# How to choose a meditation app: courses, sleep, cost, openness Source: https://listme.name/blog/how-to-choose-a-meditation-app Published: 2026-10-10 Choose a meditation app by what you will use it for: a daily course, sleep content for bedtime, or a short break in the day. Most of the best-known apps are subscriptions with large libraries, and the free options are narrower but real. The [meditation apps ranking](/best/meditation-apps) lists [Headspace](/software/headspace) and [Calm](/software/calm) at the top, and it calls [Medito](/software/medito) the best free option in the list. Decide on the content you need first, then check the cost. ## Course depth and structure [Headspace](/software/headspace) is organized around guided courses on topics such as stress, anxiety and sleep, and it offers a family plan. [Waking Up](/software/waking-up) pairs its meditations with lessons and conversations on nonduality, free will and stoicism, and it starts new users with a 30-day introductory course. [Happier Meditation](/software/happier-meditation) builds its lessons around goals you share, updates them at monthly check-ins, and gives a free account three courses. [Medito](/software/medito) offers courses from beginner to advanced, including short courses and 30-day challenges, and it is free. [Calm](/software/calm) covers meditation, sleep, stress and mindfulness, but the ranking notes that its courses are not highlighted on its site. The ranking's rule of thumb is that large libraries and structured courses suit a daily routine, while short single sessions suit a quick break. > **Comparison table:** [Best meditation apps, side by side](https://listme.name/best/meditation-apps#compare-table). Score, price, platforms, main focus, sleep content for 10 products in one table. ## Sleep content If you meditate at bedtime, check the sleep section before you pay. [Calm](/software/calm) lists more than 500 sleep stories and sounds, and the full library needs a subscription. Headspace offers sleep music, wind-downs and soundscapes. Medito includes sleep stories without a subscription. [Smiling Mind](/software/smiling-mind) has a Getting Better Sleep program, and Waking Up has guided meditations for sleep. Sleep content is also where the free and paid options meet. If sleep stories are the main reason you want an app, Medito lets you start without paying, while Calm gives the most specific count, with more than 500 stories and sounds. > **Compare:** [Calm vs Headspace](https://listme.name/compare/calm-vs-headspace). 91.5 and 92.5, ranked #2 and #1 in best meditation apps. ## Cost and free options [Medito](/software/medito) is free, with no ads, no paywall and no account requirement. It is funded by donations. [Smiling Mind](/software/smiling-mind) is free for individuals and families, and it comes from an Australian non-profit that is funded by donations, corporate partners and users. The others are subscriptions. [Headspace](/software/headspace) runs after a 14-day free trial and renews until you cancel. Calm offers a free trial, and subscriptions made through Apple or Google are managed in each store's settings. [Waking Up](/software/waking-up) has no free tier, and its seven-day trial leads to an annual plan at $129.99 or a monthly plan at $19.99. [Happier Meditation](/software/happier-meditation)'s full access is listed at $99.99 a year. Prices change, so check each app's store page before you subscribe. > **Ranking:** [Best free meditation apps](https://listme.name/best/meditation-apps/free). 6 products ranked. Top pick: Medito (89.5). ## Platforms and openness Headspace runs on iPhone, iPad and Android. [Calm](/software/calm) runs on iOS, Android and the web, and it also works with Apple Watch and Wear OS. Smiling Mind is available on iOS, Android and the web. [Happier Meditation](/software/happier-meditation) runs on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Android, and it has no web version. Waking Up and Medito are listed for iOS and Android. On openness, [Medito](/software/medito) is the one app in the list with a published open-source license. Its app code is under AGPL-3.0, but its meditation content has a separate license that the foundation publishes on its site. Some of that content comes from other sources with their own terms, so read the content license if you plan to reuse anything. ## Our picks and what to do next The ranking places the apps covered here in this order: - [Headspace](/software/headspace): guided courses, sleep content and a family plan in one subscription. - [Calm](/software/calm): sleep stories and relaxation sessions on iOS, Android and the web. - [Medito](/software/medito): free guided meditation without an account. - [Waking Up](/software/waking-up): meditation with philosophy and teaching. - [Happier Meditation](/software/happier-meditation): goal-based meditation on phones and watches. - [Smiling Mind](/software/smiling-mind): free mindfulness programs for individuals and families. The ranking also includes [Insight Timer](/software/insight-timer) (87.0), a free app with guided meditations, sleep tracks, live yoga and breathwork. Courses and offline listening need its optional Premium subscription. For a free start with no account, begin with Medito. For structured courses for daily practice, which is the ranking's best-for note for Headspace, start with Headspace's free trial. For sleep stories, Calm is the pick, with the subscription that comes with its full library. Whichever app you try, check when the trial ends and whether the subscription renews automatically.