If you want to avoid being overwhelmed by too much choice, you may wish to check out the following apps, all of which have received excellent reviews. Most are free, with optional add-ons.
Happidote
This app supports the wellbeing of health professionals, and offers 2- to 3-minute meditations as the antidote to ten typical stress-causing scenarios. It also has three generic meditation practices that can be used. The app is free but voluntary donations are welcome.
Headspace
This is an excellent choice for learning the basics of meditation and mindfulness, using vibrant animations and simple images to teach how the mind works. It offers hundreds of guided meditations on a wide range of subjects, as well as 2–3-minute mini meditations. Before bed, you can try a variety of meditations for sleep or listen to music, nature soundscapes, or bedtime stories. A well-developed app, which has often been used for research studies.
Smiling Mind
This is an excellent choice for learning the basics of meditation and mindfulness, using vibrant animations and simple images to teach how the mind works. It offers hundreds of guided meditations on a wide range of subjects, as well as 2–3-minute mini meditations. Before bed, you can try a variety of meditations for sleep or listen to music, nature soundscapes, or bedtime stories. A well-developed app, which has often been used for research studies.
The Mindfulness App
This offers an introduction to mindfulness to help you get started, as well as guided or silent meditations from 3–30 minutes. The app also offers personalized meditation options, reminders to keep you mindful throughout the day.
Calm
This offers daily meditations as well as calming exercises, and breathing techniques. You can select background scenery and ambient or nature sounds (crackling firewood, ocean waves, pouring rain). It is a wonderful app for taking a break and enjoying a calm moment, and the Sleep Stories will help you unwind in the evening.
Insight Timer
This free app offers an endless choice of meditations to choose from to support your practice whether you are a beginner or experienced meditator, although the amount of choice can be daunting. As well as discussion groups, it also offers audios, music tracks, ambient sounds and beautiful Tibetan singing bowls, and guided yoga nidra practices to calm your mind and promote sleep.