32 Best Apps for Anxiety: Meditation, Breathing, CBT & More

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December 14, 2021
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Introduction

People have become eager for accessible ways to improve their wellness. So it’s no wonder why apps for anxiety and depression, as well as apps for stress and anxiety, are becoming plentiful. 

If you’re someone who struggles with anxiety, the good news is you have many options for relief available on your mobile device. However, making a decision about which one(s) to use can be difficult.

If you want to explore your options, this article will help you find the best apps for anxiety with the following breakdown:

  • Our top recommendations for best anxiety apps
  • Best breathing apps for anxiety (6)
  • Best relaxation apps for anxiety (6)
  • Best mindfulness & meditation apps for anxiety (6)
  • Best game apps for anxiety (4)
  • Best CBT apps for anxiety (4)
  • 6 free anxiety apps you should try today

We’ll start by exploring the top apps to calm anxiety in each category, before breaking down all of the best apps for anxiety.

Also, if you want to explore more of the best apps to help with anxiety, check out ones that utilize breathwork exercises. We have a list of 25+ breathwork apps for guided sessions.

Our top recommendations for best anxiety apps

With the high number of apps for anxiety available, narrowing down your options can be difficult. Here are some of the top apps to help with anxiety in different categories:

  1. Best breathing app for anxiety: Othership
  2. Best relaxation app for anxiety: DARE: Anxiety & Panic Relief
  3. Best meditation app anxiety: Headspace
  4. Best game app for anxiety: My Oasis
  5. Best CBT app for anxiety: Happify
  6. Best free app for anxiety: SuperBetter

Best breathing apps for anxiety (6)

With breathwork’s ability to quickly aid in anxiety relief, using a breathing app for anxiety is guaranteed to help relieve those anxious feelings and improve your overall health. Below are some of the best deep breathing apps for anxiety.

1.Othership

Othership home screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: 7-day and 14-day free trials; $17.99/month or $129.99/year after.

Features: 500+ classes, inspiring soundscapes, streak & progress tracking, and a global community.

Best for: Variety of breathwork sessions

Othership is a newer breathwork app designed to support your emotional well-being. The app is full of hundreds of breathing sessions that will help you connect with your body, brain, identity, and even other people. It's a great breathing exercises for anxiety app full of calming sounds, and experienced facilitators can help you relax and gain many more benefits.

2. MyLife Meditation

MyLife Meditation home screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: $9.99/month, $58.99/year, or $249.99 lifetime

Features: Breathing exercises, personalized meditation recommendations, mood tracker, and sleeping exercises.

Best for: Habit building

Formerly Stop, Breathe & Think, MyLife is a meditation and mindfulness app designed for mental resilience. This makes it another of the best breathing apps for anxiety. The app helps you to prioritize daily wellness with check-ins and personalized activities. You can use it to improve your mental and physical health and even build new habits.

3. iBreathe

iBreathe breathwork session

Download it Now: iOS

Cost: Free to use; $1.99 to remove ads.

Features: Customizable breathing intervals, customizable reminders, Apple Health integration, and quick actions via haptic touch.

Best for: Customizations

iBreathe is a simple but powerful breathwork app that can help you relax. It's designed with a simplistic interface to guide you through deep breathing exercises that will help relieve your stress, anxiety, and insomnia. You can also customize your intervals and reminders to help you stay on track with your breathwork goals.

4. Breathe+ Simple Breath Trainer

Download it Now: iOS

Cost: Free to start using; $0.99/month, $4.99/year, or $8.99 to unlock all features.

Features: Breath visualization, guided sessions from 1 to 60 minutes, breath cycle counter, and customizable breathing intervals from 1 to 32 seconds.

Best for: Time customizations

If you're looking for a simple visual aid to help you establish a daily breathwork practice, Breathe+ offers exactly that. The app uses beautiful visuals to guide you through 1 to 60-minute exercises, and also allows you to create your own freeform sessions where you can adjust your inhale and exhale counts. Breathe+ also comes with progress-tracking features.

5. Breathwrk: Breathing Exercises

Breathwrk home screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to start using or $66.99/year to unlock all features.

Features: Breathing exercises; music, vibration, and visual guides; vast library; and custom reminders.

Best for: Guided sessions

As its name suggests, Breathwrk is another breathwork app that can help users manage their stress and anxiety. The science-backed breathing exercises in this app can be used to reduce stress and anxiety, increase energy and focus, improve endurance, and improve sleep. The app uses guided visuals that can help you relax at any time.

6. Panic Relief

Panic Relief breathwork instructions

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: $0.99

Features: Calming animations, 4 easy-to-follow calming exercises, resources, and silent use.

Best for: Using anywhere

Panic Relief is one of several apps for breathing for anxiety relief and relaxation. Those who are prone to panic attacks will benefit from the 4 easy-to-follow breathing exercises featured in the app. The exercises are easy enough that they can be used any time you feel your anxiety starting to build up.

Best relaxation apps for anxiety (6)

Relaxation is important for anyone who struggles with anxiety, and having easily-accessible options for achieving it is even better. These are some of the best relaxation apps for anxiety.

7. Breethe

Breethe Today screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to start using; $12.99/month, $89.99/year, or $179.99 lifetime payment to unlock all features.

Features: Ever-growing session library, guided meditations & breathing exercises, hypnotherapy, and a personalized toolkit.

Best for: Beginners to mindfulness

Breethe is a mindfulness app with a focus on relaxation, sleep, and happiness. It's full of meditations, soundscapes, and classes that will teach you how to prioritize self-care. The 7-Day, 30-Day, and 90-Day programs are also great for anyone looking to build a new habit.

8. Breathe In

Breathe In home screen

Download it Now: iOS

Cost: Free to start using; $0.99/month, $5.99/year, or $15.99 lifetime purchase to unlock all features.

Features: Breathing exercises, guided 5-minute meditations, Apple Health integration, and mindfulness quotes.

Best for: Relieving tension

Another relaxation app on the market is Breathe In. This app is all about promoting calm and increasing self-esteem through guided breathing exercises and meditations. It also integrates with the Apple Health app to better track your progress.

9. DARE: Anxiety & Panic Relief

DARE audio screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to start using; $9.99/month to unlock all features.

Features: Daily DARE audio exercise, 7-day challenges, mood tracker, and DARE Buddy community.

Best for: Quick relaxation

DARE is an app designed to help people manage their anxiety. It uses evidence-based training to help people overcome anxiety, panic attacks, worry, and insomnia fast. The meditations and other audio tracks are great for helping you to relax and feel calm, wherever and whenever.

10. Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep

Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep audio player

Download it Now: Android

Cost: Free to use; premium subscriptions available

Features: Variety of relaxing nature sounds, sleep timer for music relaxation therapy, beautiful wallpapers for each sound, and background meditation music.

Best for: Calming nature sounds

If you're someone who likes to use music and sounds to relax, Nature Sounds Relax & Sleep will really help. It lets you choose from 6 different types of nature sounds to find the audio that best fits your mood. It also has a sleep timer that you can set if you're someone who likes to use music to help you fall asleep.

11. Anxiety Relief Hypnosis - Stress, Panic Attacks

Anxiety Relief Hypnosis Listen screen

Download it Now: Android

Cost: Free to use; in-app purchases available.

Features: Soothing audio, hypnotic booster, relaxing background music & nature sounds, and repeat & loop settings.

Best for: Hypnotherapy for anxiety

Anxiety Relief Hypnosis is an app designed to help users combat anxiety and depression using hypnotherapy. The hypnotherapy is combined with an anxiety meditation to help guide you to relaxation. Listening to this app has also helped users who deal with anger management issues, OCD, PTSD, and panic attacks.

12. Brain.fm

Brain.fm music player

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free for the first 5 sessions; $6.99/month or $49.99/year after.

Features: AI-generated music, offline use, personal library, and goal & mood settings.

Best for: Focus and relaxation music

Brain.fm is a focus music app designed to help users meditate and relax. It's filled with music designed for the brain to help improve focus, relaxation, and sleep after 15 minutes of use. The music is AI-generated, and can also be downloaded for offline listening while on the go.

Best mindfulness & meditation apps for anxiety (6)

Many meditation apps for anxiety exist, given that meditation is one of the most popular practices for self-care. To help narrow your options, here are some of the best mindfulness apps for anxiety.

13. Headspace

Headspace home screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to use; $12.99/month or $69.99/year to unlock all features.

Features: Guided meditations, daily meditations, breathwork courses, and Apple Health integration.

Best for: Meditation for beginners

Often seen as a contender for the best meditation app for anxiety, Headspace is committed to helping users feel happier and less stressed. This app teaches meditation and mindfulness skills through a variety of guided exercises. It's also full of ambient sounds to help with relaxation and sleep.

14.Calm

Calm home screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to start using; $14.99/month, $69.99/year, or $399.99 lifetime to unlock all features.

Features: Daily 10-minute meditations, 7-day & 21-day mindfulness programs, mindful stretching & movement, and breathing exercises.

Best for: Intermediate mindfulness and meditation

As one of the best meditation apps available, Calm is great for lowering stress and anxiety. The app is used by millions for sleep, relaxation, and mindfulness. It’s even widely recommended by mental health professionals. Calm has a variety of features that are catered to your needs including guided meditations, stories, breathing programs, stretches, and music.

15. Liberate

Liberate home screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to start using; $9.99/month or $71.99/year to unlock all features.

Features: Curated library, 5-minute to 25-minute sessions, offline listening, and community features.

Best for: Meditations about Black history and experiences

Liberate is a meditation app that was created by and for the Black community, though anyone can use the app. The mediations are designed with a focus on mindfulness, gratitude, history, and healing. Listening to the meditations is a great way to build an understanding of being Black in modern times, while also getting an opportunity to relax.

16. Meditation Oasis: Simply Being

Meditation Oasis home screen

Download it Now: iOS

Cost: Free to use; $7.99/month or $49.99/year to unlock all features.

Features: 4-day & 7-day meditation programs; various mediation sessions; music, natural sounds, or voice-only audio options; and daily reminders.

Best for: Versatile meditation options

Meditation Oasis, formerly Simply Being, is one of several good meditation apps for anxiety known for its ability to support relaxation. The app is full of meditation programs for users with various levels of experience, as well as a program designed to target anxiety and worry. It uses doctor and therapist-recommended meditations, along with calming music and sounds, to create a deeply-relaxing experience.

17. Simple Habit

Simple Habit Meditate screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to start using; $11.99/month or $95.99/year to unlock all features

Features: Guided meditation & mindfulness sessions, daily motivation, guided sleep sessions, and Apple Health integration.

Best for: Meditation for sleep

Simple Habit is another of several mindful apps for anxiety, sleep, and meditation that is dedicated to helping users feel better. This app is full of guided meditation and mindfulness sessions that can be practiced on your schedule. The Mindful Minutes feature is also great for tracking your progress and keeping you motivated.

18. Insight Timer

Insight Timer home screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to start using; $9.99/month or $59.99/year to unlock all features.

Features: Live sessions, guided meditations, select by time setting, follow teachers, and discussion groups & community features.

Best for: Timed meditation sessions

Insight Timer is a meditation app with one of the largest guided meditation libraries in the world. These meditations are designed to help you build a daily habit and improve your happiness. The app also includes calming audio for sleep, focus, and relaxation, making it a great anxiety mindfulness app.

Best game apps for anxiety (4)

Playing games and activities is another great way to relieve anxiety, especially when they’re easily accessible on your phone. These are a few of the best game apps for anxiety.

19. My Oasis

My Oasis gameplay

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to use; in-app purchases available.

Features: Realistic brain exercise, mind freshness activities, relaxing sounds, and soothing controls & idle tapping.

Best for: Relaxing gameplay

My Oasis is a great game for helping players to relax. The game uses a relaxing environment and atmosphere that helps calm the mind as users work to collect hearts. It's also full of peaceful sounds and music to help players relieve their stress as they play.

20. Colorfy: Art Coloring Game

Colorfy coloring picture

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to start using; weekly, monthly, and yearly subscriptions available

Features: 1000+ pictures, multiple color palettes, different brush types for advanced effects, and community features.

Best for: Coloring for relaxation

For a fun way to relax, try using the Colorfy app. This app lets you color over 1000 images while you're on the go. You can even test your creativity with different brushes and effects.

21. AntiStress Anxiety Relief Game

AntiStress home screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to use; $1.99/month or $4.99 to remove ads

Features: 45+ games, 3D fidget tool, relaxing activities, and 7+ categories.

Best for: People who fidget when anxious

For those who tend to fidget, AntiStress has games that can help you relieve your anxiety. There are many different games, including a fidget spinner and bubble wrap, making it one of the best anxiety apps for kids. Playing these games can also help you relieve stress and improve your focus.

22. Personal Zen

Personal Zen gameplay

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to download; $1.99/month or $12.99/year to unlock the full game.

Features: Journaling & mood tracking, breathing exercises, mindfulness practices, and daily goals.

Best for: Improving thinking patterns through gameplay

Personal Zen is a game designed to reduce anxiety and build stress resilience. By playing this game, users will begin to form more positive thinking habits. It also includes a journaling and mood tracking feature to track your progress over time.

Best CBT apps for anxiety (4)

Those who struggle with anxiety can greatly benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and there are several apps that make it easier to practice. Here are a few of the top CBT apps for anxiety.

Happify home screen

23. Happify

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to start using; $14.99/month, $139.99/year, or $449.99 lifetime to unlock all features.

Features: Science-based activities & games, various tracks, meditations, and progress tracking.

Best for: Calming many forms of anxiety

Happify is an app that can help relieve anxiety, burnout, and grief. The app’s main features are activities and games based on CBT to help users overcome negative thoughts. Happify also includes mindfulness activities to help you relax when needed, making it one of the best apps for anxiety and depression.

24. Moodnotes - Mood Tracker

Moodnotes Timeline screen

Download it Now: iOS

Cost: Free to start using; $9.99/month or $39.99/year to unlock all features

Features: Mood tracker, face scanner, memories feature, and self-awareness articles.

Best for: Building self-awareness

Moodnotes is a mood tracking app designed to help users improve their thinking habits. It allows you to track your mood over time so you can work towards improving your perspective. The app also includes a face scanner feature to help you better capture your mood.

25. Worry Watch: Anxiety & Mood

Worry Watch Journal screen

Download it Now: iOS

Cost: $4.99

Features: Guided anxiety, journal, guided coping techniques, guided mood journal & tracker, and positive affirmations.

Best for: 

Worry Watch is another CBT app designed to help you manage anxiety and your mood. It includes features for mood tracking and anxiety journaling, as well as self-care features like deep breathing and meditation exercises. Everything is designed to be easy to follow, with the goal of helping you think more positively.

26. What’s Up?

What’s Up? home screen

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free to use; in-app purchases available.

Features: CBT-based tools, quick relief feature, thought journal, and check-in feature.

Best for: CBT and ACT tools

What's Up? is a mental health app that helps you cope with anxiety, depression, and more. It has a simplistic design to help you easily learn and practice coping mechanisms inspired by CBT and ACT practices. It also has forums that allow you to connect with a supportive community of people.

Free anxiety apps you should try today (6)

Not everyone can afford paid apps, so it’s important for there to be options for free anxiety apps. If you want to ease your anxiety and your spending habits at the same time, here are some of the best free apps for anxiety.

27. SuperBetter

SuperBetter To Do Today screen

Best for: Gamified anxiety relief

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free

Features: Daily activities, goal setting, team play experience, and power-ups to encourage positive habits.

One of the best anxiety and depression apps, SuperBetter teaches users to prioritize their mental health while feeling like a superhero. The app is full of daily challenges to help you learn to manage anxiety, depression, stress, and more. It also allows you to build and track your resilience while bonding with the SuperBetter community.

28. Breathe2Relax

Breathe2Relax breathwork session

Best for: Guided breathwork

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free

Features: Detailed information about anxiety's effects on the body, instructions, practice exercises, and Apple Health integration.

Breathe2Relax is a free breathing app for anxiety that makes feeling relaxed easy. The app uses a visual tool to help users easily follow along with the guided breathing exercises. It's great for reducing stress, stabilizing mood, controlling anger, and learning to manage anxiety.

29. MindShift CBT

MindShift CBT home screen

Best for: Improving thinking

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free

Features: CBT-based tools, thought journal, coping cards, and a mood tracker.

MindShift CBT is a free anxiety management app created by Anxiety Canada. Its features use scientifically-proven strategies to help users relieve their anxiety and challenge their limiting beliefs. Its many different activities, from thought journals to calming audio, make it one of the best free meditation apps for anxiety.

30. SAM Self-help App for the Mind

SAM home screen

Best for: Mindfulness

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free

Features: Anxiety levels tracker, guided self-help techniques, games, and a social cloud feature.

SAM is another free app full of self-help techniques. The app allows you to create records of your mood, letting you monitor changes to it as you work to improve your well-being. SAM also includes a social cloud feature, allowing you to connect with others going through similar experiences.

31. Stop Panic & Anxiety Self-Help

Stop Panic & Anxiety resources

Best for: Anxiety management

Download it Now: Android

Cost: Free

Features: Mood log, assistance audio, emotional training tools, and video resources.

Stop Panic & Anxiety Self-Help is an educational app designed for anyone looking to better manage their symptoms of anxiety. It's full of useful information and psychological research on CBT, anxiety, and panic disorders. You can also use the app for mindfulness – making it a great free anxiety meditation app – as well as mood tracking, goal setting, and more.

32. Clear Fear

Clear Fear home screen

Best for: Quick and lasting anxiety relief

Download it Now: Android | iOS

Cost: Free

Features: Various activities for anxiety management, mindfulness exercises, customizable safety net feature, and data tracking.

Clear Fear is another app designed to help you learn how to better manage your anxiety. It uses CBT techniques to help users identify their anxious thoughts and work towards calming the mind. It also has a feature to help users build resilience, making it one of the best free mindfulness apps for anxiety.


Ready to try a breathing app for anxiety? Try the Othership app for free today!