Find Your Inner Calm with these iPhone /iPad Apps for Relaxation and Meditation
As someone who’s struggled with stress and anxiety for years, I’ve explored countless meditation apps to find the ones that truly make a difference. In this comprehensive review, I’ll share my personal journey with the most effective iOS meditation apps that have helped me and millions of others to find peace and tranquility in our hectic lives.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to start your mindfulness journey or an experienced meditator seeking deeper practice, I’ve carefully selected these apps based on user experience, feature richness, scientific backing, and overall effectiveness for stress relief and relaxation.
Why I like it: Mindful Glimpses, created by respected meditation teacher Loch Kelly, stands out as my top recommendation this year. Unlike many meditation apps that focus solely on guided sessions, Mindful Glimpses aims to help you access your “awake awareness” and connect with your deeper self. What makes this app exceptional is Kelly’s ability to not just teach meditation intellectually but to embody its essence and speak directly to your spiritual self.
User Experience & Features: The interface feels intentional and mindful, mirroring the practice itself. Navigation is intuitive, allowing you to easily find short glimpses, longer sessions, and even full retreat days. The app brilliantly integrates principles from modern psychotherapy, particularly the Internal Family Systems (IFS) approach, creating a seamless experience that addresses both meditation and emotional healing. Privacy is clearly respected with minimal permission requests, and the app functions well both online and offline once content is downloaded.
Pros
- Kelly’s transformative teaching style
- Variety of session lengths
- Integration of modern psychological frameworks
- Free trial provides ample time to evaluate the app
Cons
- Subscription price may be higher than some competitors
- Depth of practice may feel overwhelming for absolute beginners
Comparison: While Headspace and Calm offer more beginner-friendly approaches, Mindful Glimpses represents what I consider the ultimate destination of a mindfulness journey—a state of being that is alive, flowing, and deeply connected.
Final Verdict: If you’re serious about meditation as a transformative practice rather than just a relaxation tool, Mindful Glimpses is worth every penny. It’s particularly valuable for intermediate to advanced practitioners or those looking to deepen their spiritual connection through meditation.
Why I like it: Healthy Minds stands at the intersection of rigorous science and accessible mindfulness practice. Created by researchers who study the neurological effects of meditation (they’ve even conducted MRI studies with monks!), this app provides a structured, evidence-based approach to meditation that builds systematically from beginner to advanced levels.
User Experience & Features: The app offers a clean, no-frills interface that puts content front and center. Upon first use, a comprehensive survey gives you a baseline score across four pillars—awareness, connection, insight, and purpose—allowing you to track your progress over time. The guided sessions are clear and focused, with options to adjust session length in five-minute increments and choose between different teachers. The app works seamlessly offline once content is downloaded, making it perfect for meditation retreats or travel.
Pros
- Completely free meditation experience
- Structured, progressive approach eliminates guesswork
- Science-backed methodology ensures effective practices
Cons
- Utilitarian design lacks visual appeal
- Fewer “emergency” meditations for acute stress situations
Comparison: While Calm and Headspace offer more polished interfaces and broader content libraries, Healthy Minds provides a more cohesive learning journey and deeper understanding of the “why” behind meditation practices.
Final Verdict: Healthy Minds is my top recommendation for analytical minds, those on a budget, or anyone who wants to understand the science behind mindfulness while developing a solid foundation. The fact that it’s free makes it an absolute must-try for everyone interested in meditation.
Why I like it: Headspace has established itself as one of the most popular meditation apps, and for good reason. Its primary strength lies in its exceptionally well-organized library of meditations and courses that progress gradually, making it easy to find exactly what you need and stick with it.
User Experience & Features: The app’s interface is colorful, playful, and welcoming, with charming animations that make meditation feel approachable rather than intimidating. Courses are clearly labeled and structured, advancing progressively over multiple sessions. Headspace excels in both skill-building courses and solution-driven meditations targeting specific issues like anxiety, patience, grief, and self-esteem. The short, single-session meditations for specific situations (like pre-interview anxiety or writer’s block) are particularly practical for daily life.
Pros
- Fun and engaging interface
- Comprehensive library with structured progression
- Excellent bite-sized meditations for specific moments
- Tracking features help maintain motivation
Cons
- Relatively high subscription cost
- Cartoon-like aesthetic may feel too playful for serious meditation
Comparison: Compared to Calm, Headspace offers better structured courses and progression, though it has fewer free-form exercises and flexible meditation timers.
Final Verdict: Headspace is ideal for beginners and those who appreciate a clear progression in their meditation journey. If you value structure, enjoy a friendly aesthetic, and want a wide variety of meditation types, Headspace is worth the investment, especially for those new to meditation who need guidance.
Why I like it: Created by Sam Harris, Waking Up takes a distinctly philosophical approach to meditation. Rather than presenting mindfulness as a productivity tool or stress reliever, Waking Up invites users into a profound exploration of consciousness and the nature of mind and self.
User Experience & Features: The app’s interface is clean, minimal, and sophisticated, reflecting its intellectual approach. Beyond guided meditations, Waking Up offers interviews with spiritual teachers and scientists, Q&A sessions, a theory section that delves into the philosophy behind the practice, and a life section that connects meditation to daily existence. The recently added community features allow users to join local meetups, adding a valuable social dimension to what can often be a solitary practice.
Pros
- Intellectual depth and rigorous examination of meditation principles
- Thought-provoking and educational content on consciousness
- Strong community features for support
Cons
- Philosophical approach may feel too cerebral for users seeking simple relaxation
- Subscription cost is on the higher end
Comparison: While apps like Calm and Headspace focus more on accessible guided practices, Waking Up offers a much deeper dive into the “why” of meditation and consciousness exploration.
Final Verdict: Waking Up is perfect for the intellectually curious meditator who wants to understand the philosophical underpinnings of mindfulness practice. It’s also an excellent choice for beginners who want a support network through the community features. If you’re interested in meditation as a gateway to understanding consciousness rather than just stress relief, this app is for you.
Why I like it: Calm has built its reputation on being a comprehensive mental wellness platform that goes beyond meditation to include sleep stories, music, and breathing exercises. It’s designed to address multiple aspects of mental well-being while maintaining flexibility for users at different stages of their meditation journey.
User Experience & Features: The app greets users with peaceful nature scenes and sounds, immediately creating a sense of tranquility. Navigation is intuitive, offering clear pathways to different content types. In addition to guided sessions, Calm provides more free-form exercises and flexible meditation timers than many competitors. The dedicated music section offers compositions specifically designed for focus, relaxation, or sleep. A unique feature is the mood tracking functionality, allowing users to monitor emotional patterns over time.
Pros
- Versatile content covering meditation, sleep, and relaxation
- Beautiful nature soundscapes and celebrity-narrated sleep stories
- Ability to send free month passes to friends or share specific content
- Mood tracking feature enhances self-awareness
Cons
- Broad content library may lack depth in meditation instruction
- Extensive options can feel overwhelming for beginners
Comparison: While Headspace offers better structured progression for beginners, Calm provides more flexibility for experienced meditators and a wider range of content beyond meditation itself.
Final Verdict: Calm is best suited for those who already have some meditation experience and want tools to enhance their practice. It’s also excellent for people looking for a multi-purpose mental wellness app that addresses sleep, focus, and relaxation alongside meditation. The flexible timers and free-form options make it particularly good for those transitioning from guided to independent practice.
Why I like it: Moments of Space distinguishes itself through stunning visual design and a holistic approach to meditation. Beyond simple mindfulness, it integrates modern holistic science with meditation techniques that draw from various traditions, creating a visually immersive and comprehensive wellness experience.
User Experience & Features: The interface is breathtakingly beautiful, making the app immediately inviting and accessible. Content is organized along four main paths—Body, Mind, Heart, and Space—creating an intuitive journey through different aspects of meditation practice. Special sections on nervous system regulation, breathwork, and emotional healing add practical dimensions to the spiritual practice. The unique “Moments” section offers a serendipitous “lucky dip” style meditation option for those who prefer spontaneity in their practice.
Pros
- Extraordinary visual design creates a premium meditation experience
- Holistic approach addresses multiple dimensions of well-being
- Non-linear options provide flexibility for different moods and needs
Cons
- Aesthetic focus may come at the expense of depth in meditation instruction
- Subscription price is on the higher end compared to competitors
Comparison: While apps like Headspace and Healthy Minds focus more on structured progression, Moments of Space offers a more exploratory, aesthetically-driven experience that might appeal to visually-oriented users.
Final Verdict: Moments of Space is perfect for visual learners and those who appreciate beautiful design as part of their meditation experience. It’s also well-suited for those interested in a holistic approach that integrates body, emotion, and consciousness work. If traditional meditation apps have felt too clinical or text-heavy for you, this visually stunning alternative might be the key to establishing a consistent practice.
Why I like it: Balance sets itself apart with its fully personalized approach to meditation. Functioning as a personal meditation coach, the app creates a unique daily practice based on your answers to questions about your experience, goals, and preferences. This adaptive system becomes increasingly tailored to your needs over time, creating a genuinely personalized meditation journey.
User Experience & Features: The interface is clean and intuitive, with a question-based onboarding process that immediately begins customizing your experience. The app organizes content into 10-day Plans that teach fundamental meditation skills targeted to your specific goals. Beyond the personalized daily meditations, Balance offers “Singles”—bite-sized meditations for specific moments or needs like morning routines, commutes, or stress relief. The sleep section is particularly comprehensive, featuring not just meditations but also sleep sounds and a unique “Wind Down” activity that uses bilateral stimulation and controlled breathing to prepare you for restful sleep.
Pros
- Sophisticated personalization system that evolves with your practice
- Variety of meditation techniques (Breath Focus, Body Scan, etc.)
- Innovative Immersive Meditations blend vibrations, sound effects, and guidance
Cons
- Question-based system requires regular input to be most effective
- Some users might prefer a more browse-and-select content library
Comparison: While most meditation apps offer categorized content for users to browse, Balance’s adaptive algorithm creates a guided journey similar to working with a personal meditation teacher.
Final Verdict: Balance is perfect for those who want guidance that evolves with their practice and prefer a tailored approach over selecting from a content library. It’s particularly valuable for beginners who don’t know where to start, and for experienced meditators looking to refine their practice. If you appreciate personalization and want a meditation app that truly gets to know you, Balance offers a uniquely adaptive experience.
Why I like it: Formerly known as Ten Percent Happier, this Apple “Best Of” Award-Winner takes a refreshingly realistic approach to mindfulness. Its standout feature is the focus on “imperfect meditation”—acknowledging that mindfulness doesn’t require perfect calm or ideal conditions. This approachable philosophy makes meditation accessible to those intimidated by seemingly unattainable states of zen.
User Experience & Features: The app offers a clean, intuitive interface that feels both professional and welcoming. With over 500 guided meditations led by relatable expert teachers, Happier excels at personalization. The content library is impressively diverse, with sessions specifically targeting stress, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and other common challenges. A unique feature is the vertical video format, which creates a more engaging and contemporary meditation experience. The app allows users to create personalized meditation plans tailored to their specific needs and goals.
Pros
- Extensive content library with a wide range of topics
- Emphasis on real-life application makes mindfulness practical
- Refreshing “no perfection required” approach reduces intimidation
- Genuine, relatable teachers integrating mindfulness into daily life
Cons
- Subscription cost is in the mid-to-high range
- Some users might prefer more immersive visual or audio experiences
Comparison: While Headspace uses playful animations and Calm offers nature soundscapes, Happier differentiates itself through authentic, relatable teacher guidance and real-world practicality.
Final Verdict: Happier is ideal for practical-minded individuals who want meditation to fit into their real lives rather than requiring a lifestyle overhaul. It’s particularly well-suited for beginners intimidated by meditation’s reputation for difficulty, and for those who connect better with relatable human teachers than abstract concepts. If you’ve tried meditation before but found it too rigid or disconnected from daily life, Happier’s flexible, realistic approach might be the key to establishing a sustainable practice.
Why I like it: The Way offers a Zen-style meditation approach with a unique progressive journey format. Unlike the mix-and-match approach of many meditation apps, The Way creates a deliberate path where each session builds upon the previous one, reinforcing fundamental principles of awareness and presence.
User Experience & Features: The interface is clean, minimal, and distraction-free, reflecting Zen aesthetics. Navigation is straightforward, with a clear path showing your progress through the meditation journey. The practice remains consistent in its framework while introducing subtle refinements over time, creating a sense of depth through repetition rather than variety. This approach reinforces small but powerful shifts in awareness that compound over time.
Pros & Cons: The progressive structure creates a genuine sense of development and depth in practice, and the consistency helps build strong meditation habits. The no-nonsense approach cuts through the commercialization that characterizes many meditation apps. On the downside, some users might find the limited variety restrictive, and the app offers fewer options for addressing specific situational needs like sleep or anxiety.
Comparison: While Headspace and Calm offer libraries of diverse meditations for different purposes, The Way provides a more focused, traditional approach to developing meditation skill through consistent practice.
Final Verdict: The Way is ideal for disciplined practitioners who prefer structure and depth over variety and features. It’s particularly well-suited to those drawn to Zen or traditional meditation approaches who want to develop core skills methodically rather than sampling different techniques. If you value consistency and progression in your practice, this app offers a refreshingly focused alternative to feature-heavy competitors.
Why I like it: Medi Land takes a completely different approach by gamifying meditation. Its standout feature is a customizable island that grows and develops as you maintain your meditation practice, creating tangible, visual progress markers that encourage consistency.
User Experience & Features: The interface balances playfulness with tranquility, offering a unique visual representation of your meditation journey. As you complete sessions, you earn elements to add to your personal meditation island, which evolves over time. The social component allows you to visit friends’ islands, adding community and gentle accountability to your practice. Despite the gamified elements, the actual meditation guidance remains substantial and effective.
Pros
- Gamification creates strong motivation for consistency
- Visual progress tracking adds satisfaction beyond meditation benefits
- Social features make meditation feel more communal and engaging
Cons
- Some features are still incomplete as the app is in development
- Gaming elements might feel distracting for those seeking a traditional meditation experience
Comparison: While most meditation apps use streaks or minutes tracked to show progress, Medi Land creates a more engaging, visual representation of growth that might appeal particularly to those who struggle with motivation.
Final Verdict: Medi Land is perfect for those who struggle with meditation consistency or who enjoy gamification in their wellness practices. It’s particularly well-suited for younger users or those new to meditation who benefit from external motivation. If traditional meditation apps haven’t held your interest, this innovative approach might be the key to establishing a lasting practice.
Conclusion
After exploring dozens of meditation apps, these eight stand out as the best iOS options for stress relief and relaxation in 2025. My personal favorite remains Mindful Glimpses, as I believe Loch Kelly’s teachings offer truly transformative potential. Healthy Minds delivers exceptional value with its free, science-backed approach, while Headspace remains the most structured option for beginners.
For those seeking intellectual depth, Waking Up provides philosophical insight alongside practical techniques. Calm offers the greatest flexibility for experienced meditators, while Moments of Space delivers unmatched visual beauty. The Way provides a disciplined, progressive approach for those drawn to Zen practices, and Medi Land brings fun and creativity to building meditation habits.
The best meditation app for you ultimately depends on your personal preferences, experience level, and specific needs. I encourage you to try the free trials offered by these apps to discover which resonates with your meditation style and goals.
Which meditation app has helped you find peace? Have you tried any of these recommendations? Share your experiences in the comments below!
