The Best Apps Like Headspace: 6 Alternatives Worth Trying

If you’re looking for an alternative to Headspace, there are some good options. Insight Timer is excellent if you want something free. Calm is particularly good for sleep. Waking Up offers more philosophical depth, while Ten Percent Happier takes a practical approach to meditation.

I’ve tried most of these apps myself, and each has something to offer.

But there’s another possibility worth considering. What if your problem isn’t really the app, but finding a way to keep meditating regularly?

I’ll come back to that towards the end, because after teaching mindfulness for more than twenty years, I’ve learnt that having access to wonderful meditations and actually doing them are two rather different things.

Why are you looking for an alternative to Headspace?

There are usually three reasons people start looking for another meditation app.

1. It’s getting expensive.

You signed up with good intentions, but the monthly subscription is starting to feel like an unnecessary expense.

2. You don’t like the style.

Perhaps you find the cheerful animations and upbeat voices a little too much. Or maybe you simply prefer a different approach to meditation. Nothing wrong with that. We all have our preferences.

3. You’ve stopped using it.

You downloaded the app, felt enthusiastic, meditated regularly for a while, and then gradually stopped opening it.

This last one is particularly common. And it’s worth exploring before paying for another subscription.

I can see the appeal of Headspace. It offers a clear structure, a consistent teaching style and simple practices that make meditation accessible. What I liked less was the emphasis on goals, points and tracking. I prefer a little less measurement and a little more space to breathe.

So, which alternatives are worth considering?

What are the best apps like Headspace?

If you want…	Try this
A generous free meditation library	Insight Timer
Help with sleep	Calm
More philosophical depth	Waking Up
Practical, down-to-earth teaching	Ten Percent Happier
Meditation for children and families	Smiling Mind
A real teacher and a regular group	Daily Mindfulness Club

Let’s look at each option.

1. Insight Timer: the best free alternative

If cost is your main concern, Insight Timer is an excellent place to start.

Its free library is enormous, with more than 100,000 guided meditations, a meditation timer and a wide range of teachers and approaches. There are no adverts in the free experience described here, and you don’t need to start a free trial that quietly turns into a paid subscription.

There is also a paid MemberPlus option for additional courses and features, including offline listening.

What I like: The variety is fantastic. You can explore different teachers, traditions, meditation styles and lengths of practice. If one voice doesn’t suit you, there are plenty more to choose from.

What I like less: There is so much choice that it can become a little overwhelming. I initially loved exploring all those different voices and approaches. Eventually, though, I found myself spending more time deciding what to listen to than actually meditating.

Headspace gives you a more defined path. Insight Timer gives you a vast library. Both have their place, but beginners may appreciate having a little more guidance about where to start.

My suggestion is to choose a beginner’s course and follow it for a couple of weeks. Resist the temptation to explore every shiny new meditation that pops up.

Best for: Anyone who wants a wide choice of guided meditations without committing to a paid subscription.

2. Calm: the best for sleep

Calm has a rather different feel. Think of it as a soothing place to visit rather than a structured course in learning to meditate.

Its Sleep Stories are particularly well known. You can listen to stories read by familiar voices, including Matthew McConaughey and Stephen Fry, as well as a range of other sleep and relaxation recordings.

Calm also offers guided meditations, breathing exercises and content for children.

What I like: The emphasis on winding down is appealing. If you spend your evenings worrying about tomorrow’s to-do list, listening to something calming may help you create a gentler transition towards sleep.

What I like less: If your main aim is to learn mindfulness systematically, Calm may feel less structured than Headspace. It can be a lovely companion, but you may need another resource if you want a more progressive learning programme.

Calm’s subscription prices can also be relatively high, so check the current UK price before signing up.

Best for: People who want help winding down, improving their bedtime routine or finding something relaxing to listen to.

3. Waking Up: for the philosophically curious

Waking Up, created by Sam Harris, takes a different approach to meditation.

Alongside guided practices, it explores consciousness, the nature of the mind, free will and the experience of being a self. It’s secular, intellectually curious and interested in much more than simply reducing stress.

If you find yourself wondering who or what is actually aware of your thoughts, you may enjoy it.

What I like: The philosophical depth. Meditation becomes a way to investigate experience directly, rather than simply a technique for feeling calmer.

There are also thoughtful conversations and lessons that explore the ideas behind the practice.

What I like less: It can be demanding. Sometimes you just want ten minutes of quiet without embarking on an investigation into the nature of consciousness.

I enjoyed Waking Up for a while, and I still appreciate many of its ideas. However, I missed the live experience of practising with other people. Without that connection and regularity, I eventually stopped using it.

One feature I particularly appreciate is its provision for people who genuinely cannot afford a subscription. The app has offered a way for those users to request free access.

Best for: People who want to explore meditation in greater philosophical depth, particularly those interested in consciousness and the nature of the self.

4. Ten Percent Happier: for sceptics

Ten Percent Happier grew out of Dan Harris’s book of the same name. Harris came to meditation after experiencing a panic attack on live television, and his approach has a refreshingly practical quality.

The app works with experienced meditation teachers and offers guided practices, courses and conversations about bringing mindfulness into everyday life.

What I like: The down-to-earth tone. You don’t need to adopt a new belief system or pretend to be particularly spiritual. You can simply experiment with the practices and see what happens.

There’s room for questions, doubts and a healthy degree of scepticism.

What I like less: The library is smaller than Insight Timer’s, and the subscription may not solve your problem if price was the main reason you left Headspace.

Best for: Anyone who wants practical meditation teaching without too much spiritual language or fuss.

5. Smiling Mind: free meditation for children and families

Smiling Mind is an Australian non-profit that provides mindfulness and mental wellbeing resources for children, families, schools and workplaces.

It’s worth exploring if you want to introduce mindfulness to younger people or prefer a not-for-profit approach.

What I like: The focus on making mindfulness accessible, particularly for children and young people.

Best for: Families, educators and anyone looking for mindfulness resources from a non-profit organisation.

6. Do you need a meditation app at all?

Here’s a slightly radical suggestion from a mindfulness teacher who has spent a fair amount of time exploring meditation apps.

You might not need one.

A comfortable chair, a timer on your phone and ten minutes of your attention can be enough.

You could sit quietly and notice your breathing. When your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back. Repeat as often as necessary.

And if your mind wanders every five seconds, congratulations. You’re experiencing something very human. The practice isn’t about stopping thoughts. It’s about noticing where your attention has gone and choosing where to bring it next.

Of course, apps can be helpful. A guided meditation can give you some structure, introduce you to different practices and make it easier to get started.

But you don’t need a subscription to practise mindfulness.

If you’d like a little guidance, you can also start with a beginner’s meditation or a short self-compassion practice available for free.

The honest bit: what if you stopped using Headspace?

Let’s return to the third reason people look for another app.

You liked Headspace. You intended to keep meditating. But somewhere along the way, you stopped opening it.

Before you sign up for something new, it may be helpful to pause and ask yourself why.

I’ve seen people move from Headspace to Calm, then to Insight Timer, then to Waking Up. Each new app brings a little burst of enthusiasm. There are new teachers to discover, new courses to try and fresh possibilities to explore.

Then, gradually, the practice fades again.

It’s a bit like buying another cookbook when what you really need is to find the time to cook dinner.

The problem isn’t necessarily the quality of the app. These apps contain more meditation material than most of us could listen to in a lifetime.

Perhaps what’s missing is something else.

An app gives you content. It doesn’t necessarily give you rhythm or connection.

A recording won’t notice that you’ve disappeared for three weeks. It won’t gently encourage you to return when life gets busy. And on a difficult morning, having a thousand meditations to choose from can feel like opening a fridge full of ingredients when you’re too tired to cook.

I’ve experienced this in my own practice, too. Over the years, there have been times when my meditation slipped. Sometimes it took a week or two before I really noticed what I was missing.

I might become a little more irritable or find myself caught up in my thoughts. Eventually, I’d recognise that I wanted to return to the practice.

These days, I guide a live meditation in the Daily Mindfulness Club every weekday morning. That regular commitment makes a difference. I’ve meditated pretty much every day for over five years.

I wouldn’t put that down to extraordinary willpower. It’s much simpler than that. I’ve built meditation into my life, and other people are there practising alongside me.

Having a regular time, a familiar group and a reason to show up can make a difference to maintaining a habit.

This doesn’t mean apps are bad or that everyone needs a group. It simply means that, sometimes, the missing ingredient isn’t another meditation. It’s a little structure and company.

A different kind of alternative: the Daily Mindfulness Club

I should be upfront here. I run the Daily Mindfulness Club, so naturally I have a particular interest in this option. I’ll leave you to judge whether it might suit you.

The Club is an online community with a live guided meditation every weekday at 7.30 am UK time. I lead the practice, and a friendly group of people joins in.

It’s a little different from using an app.

It’s live and human. You’re practising with a real teacher, not listening to a recording. Each session offers an opportunity to pause and practise together.

There are people to practise with. You start to recognise familiar names and become part of a small community. It’s a gentle form of accountability, without anyone checking up on you with a clipboard.

The approach goes beyond relaxation. I draw on mindfulness and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which means the aim isn’t simply to feel calmer. It’s also to learn how to respond more helpfully to difficult thoughts and feelings, and to live in ways that reflect what matters to you.

You can listen to the recordings. If 7.30 am isn’t your ideal time, the sessions are available to catch up with later.

One member joined after trying various meditation apps without finding one that really helped her maintain a regular practice. She’d discovered some of our meditations on YouTube, enjoyed them and decided to try the Club.

What made the difference for her was the combination of a regular time, a different guided meditation each day and a small group of people practising together.

She didn’t have to decide which meditation to choose every morning. She could simply turn up, listen and practise. She also appreciated that the Club was audio-only, so she could join without worrying about how she looked or whether she was camera-ready.

Over time, she got to know other members and developed a regular habit that has lasted for years. Her favourite sessions are our story-based meditations on Fridays.

Of course, this approach won’t suit everyone.

If you love Sleep Stories with well-known narrators, Calm is a better fit. If you want a huge library of free recordings, Insight Timer is hard to beat. And if you enjoy meditating independently, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

But if you’ve tried several apps and found yourself drifting away from each one, a live group might be worth exploring.

You can try the Daily Mindfulness Club free for seven days.

Come and sit with us one morning. See how it feels. No grand promises required.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free alternative to Headspace?

Insight Timer is a strong choice if you want a large library of guided meditations and a meditation timer. Smiling Mind is also worth exploring, particularly for families and educators. Check the current features of each app, as these can change.

Is Calm better than Headspace?

Neither is better for everyone. Calm is particularly appealing for sleep stories and relaxation. Headspace offers a more structured introduction to meditation. The best choice depends on what you’re hoping to get from it.

Is there a Headspace alternative with a real teacher?

Yes. You could attend classes at a local mindfulness centre or join an online group. The Daily Mindfulness Club offers a live guided meditation every weekday morning, with recordings available afterwards.

Why do people stop using meditation apps?

There are many possible reasons. Life gets busy, the novelty wears off, the subscription feels expensive or the format doesn’t suit them. Sometimes the practice becomes another task on an already crowded to-do list.

Changing apps may help, but it can also be useful to make the practice smaller, connect it to an existing daily routine or find other people to practise with.

Can I meditate without an app?

Absolutely. You can begin with just a few minutes of quietly noticing your breathing, bodily sensations or sounds. When your attention wanders, bring it back gently.

An app can provide helpful guidance, but it isn’t a requirement for mindfulness.

My final recommendation

The best alternative to Headspace depends on what you’re looking for.

If you want to save money, start with Insight Timer. If sleep is your priority, explore Calm. If you’re curious about consciousness and the nature of the mind, try Waking Up. For practical, down-to-earth teaching, consider Ten Percent Happier. And for children and families, have a look at Smiling Mind.

But if you’ve tried several apps and stopped using them all, take a moment before subscribing to another one.

Perhaps you don’t need more meditations. Perhaps you need a simpler routine, a regular time or someone to practise alongside.

Sometimes the most helpful thing isn’t finding a better meditation. It’s finding a way to keep showing up for the one you’ve already got.

And remember, you don’t have to meditate perfectly, every day, for the rest of your life. You can simply begin again today.