The benefits of meditation are vast. From anxiety reduction to sleep improvement to pain management, science backs the health benefits of regular meditation practice.

There are a number of apps available to assist you in learning more or sharpening your meditation skills. This article highlights my favorite- Insight Timer.

[DISCLAIMER: I am in no way affiliated with Insight Timer, nor am I being compensated for my endorsement.]

I have been recommending Insight Timer to my clients as a licensed mental health counselor ever since my discovery several years ago. Also, I use it personally almost every day.

I can say with confidence that it is one of my favorite apps.

Here are 5 reasons to download Insight Timer today:

#1 It’s FREE

Insight Timer is free.  Most meditation apps claim to be free, but once the starter pack ends, they lock you out and want money from you.

Insight Timer offers the world’s largest truly free library of guided meditations. Insight Timer’s website also claims to be the world’s most used meditation app.

#2 Immense, Diverse Library

Insight Timer offers the largest free library of guided meditations on earth with more than 27,000 titles- that’s A LOT of meditations!

You can filter the guided meditations by time. Maybe you only have 5 minutes on your lunch break for a quick meditation or it could be that you have a full hour to dedicate to meditation before drifting off to sleep.

You can also filter the guided meditations by benefits such as sleep, recovery and healing, stress and anxiety, performance, etc. They even offer an entire library for kids!

#3 Their Timer is Exceptional

Not only does Insight Timer offer 27,000+ free meditations, it also offers a Timer that you can customize with duration, interval bells, ambient sound and an ending bell.  They offer 8 different bells from which to choose so that you can make it your own unique experience.

If you prefer to meditate on your own without a teacher to guide you, this is an excellent option to try.

#4 Free “Learn to Meditate” Class

Insight Timer offers a free, 7-day introductory course to meditation with a 5 star rating.  According to their website, over 400,000 students have taken the course.

Did I mention that it’s FREE?  Are you new to meditation or just want to learn more? You can take this course and learn the basics in no time.

#5 Community Features

I love their community features. When you open the Insight Timer app, a world map pops up with dots scattered across it to highlight how many people are meditating right now and where they are located across the globe.

This feature allows you to feel and be part of a worldwide meditation community. I think that’s pretty darn cool. Also, Insight Timer has social media type features such as personalized profiles, friend connections, groups and the ability to message other individuals on the app.

Insight Timer is an amazing app with tremendous benefits. The app is affordable, diverse in features, and offers unique timer specs, teaching directions, and global connectedness. But sometimes, you may find yourself needing additional help beyond just an app to deal with your anxiety, depression symptoms or emotional health.

If you live in the Orlando, FL area, give Allison a call at Life Counseling Solutions at 407-622-1770 to schedule an appointment. She also offers 15-minute free phone consultations to answer any questions you may have about the counseling process.

Allison Petro is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in couples, women’s issues, treating depression holistically, and children. For more information about the author visit her full bio here.