7 Best Meditation Apps for Calm, Focus & Sleep (2025)

Meditation apps promise calm, focus, and better sleep. But most people download three or four apps before finding one that actually works for them.

Some apps overwhelm you with features you'll never use. Others lack the specific content you need for your goals. The best meditation apps offer quality content, work reliably, and include features that enhance your meditation experience.

We tested dozens of meditation apps to find seven standouts. These apps excel at sleep meditation, daily mindfulness, and stress relief. Even better, they work perfectly with Bluetooth sleep masks like the Sleepez for comfortable, immersive meditation sessions.

Here are the 7 best sleep meditation apps that work perfectly with your Sleepez mask.

1. Calm

Calm stands out with its celebrity-narrated Sleep Stories featuring voices like Idris Elba and Nicole Kidman, plus partnerships with major brands like HBO Max for "A World of Calm" series. The app won Apple's "App of the Year" in 2017 and "Best of 2018" award, establishing itself as the premium choice for sleep-focused meditation.

Best features:

• Fall Asleep collection with the most popular Sleep Stories, soundscapes, music, and meditations
• Calm Kids section with content featuring Thomas the Tank Engine and classic stories like "Peter Pan" and "The Velveteen Rabbit"
• Built-in relaxing music across genres like ambient, classical, new age, and electronic
• Masterclasses on sleep science and stress management taught by experts
• Daily Calm sessions with new content every day

Who it's perfect for: People who prefer high-production value content and celebrity narration, families with children, and users willing to pay premium prices for polished experiences. Ideal for those who struggle with sleep and want immersive storytelling to help them unwind.

Pricing: Free 7-day trial, then $69.99/year or $14.99/month

2. Headspace

Headspace earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for its non-intimidating, user-friendly approach that helps new users build confidence in meditation. The app offers structured meditation courses that guide users through progressive learning, making it ideal for systematic skill development.

Best features:

• Mini Meditation Moments for quick stress relief in just a few minutes
• Sessions ranging from quick 3-minute mental resets to longer practices
• Partnership with Sesame Street for children's content, including sleep help with characters like Elmo
• Scientifically backed sleep programs with bedtime meditations
• Structured courses like "Managing Anxiety" and "Focus" that build skills progressively
• SOS sessions for moments of high stress or panic

Who it's perfect for: Beginners who want structured learning paths, busy professionals needing quick sessions, and families looking for child-friendly meditation content. Great for people who prefer a methodical approach to building meditation habits.

Pricing: Free 7-day trial (monthly) or 14-day trial (annual), then $69.99/year or $12.99/month

Read: Best Bluetooth Sleep Mask in Australia

3. Insight Timer

Insight Timer offers access to a massive library of around 120,000 guided meditations - enough content to watch two unique videos daily for roughly 165 years. The app scored a perfect 5 out of 5 for instruction quality, offering both pre-recorded and live sessions.

Best features:

• More time is spent meditating on Insight Timer than all other meditation apps combined
• 30-day challenge courses and dedicated sleep section with sounds, stories & meditations
• Live group meditation sessions with teachers worldwide
• Extensive free content library with no subscription required for basic features
• Customizable meditation timer with interval bells
• Community features including groups and discussion forums

Who it's perfect for: Experienced meditators wanting variety, users preferring free content, and people interested in community-based meditation experiences. Perfect for those who like exploring different teaching styles and connecting with fellow meditators.

Pricing: Free with extensive content, premium features $60/year or $10/month

4. Medito

Medito stands out as a completely free nonprofit meditation app with no ads or subscription fees. Users consistently praise the excellent quality of voice recordings and the calm, soothing nature of the guides. The app offers structured courses and daily meditations without any commercial interruptions.

Best features:

• Completely free with no ads or hidden costs
• High-quality voice recordings with calm, professional narrators
• 8-step introductory course for meditation beginners
• Daily meditation feature with rotating content
• Well-structured courses that teach meditation fundamentals
• Sleep section with sounds, stories, and meditations
• Offline download capability for all content

Who it's perfect for: Budget-conscious users, beginners who want quality instruction without paying, and anyone who prefers ad-free meditation experiences. Ideal for people who want to establish a daily practice without financial commitment.

Pricing: Completely free

5. Waking Up

Created by neuroscientist Sam Harris, Waking Up takes a philosophical approach to meditation, focusing on self-awareness and examining the nature of consciousness. Unlike typical relaxation apps, it's described as "equal parts meditation guide, philosophy master-class and highly-focused TED Conference."

Best features:

• 28-day introductory course with concise 10-minute guided meditations
• Theory section exploring consciousness and non-dual awareness
• Completely "hokum-free" approach grounded in neuroscience
• Conversations and lessons on topics like Stoicism, effective altruism, and psychedelics research
• Daily reflections that challenge conventional thinking about the self
• Advanced practices for experienced meditators seeking deeper understanding

Who it's perfect for: Intellectually curious individuals who want to understand the philosophical foundations of meditation, people interested in consciousness studies, and experienced meditators looking to deepen their practice beyond stress relief.

Pricing: Free trial, then $99.99/year (scholarships available)

6. Aura

Aura creates personalized meditation recommendations based on your mood, available time, and goals. The award-winning app features thousands of guided meditations, sleep stories, life coaching sessions, and even cognitive behavioral therapy content. 98% of users report that Aura helps with stress and anxiety relief.

Best features:

• AI-powered personalization that adapts to your preferences over time
• Short 3-minute meditation sessions perfect for busy schedules
• Life coaching and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) sessions
• Mood tracking to monitor your emotional wellbeing
• Hypnosis sessions for various goals
• Large community of 5 million users worldwide
• Relaxing music and nature sounds

Who it's perfect for: Busy professionals who need quick, effective sessions, people dealing with anxiety who benefit from CBT approaches, and users who want personalized recommendations rather than browsing through content manually.

Pricing: Free trial, then $59.99/year

7. Breethe

Breethe focuses on gentle, mental wellness content designed to reduce stress and anxiety naturally. Up to 70% of users report experiencing less stress and anxiety after using the app. It emphasizes breathing exercises and soft, soothing audio content for relaxation.

Best features:

• Extensive free content with 90 full-length meditation sessions available without subscription
• Focus on breathing exercises that activate natural relaxation responses
• Gentle bedtime stories specifically designed for sleep
• Soft background music that continues after meditations end
• Mental wellness approach beyond just meditation
• User-friendly interface that's easy to navigate when tired

Who it's perfect for: People who prefer gentle, non-intimidating approaches to meditation, users dealing with anxiety who benefit from breathing-focused techniques, and anyone who wants substantial free content before committing to a subscription.

Pricing: Free trial with extensive free content, then $89.99/year

Quick Comparison

App	Best For	Price	Free Content
Calm	Celebrity stories, variety	$69.99/year	Limited
Headspace	Structured courses	$69.99/year	Basic sessions
Insight Timer	Free library, customization	Free/$59.99 premium	Extensive
Medito	Completely free access	Free	Everything
Waking Up	Philosophical approach	$99.99/year	Some content
Aura	Personalized, quick sessions	$59.99/year	Basic features
Breethe	Gentle, breathing-focused	$89.99/year	90 Full Sessions

Using Meditation Apps with Sleep Masks

While meditation apps work great on their own, combining them with Bluetooth sleep masks creates an enhanced meditation experience, especially for bedtime practice. Here's how each app performs with sleep mask technology:

Best Apps for Sleep Mask Pairing:

Calm + Sleep Masks: The celebrity-narrated Sleep Stories shine when you can focus purely on audio without visual distractions. The 20-45 minute story lengths align perfectly with typical sleep onset times, while the high-quality audio production comes through crystal clear via Bluetooth speakers.

Headspace + Sleep Masks: The structured "Wind Down" courses work exceptionally well when lying comfortably in bed with complete light blocking. Progressive muscle relaxation sessions become more effective when you can focus entirely on bodily sensations without environmental distractions.

Insight Timer + Sleep Masks: The customizable timer feature lets you set meditation length to match your sleep needs, while background sounds continue playing even after guided portions end - perfect for falling asleep. Offline downloads ensure uninterrupted listening through Bluetooth connectivity.

Why Sleep Masks Enhance Meditation:

• Complete light blocking helps activate natural melatonin production
• Comfortable audio delivery without disturbing partners or roommates
• Eliminates distractions from bedroom lighting, phone screens, or movement
• Creates consistent environment regardless of external conditions
• Hands-free operation once your session begins

Recommended Setup: Products like the Sleepez Bluetooth sleep mask combine premium audio quality with total light blocking, making them ideal companions for any of these meditation apps. The comfortable design allows for side sleeping while maintaining clear audio delivery.