you need most. If sleep is your main concern, Calm has the best sleep content. If you are brand new to meditation, Headspace teaches the basics really well. For families, Smiling Mind offers age appropriate content for everyone.
For an all in one wellness solution, Life7 covers everything from basic meditation to advanced sound therapy and mental health tools. The variety means you will not outgrow the app as your practice develops.
Are Paid Meditation Apps Worth the Money?
It depends on how often you use them. If you meditate daily, a paid app can be worth every penny. Compared to going on a retreat with some of the well-established teachers featured in the app, it’s value for money.
Many apps offer generous free trials. Balance comes with a remarkable one-year free trial. This gives you plenty of time to see if the app fits your lifestyle before paying anything.
Life7 offers a 7 day free trial so you can explore all the features before committing. The weekly and monthly plans give flexibility if you are not ready for a yearly subscription.