These days anxiety feels like a constant a companion and some of the usual coping mechanisms aren’t accessible.

Oak

This app’s simple and not constantly bombarded with ads to level up to a paid membership. If you’re a serious meditator looking for lots of content, this may not be for you although they do offer a multi-day course if you’re willing to pay for it. But it’s perfect for just dipping a toe when you need some calm. 

Free, with the option to purchase a longer course.

Headspace

If you’re new to meditation but looking to really commit to a practice, Headspace is a great choice. It starts with a series of short animations that teach basic mindfulness principles, each followed by a guided meditation. If skipping free intro, you have the option of subscribing to the app to get access to a host of guided practices on different topics, including a few designed specifically for kids. 

Free, with subscription required after a number of uses + in-app purchases.

Aura

Aura also requires a subscription to access its best content, but it offers a free trial period so you can decide if you like it. It asks for your goals and preferences to tailor a plan to say, help you sleep better or manage your emotions. It will then suggest short guided meditations to help you do just that. I loved that I could gear my whole app experience around one desired result — falling asleep faster at night in my case. I’m hoping this app can serve as a healthier alternative to scrolling before bed. 

Free trial period, with subscription required afterward

Calm 

It boasts the sleekest interface of all the apps. It even reminds you to take a deep breath while it’s loading. It features tons of content to choose from, from songs to guided meditations to “sleep stories.” Some of the guided meditations are quite specific, like the one to help you prepare for a big meeting or the one that helps you calm your anger. One even features LeBron James describing how he mentally prepares himself for big games. 

Basic content is free, with a subscription required to access full content library

Stop, Breathe, and Think

 Stop, Breathe & Think is geared toward helping you balance your feelings. It begins with a brief check-in, asking you how you’re feeling physically and emotionally and then recommends a guided meditation based on your answers. 

Free, with in-app purchases

Insight Timer 

This app offers an á la carte approach to meditation for those of us who want to skip the intro and zero in on exactly what we’re looking for. A guided meditation to help your sleep - a five-minute audio file of a waterfall. Or you can just set a timer that rings a bell when you’re done with your silent meditation. Basically Insight Timer lets you pick whatever form of meditation chills you out the most, whenever you want.

Free, with subscription required for advanced content

YogaGlo

If you’re looking to work on your mind-body connection in particular, this app could be for you. It’s more of a workout app/meditation app mash-up, offering guided virtual classes in both. Like few of the other apps, it offers a highly personalized experience based on your desired areas of improvement. It lets you even choose what type of teaching style you prefer, from playful to challenging. Plus, you can integrate it with your health app to track metrics like your heart rate. 

Some free content, subscription required for full library