SINGAPORE — Most of us would agree that stress is ever-present in this modern life. We are also increasingly aware that taking time to pause and check in with ourselves is important for our mental health.
Meditation is often offered as a way to ground themselves to those seeking calm in their endlessly busy lives. Research also shows the benefits of meditation in reducing stress and anxiety, improving concentration, and promoting sleep.
It’s no surprise, then, that meditation apps of all kinds flood the app market, offering everyone from meditation beginners to seasoned meditation practitioners a convenient way to practice Zen.
With so much information and so many options, it can be scary to get started.
So I decided to try out some of the most popular meditation and health apps to see which ones work best for different demographics.
I rated the apps based on their cost, functionality, intuitiveness, and overall experience.
After meditating for a week and hearing soothing voices asking me to close my eyes and focus on my breathing, I concluded that finding the right meditation app was a personal journey.
Whether you prefer an evidence-based approach or a gentler, more considerate way of moving, there’s an app that understands and caters to your needs.
headspace
One of the most well-known apps on the market, Headspace caters to all levels, from introductory courses to more advanced sessions for long-time meditators.
The app offers a variety of structured courses that require users to spend up to 10 minutes a day, from learning the basics of meditation to more targeted courses that address issues such as work stress and anxiety. Offers.
If attending a course is too much for you, we also have one-off emotion-based sessions, including a 10-minute guided meditation for when you’re feeling frustrated or preparing for a difficult conversation.
Headspace also offers Sleepcast, a soothing audio that helps users fall asleep, as well as animated videos that provide engaging explanations of meditation techniques.
The app’s mindful workout series combines physical exercise and dance with mindfulness practices. For example, his Mindful Cardio series from the company makes running or jogging a deliberate, mindful exercise. During your 10-minute run, your coach will ask you to check in with your body and pay attention to your surroundings.
I especially felt a sense of realism while exercising and realized that both my mind and body were working together. I felt energized and more alert after the short session.
My experience with Headspace was easy. The app’s intuitive design and vast library of content made my meditation journey a fun exploration.
Pricing: 14-day free trial, S$17.98 per month, annual subscription S$138.98
be 10% happier
10 Percent Happier is designed for those who are skeptical about meditation and want to learn the science behind it, or for those who prefer a more hands-on approach to the practice.
The app provides videos that analyze the psychology behind emotions such as stress, anxiety, and phobias, and provides guided meditation sessions associated with each video.
These in-depth mindfulness and mental health courses are taught by experienced meditation experts, including authors of mindfulness books and academics who teach mindfulness courses at universities.
The app also includes videos of interviews and conversations with meditation experts for those who want to understand the basics of meditation.
Personally, I found 10 Percent Happier’s course to be helpful in learning about meditation from people in the field. I like that there is a short and engaging video before each meditation session.
Their single meditation session also featured a variety of topics taught by different experts, which was a lot of fun.
For a single meditation session, users can choose the length of the session, which can be as short as 5 minutes or as long as 45 minutes.
Pricing: 7-day free trial, S$19.98 per month, annual subscription S$138.98
Calm
Another popular meditation app, Calm, features guided meditations focused on stress management, anxiety, and sleep.
Similar to Headspace, Calm offers content such as soundscapes, sleep stories, and guided breathing and meditation sessions.
Calm’s signature feature is the daily Calm session. Each day, the app offers a 10-minute meditation session woven together with a story.
The app also offers a mindful stretching and gentle exercise guide called “Daily Move,” nuggets of wisdom titled “Daily Jay,” and more fun meditations to start your day with “Daily Trip.” has also started.
A unique feature of Calm’s Sleep Stories is that they are sometimes narrated by famous people.
Harry Styles and Cillian Murphy’s Sleep Stories are particularly calming, while LeBron James’ session on mental training is a masterclass in how to focus and train your mind.
Calm’s strength lies in its collaborations with actors and singers, adding a conscious slant to well-known content. For example, the app has an hour-long track by American singer-songwriter JVKE called “This Is What Sleep Sounds Like,” a reference to the title of one of his album songs.
Pricing: 7-day free trial, annual subscription S$78.98, one-time lifetime subscription S$599,98
down dog
Down Dog is a fitness app that includes meditation and breathing exercises.
Customize your meditation session by choosing the length, focus, and background sounds to suit your preferences.
The app integrates seamlessly with Down Dog’s other fitness apps, which offer guided yoga, HIIT, and barre exercises. When you subscribe to Down Dog, you get access to all these apps.
Down Dog is probably suitable for people who are already familiar with meditation and want to participate in sessions without additional videos or extra explanations.
Price: 7-day free trial, monthly subscription S$14.48, annual subscription S$88.98
insight timer
Insight Timer is an app with an extensive library of guided sessions and a strong community approach.
The app includes a customizable meditation timer with ambient sounds, structured courses and workshops, and strong community aspects that allow users to connect with others and join groups based on their interests. You will be able to participate.
Meditation doesn’t require you to use your arms or legs. Insight Timer is one of his few apps that offers a free version that allows users to access his over 146,000 guided meditations, talks, podcasts, and music tracks.
The free version does not include access to the app’s courses, offline listening, or the ability to rewind or fast forward.
I was impressed with the variety of guides available in the app. In addition to regular courses on issues such as stress and anxiety, limitations and productivity, the app also offers meditation courses on topics such as beauty and aging.
Insight Timer’s seemingly endless library of guides can be overwhelming for those just starting out, but if you want to further your practice or uncover other parts of yourself, this is the place to dive into. It’s a suitable app.
Price: 7-day free trial, monthly subscription S$13.48, annual subscription S$81.98
As someone who is trying to maintain a meditation habit, this experimentation of trying different apps has helped me see what works for me.
I already subscribed to Calm for its easy-to-access Daily Calm practices and Sleep Stories, and now I’m considering subscribing to 10 Percent Happier as well.
I feel that the evidence-based approach, complemented by informative documentary-style videos, not only strengthens my practice, but also deepens my understanding of meditation.
However, the right choice for me may not be the best choice for someone else. So we recommend you close your eyes, focus on your breathing, and start exploring the world of meditation for yourself.
