The best meditation apps in 2025 that are not Headspace or Calm include:
- Healthy Minds (HM): A science-backed app offering free, evidence-based meditation with a structured curriculum. It is supported by neuroscientific research and is donation-funded, providing sessions from 5 to 30 minutes without ads or paywalls. Ideal for beginners and those seeking a scientific approach without cost.
- Insight Timer: Known for having the largest free meditation library with over 220,000 guided meditations, yoga sessions, live events, and community features. It offers a beginner-friendly interface and a vast variety of meditation teachers worldwide, mostly free. Premium features add offline listening and courses.
- Medito: A completely free meditation app providing accessible meditation practices without subscription fees, focusing on mindfulness and meditation for all levels.
- Buddhify: Good for on-the-go meditation with short guided sessions designed for different times of the day, suitable for beginners.
- Ten Percent Happier: Offers skepticism-friendly meditation teachings, with guided practices and courses.
- Smiling Mind: Targeted at youth and families, it provides age-appropriate mindfulness exercises.
- Waking Up by Sam Harris: Focuses on meditation integrated with philosophy and deep insights.
- Balance App: Mentioned as a good alternative for meditation practice.
These apps generally provide free or low-cost access with varying features like community support, extensive meditation libraries, scientific foundations, and accessibility for beginners or specific user groups. Insight Timer and Healthy Minds stand out for their free access and research-backed content. This list can help choose a meditation app alternative with diverse approaches beyond Headspace and Calm.
