Life can be stressful at the best of times, but given the present Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic were facing, it can feel tougher than ever to stay positive amidst the anxiety and uncertainty.

If youre like most people, chances are youve given meditation apps a try before but never fully got into the habit of using them.

However, during this period where social distancing is our current norm, meditation apps are one of the best ways to help you look after your mental wellbeing remotely. As the world takes steps to safeguard the physical health and wellbeing of ourselves and our loved ones, its also important to care for our minds says Sarah Romotsky, Director of Healthcare at Headspace.

At a time when technology can often feed into panic, what we use our devices to consume is central to how we feel day-to-day, particularly when self isolating.

Meditation can help manage anxious thoughts, build mental resilience and navigate this uncertainty adds Romotsky.

So while youre ensconced indoors, take advantage and use this time to harness technology for some good. Here's our pick of the best meditation apps of 2020 to help you find some solace amidst the chaos and keep your mind healthy.

Cost: Free download, optional subscription at 9.99/month, 44.99/year

Loved for its easy to digest visuals, clear explanations and buildable meditation plans, Headspace is one of the best-known meditation apps around - and for good reason. Beyond its delightfully appealing animations, the app is one of the most accessible, easy to follow toolkits on offer when it comes to meditation.

While Headspaces free 10-part Basics course equips users with all of the mindfulness essentials, at the moment it has also expanded its free offering to include a selection of other curated content under the collection Weathering the storm. Providing an assortment of experiences and exercises, Headspace offers tools designed to give users the means to better navigate the uncertainty that we all currently face.

Better still, the app also recently launched Everybody Headspace, a new feature in which meditations are streamed at the beginning of each half hour in real-time, helping to connect users across the globe to build a stronger sense of community at this time.

From meditations on managing anxiety to sleepcasts that will help lull you to sleep, Headspace is your go-to for mindfulness management.

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Cost: Free one week trial, then 28.99/year

Allow Calm to help you ease your mind with their huge hub of meditation and mindfulness content. Offering guided meditation sessions ranging from three to 25 minutes, soothing musical tracks and exercises designed specifically for children, Calm equips users with all the tools they need to begin their mindfulness journey. The apps mood check-in feature provides a means of reflecting on daily feelings and opportunity to re-centre focus for the day ahead.

For those that struggle with getting to sleep, Calms Sleep Stories offer the perfect solution. Featuring narrators like Matthew McConaughey and Stephen Fry, the sheer variety of resources on offer make Calm a standout meditation app. Being entirely customisable to your needs, Calms offering means that you can truly get anything that you want out of it, whether that be an introduction to meditation or more in-depth explorations on subjects like boosting confidence.

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Cost: Free download, optional subscription at 38.99/year

We all know too well how easy it is to put off taking some time out of the day to focus on ourselves, and no one knows this better than Simple Habit. The app was birthed from the idea that taking even 5 minutes out of your day to practise meditation can make a world of difference to your mood and wellbeing. Whether it be in the morning, on your daily walk, or in the evenings, whenever you can spare a moment Simple Habits handy offline feature (available on premium) means that you can centre yourself without ever needing an internet connection

Billed as the practical solution for modern lifestyles, the meditation app offers over 1,500 different sessions around situations that span morning anxiety to a lack of focus. If youre someone who struggles to fit in time for yourself because of a busy schedule then Simple Habit is the right pick for you - created for people low on time but in pursuit of moments of calm.

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Cost: Free download, optional subscription at 9.99/month or 54.99/year.

Stop, Breathe & Think is the meditation app that prompts you to pause for a moment, check in with how you're feeling and explore mindfulness. Unrivalled by other apps in its flexible tracking and reminder features, if youre someone whos struggled to commit to meditation before then Stop, Breathe & Think will help keep you on the right path.

After your current mood is determined by a quick survey youre given a session based on your results. Whether it be meditation or yoga, exercises are continually updated in line with how youre feeling at that moment in time. Its this granular level of customisation and intuitive design that make the app so unique in its offering, with all content designed to be perfectly in tune with its users. Though the app focuses on encouraging younger people to engage with their mental health, it nonetheless has resources for all ages and is a valuable tool for anyone looking to develop skills to tackle the days highs and lows.

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Cost: Completely free to download during Covid-19, no in-app purchases or fees

Sanvello is your all-in-one self-care toolkit. With habit tracking, journaling, a community area, meditations and longer exercises, there really is nothing this thoughtful little app hasnt considered.

In light of the current coronavirus outbreak, the kind people at Sanvello have made the app entirely free so that you have full access to everything self-care. Having been designed in collaboration with therapists, doctors and researchers, the app is deeply rooted in tried and tested techniques. Going the extra mile by offering CBT activities that help to support meditation sessions, Sanvello is the friend you need to help you get through the toughest times.

Alongside its already generous offering, Sanvellos latest release includes a particular focus on how to stay socially connected while we all face our own struggles with social distancing. Self-described as on-demand help for stress, anxiety, and depression this app is definitely one to have in your meditation and mental health arsenal.

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Cost: Free to download, optional annual subscription at 55.99.

If group meditation is more your style then Insight Timer has you covered. Invite friends to participate in sessions, find out who else is meditating nearby and check in on the world map to see how many others are meditating across the globe.

With access to an impressive 30,000+ different guided meditations, its no exaggeration to say that Insight Timer has one of the vastest libraries on offer. Though perhaps somewhat intimidating for a beginner, the apps rich and diverse features mean that you can use it to whatever end you desire, whether that be for more structured guided meditations, soundtracks or to connect with others in the community.

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Cost: Free one week trial, then 12.99/month or 87.99/year

After experiencing a panic attack on live television, Ten Percent Happier founder Dan Harris discovered some peace in meditation. Going on to write books on the topic, including the aptly named Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics, Harris adapted this same approach to creating a meditation app. Unique in its straightforward demystifying of meditation, Ten Percent Happier features a library of over 500 guided meditations covering everything from parenting to quelling anxiety.

Whether youre seeking some bite-sized inspiration, more structured exercises or simply want to get lost in a story, this meditation app has a simple goal: to help its users be a little bit happier each day. With the current outbreak in mind, Ten Percent Happier has also created a dedicated Coronavirus hub full of practical and actionable resources designed to help individuals find some peace amidst the chaos.

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Cost: 4.99 to download on iOS, 2.99 on Android

Buddhify has all the essentials you could want from a meditation app including mindfulness exercises for every part of your day, from waking up to taking a work break. Putting you in good stead to get to grips with meditation, Buddhifys colourful interface offers up practical meditations that slot seamlessly into your daily routine.

Unlike its contemporaries, Buddhify is available to users for a one-off fee rather than rolling subscription, making it an affordable option at 2.99 on Android and 4.99 on iOS. Suitable for both beginners and more advanced meditations, Buddhify provides an effective, relatively no-frills solution, allowing you to focus on the areas of your life that you deem most important.

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Cost: Free to download, in-app subscriptions available.

If youre on the lookout for the best free meditation app, Serenity is a good place to start. Unmatched by other apps in the amount of free content that it has immediately accessible to users, by the time that you work your way through this youll likely be wanting to continue with a subscription.

With easy-to-follow tutorials and small yet mighty 10 minute sessions, Serenity is one of the easiest apps to slot into your day at your own convenience. Subtler details like acknowledging three things that youre grateful for at the end of each session give this app a unique touch that helps users rebalance their focus on the positives. With an emphasis on remembering to be grateful, we could all use a little more Serenity in our day-to-day lives.

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