Do Meditation Apps Work? Thoughts from a Meditation Teacher
Is it better to meditate with or without an app?
I started meditating back in 2016 and the apps weren’t really a thing then. Instead, my first experiences with meditation were through my yoga classes, which I loved but didn’t fully understand. I also turned to YouTube, but I often left feeling more confused and the weirdest encounter was when I attended a small meditation conference around the block from my place when I lived in the Upper East Side.
We sat in an auditorium staring at a candle, next to a picture of an Indian guru “meditating” with our open eyes. Yes, the beginning of my meditation journey was a mixed bag of experiences and at some point, I decided to use a meditation app and see what the fuss was about.
Despite never being an avid user, I did notice pros and cons immediately and while the app (and my previous efforts) didn’t give me what I was looking for with mediation, they did help me understand what worked for me and what didn’t.
If you’ve been wondering, “Do meditation apps really work?”, then grab a cuppa tea because I’ll be sharing my thoughts and some of the reasons why people love them!
Hey there! I’m Rebecca, a private mindfulness meditation teacher who’s led over 1,000 private meditation classes.
The truth is, I have a love-hate relationship with meditation apps and I don’t particularly care for them.
While meditation apps do conveniently offer tons of free or affordable guided meditations and mindfulness exercises right at your fingertips, I feel like a big problem is they miss the depth of what meditation is truly about and can be more confusing than beneficial.
Today, we’re going to discuss:
the pros and why meditation apps work
the cons and why meditation apps do not work
common questions about meditation
how to make meditation truly work for you!
Let’s dive deep into this hot topic and discover if meditation apps are right for you!
Why Meditation Apps Do Work
1. Convenience: Practice Meditation Anytime, Anywhere
Many people value convenience and meditation apps provide a convenient way to practice meditation at work, in your home or on the go, when you want. They also make it easy for you to learn about meditation at your own pace and they help you squeeze in a few minutes of guided meditation no matter where you are—whether it’s your lunch break, before bed or while commuting.
Also, I understand not everyone has the funds to work with a meditation teacher or attend a program and luckily there’s an abundance of free resources that are perfect for beginners—another plus! Meditation apps are also great for busy minds at night and we can easily turn to our phone for relief. With just a few taps, we can start our favorite sleep-focused meditation or breathing exercise to calm down. Sounds like a win to me and I personally loved this!
COMMON QUESTIONS:
Can you learn meditation online?
Yes! That’s exactly what meditation apps are for! Plus, there are a variety of online meditation courses or you can find a meditation teacher like myself, who offers one on one meditation classes online.
Is online meditation effective?
Absolutely! It’s just as effective as in person, but just a different experience. However, if you feel called to practice in person, definitely follow that.
2. Variety: Meditations for Almost Every Type of Person and Need
One of the best things that make meditation apps great is their variety. Whether you’re looking for stress relief, self-compassion, confidence-building guidance or better sleep, there’s a guided meditation for that. Some days, a quick five-minute breathing exercise to reset your mind will be enough; other days, you might crave a deep, immersive full body guided relaxation meditation to help process emotions and let go. The options are truly endless and this is beautiful!
COMMON QUESTIONS:
Should I meditate in silence?
This will really depend on the individual and I encourage you to explore different kinds of meditations until you find the right one. As a coach, I find students generally need more guidance and cues in the beginning and as time goes on, they feel more comfortable with less ques and more silence. This is definitely a sign of progressing in your practice.
Is it okay to not meditate everyday?
It’s okay not to meditate everyday. I always tell my students meditating more in the beginning is better, but being consistent is the best. On the days you don’t practice formal seated meditation, you can easily practice mindfulness instead to keep Presence with you.
3. Progress Tracking: Motivation to Keep Going
We all like to know how we are moving along in our journey and most meditation apps offer tracking features that count minutes meditated and display personal progress. This can feel incredibly motivating, especially for beginners or for those who want to set certain well-being goals. Seeing a 30-day meditation streak on your phone most likely feels like an accomplishment — like you’re truly prioritizing your mental health, again further solidifying that meditation apps can be great to use!
COMMON QUESTIONS:
How long should I meditate to see results?
Everyone is different and it’s best to accept your meditation journey as it unfolds. When I work with clients privately, we meditate together once a week, for about 20-30 minutes and they generally start seeing results immediately in little ways. After 3-9 months, the results are very apparent—they feel very Present, more focused and in tune with themselves.
Is 20 minutes of meditation a day enough?
This is a wonderful goal to work towards and is more than enough! Just remember if you miss a day of meditation that’s okay and you can always practice mindfulness instead. Also, a suggestion for beginners is to start with shorter meditations and slowly build up.
Is 30 minutes of meditation too much?
If you feel good sitting in meditation for 30 minutes, go for it! The time meditated does not matter as much as knowing these things: make sure you clearly understand the goal of the meditation and make sure you are practicing the meditation correctly. But generally speaking, if you aren’t learning anything about yourself in meditation, then you might need to rethink your practice. Also, your meditation practice will evolve over time. Sitting in meditation for 5 minutes might feel like an eternity, but after a month it’ll feel like nothing. This is also a sign you’re progressing.
Is 1 minute of meditation good?
One minute of meditation is better than no minutes of meditation.
Are meditation apps worth it? Popular Meditation apps such as Headspace and Calm got 80 million and 133 million downloads in 2023—wowzers!
Popular Meditation Apps That Do Work Well and What They Offer
If you’re considering trying a meditation app, here are some of the most well-known options and what they specialize in:
Headspace – One of the most popular meditation apps known to work for many! Headspace is known for its structured programs and beginner-friendly approach. It offers guided meditations, sleep sounds and courses on mindfulness and stress management.
Calm – Best known for its soothing nature sounds, bedtime stories and guided meditations. Calm is great for relaxation and improving sleep quality. It also includes breathing exercises and daily mindfulness reminders. Another meditation app that works very well!
Insight Timer – A free meditation app with a vast library of guided meditations from different teachers worldwide. It’s ideal for those who want variety and the ability to customize their meditation experience.
Each app has its strengths, so the best one for you depends on your needs and preferences. I encourage to explore and pick the one that resonates most.
Why Meditation Apps Do Not Work
1. Too Many Choices = Overwhelm
I know this was also a pro, but for some, too many options can be problematic. Have you ever opened a meditation app and felt completely overwhelmed by the number of options? This was me. Instead of feeling calm, you’re scrolling endlessly, unsure of which meditation to choose. Analysis paralysis kicks in and hours pass with no selection made and on top of that, you feel frustrated. Or you do decide on one only to find the voice unsettling or the pacing off and you’re back to scrolling.
One of my meditation clients once said;
“Meditation apps do not work for me because I feel discouraged when I have too many choices. I get frustrated and give up. Plus, I don’t have someone to ask questions to when I don’t understand”
Many people get overwhelmed with too many options. If you relate, try choosing a go-to meditation or a meditation series that builds up your practice slowly over time. Sticking with one for a while will allow it to sink in on a deeper level and you’ll reserve energy as you won’t have to look for a different meditation everyday. The only thing is, it may take some time to find one you resonate with, but once you find it stay with it!
When not to do meditation?
I tell clients if they feel highly emotional or highly agitated, it may be better to do something physical, like go for a walk or hit the gym to work out aggression or talk to a therapist or trusted friend. When I was experiencing grief from the loss of my dog, I did not practice my regular mindfulness meditation routine. Instead, I listened to a guided meditation on self-love and compassion or I practiced yoga nidra, which is a lying down deep full body relaxation.
2. No Preparation Phase: Jumping Straight Into Meditation
One major flaw I’ve noticed on the meditation apps is the lack of preparation before starting the meditation. Many guided meditations jump straight into the practice without helping you settle into a calm and focused state first.
I can’t stress how important this is.
In my one to one meditation classes, I always guide students into the meditation with a few minutes of conscious breathing, a short body scan and grounding exercises before diving into the actual meditation. These 5-7 minutes make a huge difference and set your practice up for success. Without it, you might find yourself struggling to stay focused or feeling restless throughout the meditation.
What can go wrong with meditation?
This is a great question! If you are suffering from depression or are having extremely difficult thoughts, it may be best to work with a psychologist first. In meditation, we become highly aware of our thoughts and feelings and for some, this may be too overwhelming to manage. Also, some have emotional outbursts in meditation, but this is not wrong and crying or expressing your anger constructively is very healthy. I’ve had big cries in meditation unexpectedly and experienced massive relief after. It can be very therapeutic.
3. Apps Can’t Replace In-Person Guidance
Meditation apps can’t fully replace the guidance of an experienced meditation teacher. There is just something special about being able to ask questions when you are learning something new. A meditation teacher can personalize your experience based on your unique needs and provide meaningful feedback. They can also help you stay accountable.
One client shared;
“I can stay in meditation longer with a teacher and I prefer to have somebody hold me accountable and guide me through the process, so I don’t end it too early.”
They also help you gain deeper insights because you can talk to someone who has been through the process. Unfortunately, you just can’t do that with an app. This is a major disadvantage and if you find yourself struggling and know you need help, check out my private meditation sessions. I also make clients a guided meditation recording so they feel less anxious about meditating on their own and when we meet, we can discuss any experiences they had.
Is it OK to move during meditation?
Yes, it’s definitely okay to move during meditation. Matter of fact, you should move if you are uncomfortable because if the body is uncomfortable, you will not be able to access deeper stages of meditation or relaxation.
Should you stop thinking when meditating?
If you try to force yourself to stop thinking during meditation, you’re going to struggle and this is not the point. Instead, you have to learn different “mind” tools as I like to call them to work with your thinking in meditation.
4. Meditation Apps Can Miss the Whole Point of Meditation
The true purpose of meditation isn’t just relaxation—it’s about self-discovery, self-exploration and self-realization. The Greeks didn’t just say “Know Thyself” for nothing! Meditation helps us become self-aware and gain greater control over our thoughts and emotions, instead of letting them control us. In the end, this helps us make better choices that align with who we really are and what we really want (this is exactly what I was searching for when I first started meditation!).
One of my meditation clients described their meditation journey as,
“A practice where you create some distance from your thoughts and feelings, noticing them come and go without getting too attached.”
That’s the essence of meditation, and it’s something that the apps may not always emphasize enough or are able to teach in depth. Sometimes you just need to work with an expert or talk to a teacher.
In my brief experience with meditation apps, they aren’t perfect but they are a great start!
Make Meditation and Apps Work for You
If you want to truly benefit from meditation, here’s how to approach it:
Use apps as a supportive tool, not the sole solution. They’re great for guidance, but don’t rely on them completely.
Start with a preparation phase. Take a few deep breaths, breath consciously for a few minutes and focus on relaxing your body.
Stick with one meditation for a while. Avoid the temptation to jump between different ones every day.
Consider working with a teacher or joining a program. Having someone to guide you can deepen your practice more quickly.
Be consistent. The best meditation is the one you do regularly, even if it’s just five minutes a day.
Final Thoughts: Are Meditation Apps Worth it?
In the end, meditation apps weren’t for me, but you have to have your own experience with it to decide. I definitely encourage you to give it a try and see what happens.
However, remember to have patience when browsing through the app and after you find a meditation you love, practice it for an extended period of time so it really sinks in at those deeper levels. Once you feel like you’ve outgrown the meditation, then you know it’s job is done and you can focus on the next one.
Personally, I had the best experience when I attended my meditation program. I fumbled around trying different practices for a year and I didn’t get it until I worked with a teacher. Then my practice took off and I grew so much! Also, as a meditation teacher, clients often tell me how much they’ve grown through working with a coach. If you try meditation apps and it doesn’t work, I’ll be here if you want help on your meditation journey.
Wishing you the best and thanks for reading!
Do meditation apps work for you? What has your experience been like? I’m interested to hear more in the comments!
Rebecca Michelle | Mindfulness Meditation Teacher
Helping women professionals stay calm, relaxed and focused on their well-being goals through one on one meditation classes and mindfulness coaching!
