Top 9 Mental Health Apps for Meditation and Mindfulness

October 20, 2023

In today’s fast-paced digital age, where the demands of modern life can often leave us feeling overwhelmed and stressed, the pursuit of mindfulness has never been more important. Fortunately, the technology that can sometimes contribute to our daily stress can also be a powerful tool to cultivate mindfulness and well-being. In this ever-evolving digital landscape, we’re fortunate to have multiple apps designed to help us find our inner peace, reduce stress, and improve overall mental well-being.

Whether you’re a seasoned meditation practitioner or just beginning your mindfulness journey, we are here to support you. Our top-listed apps offer a variety of features, from guided meditation and relaxation exercises to mood tracking and breathing exercises. All are designed to help you achieve a greater sense of mindfulness and balance in your life that too just at your fingertips.

Our Top 9 Best Mental Health Apps:

  • Betterhelp: An online app designed to provide users with access to licensed therapists and certified counselors.
  • Sanvello: The app offers personalized, evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs guided by experienced therapists.
  • Talkspace: An app that allows users to choose therapists based on their specific issues and goals.
  • IAmSober: Offer users a comprehensive online counseling platform for personalized addiction management, advice, and support.
  • Headspace: This app provides a customizable, easy-to-use platform for mindfulness and meditation.
  • Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame: The app helps kids identify and express emotions effectively while encouraging creative problem-solving.
  • Worry Watch: A helpful app to track and manage worries while you develop anxiety coping strategies.
  • MoodKit: A curated CBT app packed with activities to identify and transform negative thinking patterns.
  • Calm: A leading app for improving an individual’s sleep quality and building self-esteem.

Top 9 Mental Health Apps Analyzed in Detail

1

Betterhelp

290 reviews

betterhelp mental health apps

Betterhelp

  • Pricing: Starting from $240* per month
  • Top Features: Therapy on schedule, text, phone, and online therapy with an Anger Management Therapist.

Betterhelp is an online counseling platform that associates people with licensed counselors. It helps users find professional help for mental health conditions, for instance, depression, anxiety, and stress. It also provides tools to track progress and manage communication with the counselor. A few of its top features include virtual sessions via phone call or video chat, 24/7 availability of counseling services, anonymous discussions, and personalized treatment plans.

Why we picked it?

In our understanding, Betterhelp provides more flexible communication choices than many competitors, making it an excellent solution for people with hectic or unpredictable schedules. Also, the Betterhelp monthly subscription includes one weekly talk therapy session through live video, audio, or chat and 24/7 unlimited in-app messaging with your therapist in a confidential “room.” With Betterhelp, individuals can find the support they need to live a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Pros

  • Licensed therapist
  • Financial help available
  • Private space

Cons

  • No medication management services
  • Insurance not accepted

Our verdict

Betterhelp is a trustable assistant for improved mindfulness. With its ability to provide flexible communication and unlimited messaging, this app is an excellent choice for busy people seeking mental health support. Overall, Betterhelp stands out from the competitors by providing more than just talk therapy sessions – it is a comprehensive approach to improving overall well-being. So, if you’re looking for an easy way to start improving your mental well-being, this app could be the perfect solution.

2

Sanvello

275 reviews

sanvello mental health apps

Sanvello

  • Pricing: Starting from $8.99* per month (free trial available)
  • Top Features: Guided meditations, journaling prompts, goal trackers, and community board.

Sanvello is an app that helps individuals de-stress, relax, and manage their anxiety. It provides a personalized evidence-based program to help them track their moods and gain insight into potential triggers for their anxiety or stress. Sanvello also includes guided meditations from leading experts, audio stories to take individuals away, and a daily check-in with them to assess how their day is going. Additionally, it offers an online community to connect with other people struggling with similar issues.

Why we picked it?

We chose Sanvello for its comprehensive features and effective approach to helping users manage their emotions. It offers various services and resources that can be customized to the individual user’s needs and preferences. The app also includes activities like mindfulness exercises, meditations, and goal tracking to help users stay motivated. If individuals are going through a hard patch, the app can suggest coping strategies altered for them.

Pros

  • Insurance is accepted
  • Based on CBT
  • Mood trackers

Cons

  • Premium components available only with a paid subscription
  • Therapy is not available in all U.S. states

Our verdict

All in all, Sanvello offers an impressive selection of audio programs designed to help users relax and unwind, enabling them to achieve a sense of calm and well-being. With its customizable programs, Sanvello makes it easy for users to find the right type of treatment for their specific needs. The app is regularly updated with new components, making it a great choice for those looking to access the latest mental health support.

3

Talk Space

248 reviews

talkspace mental health apps

Talk Space

  • Pricing: $69*/week for messaging-only therapy, $99*/week for video+messaging therapy, $109*/week for video+messaging+workshops, $249* for an initial psychiatry session, and many other plans.
  • Top Features: Connect with licensed therapists, affordable, available with or without insurance.

One of the exceptional features of TalkSpace is that the users can arrange their first appointment after matching with a licensed TalkSpace therapist. Clinicians at the company are thoroughly checked, and their backgrounds are investigated. Talkspace therapists offer unlimited texting in the user’s private therapy room five days a week.

Why we picked it?

Our research states that TalkSpace is one of the most adaptable therapy apps in the market, with a wide set of providers and specialties. Multiple subscription choices are available at various costs, ranging from a message-only plan to one that includes weekly live video sessions, unlimited messaging, and weekly expert-led mental health classes.

Pros

  • Accept insurance
  • HIPPA compliant
  • Unlimited texting

Cons

  • No fixed prices before signing up
  • Only 30-minute live sessions

Our verdict

Because of its comprehensive all-in-one platform, range of therapy alternatives, insurance coverage, and commitment to privacy, Talk Space is our top pick as one of the best mental health apps that help users to improve mindfulness in 2023.

4

IAmSober

223 reviews

Iamsober mental health apps

IAmSober

  • Pricing: Starting from $9.99* per month
  • Top Features: Tracks progress, sends motivational messages, and connects users to a community of people.

The app’s unique features include a withdrawal timeline and a space to take a daily sobriety vow for personal responsibility are among the app’s special features. You can also use a sobriety calculator to show how much time and money you’ve saved in recovery and a milestone tracker to see how far you’ve come.

Why we picked it?

IAmSober, in our opinion, is far more customizable and community-oriented than other similar apps. To help individuals stay motivated on their recovery journey, they can add their own visual reminders of what’s at risk, such as pictures of loved ones or the reasons they want to quit.

Pros

  • Community support
  • Track sobriety
  • Motivational affirmations

Cons

  • App glitches
  • Not for severe addictions

Our verdict

There are other sobriety counter apps available, but IAmSober stands out from the rest with various features. In comparison to other apps, where people try to quit their addiction using a substance. IAmSober includes a tracker that allows users to see how long they’ve been sober—down to the second.

5

HeadSpace

186 reviews

headspace mental health apps

HeadSpace

  • Pricing: Starting from $69.99* per year (free trial available)
  • Top Features: Breathing exercises, body scans, focused attention, visualization, and sitting meditation.

HeadSpace offers not only built around meditation but also includes features that will help individuals daily in dealing with overwhelming emotions or simply negative thoughts. Headspace’s focused “SOS” sessions are the ones curated for anxiety issues. Many users enjoy Headspace’s “sleep casts” (ambient sounds coupled with relaxing storytelling) feature and more.

Why we picked it?

HeadSpace, in our view, has something for every troubled mind,  like the wide library of guided meditations available, ranging from 3-minute mental resets to daily themed meditation. The app also offers a variety of videos and mini-courses available for beginners.

Pros

  • Student and family discount plan
  • Vast meditation guide
  • SOS sessions

Cons

  • Limited free tools
  • Not suitable for advanced meditators

Our verdict

Overall, Headspace is a versatile app that serves stand-alone meditations in the app for when users need a break, as well as long courses emphasizing further education in mindfulness. Courses include understanding the fundamentals of mindfulness, coping with cravings, dealing with distractions, and getting better sleep.

6

Breathe, Think, and Do with Sesame

158 reviews

Breathe think do mental health aps

Breathe, Think, and Do with Sesame

  • Pricing: Free
  • Top Features: Silly animations and playful interactions, important emotional vocabulary, breathing technique, personalized encouragement.

Children can connect with a friendly Sesame Street monster to help them deal with 5 everyday obstacles. The “Breathe with the Monster” activity offers deep breathing exercises to help children cope with stressful situations. Parents can even record themselves saying encouraging words for their children to hear as they finish activities.

Why we picked it?

We appreciate the comprehensive coverage of children’s mental health. Breathe, Think , Do with Sesame initiative, “Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame Street’s Little Children, Big Challenges,” aims to support children, parents, and caregivers in encouraging resilience and fostering healthier stress-coping skills.

Pros

  • Free version
  • Kid-friendly touch screen technology
  • Personalized plans

Cons

  • Not useful for older kids
  • Technical glitches

Our verdict

The app includes various free tools for teaching children problem-solving skills and self-soothing techniques for parents and caretakers. Additional materials are accessible on the app’s free companion website, allowing parents to continue assisting their children on their mental wellness journey.

7

Worry Watch

133 reviews

Worry watch mental health apps

Worry Watch

  • Pricing: Starting from $11.99* per year
  • Top Features: Guided anxiety journal, mood check-ins, coping techniques, positive reinforcement. 

Some of the great features of this app include a guided coping techniques portion that includes breathing exercises and meditation to help users relax, while the positive reinforcement section includes inspiring quotes and coping skills. With the in-app notebook, users may record their daily problems and challenges and reflect on better methods to deal with them in the future.

Why we picked it?

From our perspective, Worry Watch is an affordable app that enables users to track their anxiety over time. The app also offers a password-protected guided notebook and optimistic affirmations. Adding more to the content, there are graphic charts that show which of their concerns were baseless among the features.

Pros

  • 16 languages available
  • Guided journal

Cons

  • Not visually appealing
  • Unavailable for Android users

Our verdict

We found that Worry Watch seeks to assist those suffering from anxiety in identifying their concern patterns and panic triggers. The software can assist users in tracking their anxious thought patterns over time in order to break the “worry cycle.”

8

Moodkit mental health apps

MoodKit

  • Pricing: $4.99 (one-time fee) on the Apple app store
  • Top Features: Mood-enhancing activities, identify and change unhealthy thinking, rate and chart mood across time.

Users can learn to identify negative thinking patterns and change a painful idea into a more optimistic one using MoodKit’s Idea Checker tool. The Activities tool assists them in finding practical methods. Mood Tracker allows users to monitor their mood over time and identify patterns. The MoodKit Journal, which allows users to record and reflect on their daily thoughts and feelings, comes with a number of pre-made themes to pick from, or they may create their own.

Why we picked it?

MoodKit has some exceptional features users don’t have to be concerned about privacy because MoodKit supports Touch/Face ID, Airprint, and Security PIN. MoodKit may also be easily connected to their iOS calendar with built-in and configurable reminders. If users have CBT with a therapist, they may easily export their notes, mood charts, and journal entries to assist them in tracking their progress.

Pros

  • Exports mood charts and notes
  • Personalized journal
  • Unique tools

Cons

  • Not for Android users
  • Technical glitches

Our verdict

Overall MoodKit provides over 200 CBT-based exercises and activities to assist in recognizing distorted ideas, increasing self-awareness, and taking positive actions to improve their quality of life. Users can make use of MoodKit on their own or, as many individuals do, along with continuous therapy with a psychotherapist.

  • Pricing: Starting from $69.99* per year
  • Top Features: Sleep stories, breathing exercises, movement practices, music, soundscapes, and mindfulness lessons.

Calm has some exceptional features, such as timed meditations, sleep scenes, one bedtime story, and one breathing exercise. Users can also test out Calm Premium with a free seven-day trial for more additional features.

Why we picked it?

We chose Calm as one of the finest apps for getting grounded with yoga, stretching, and dancing sessions, as well as increasing mindfulness with a library of themed meditations. Users can measure their progress using Daily Streaks and Mindful Minutes along the way, and it also provides access to engage in one to three-week-long mindfulness programs.

Pros

  • Family and student discount plans
  • Bedtime stories
  • Soothing music

Cons

  • Prices vary
  • Accessibility issues

Our verdict

Calm, sometimes referred to as the “number one app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation,” is one of the most popular apps on the market for people who suffer from insomnia or poor sleep quality.


Conclusion

If you’re coping with a common mental health issue, such as stress, anxiety, or sorrow, mental health applications can assist you in improving mindfulness. Mental health apps can also assist you with day-to-day issues such as insomnia, loss of focus, and procrastination. Some mental health applications are intended to assist those who have recently become sober or who wish to become sober.

However, not everyone will benefit from mental health apps. People in severe distress should rather prefer going under proper mental health treatment. A mental health app may also not be an ideal option for you if you have been diagnosed with a serious mood illness or depression. Seek emergency medical attention if you or someone you know are in severe distress.