Mindfulness Coach
Mindfulness Coach by the VA is a highly-regarded, free mindfulness app that users praise for its effectiveness in managing anxiety and PTSD, despite some minor technical glitches and occasional issues with audio quality.
Mindfulness Coach is a free, ad-free app from the US Department of Veterans Affairs, offering guided meditations and mindfulness exercises. Users find it highly effective for stress reduction, anxiety, and PTSD, appreciating its ease of use and comprehensive approach to mindfulness training.
What users like
- Completely free, ad-free, and requires no login or personal information.R6R18R31R67
- Highly effective for managing anxiety, PTSD, and stress.R2R10R32R43
- Offers a wide selection of high-quality, guided meditations and exercises with varying lengths and focuses.R3R4R20R25
- Easy to use, user-friendly interface, and simple to navigate.R2R17R18R20
- Provides structured training, practice, and record-keeping to integrate mindfulness into daily life.R3R21R55R56
What users complain about
- Some users experience technical bugs, such as alarms not going off or timers malfunctioning.R8R58R79
- Audio quality can be inconsistent, with some voices being irritating or too low in volume.R51R61R66R95
- Lacks some features found in other meditation apps, like dark mode or more diverse meditation postures.R41R92
- Navigation for finding specific content or organizing downloaded files can be challenging.R38R67
Latest update · v2.9.1
What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):
- bug fixes and performance improvements
Recurring themes
Who it's for
This app is for anyone seeking free, guided mindfulness and meditation, especially those dealing with anxiety, PTSD, or general stress R2R10R32. It is suitable for beginners due to its gentle, progressive training and varying session lengths R20. It is also recommended for veterans, as it was developed by the VA and is highly valued by that community R11.
Evidence note: The recent reviews skew heavily positive, with a strong consensus on the app's effectiveness and value, especially given it's free. Negative points are present but less frequent and generally focus on minor technical issues or preferences.
Frequently asked
Is Mindfulness Coach a free app?
Does the app help with PTSD and anxiety?
Are there technical issues with the app?
What reviewers actually said
Built only from these 100 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.
- [R6] Helpful, free, ad-free, no login needed: No squeeze page asking for personal info. You can even turn off anonymous usage sharing. Helpful tools for mindfulness-based stress reduction.
- [R18] Perfect app: It is so refreshing to use an app earnestly designed to help you, versus one that is trying to get you to “pay for premium.” The education is gentle, progressive, and on point. The features are easy to find and use. One improvement I would suggest: make the visual objects high res and zoomable.
- [R31] Wonderful: And the Feds aren’t trying to sells you a thing.
- [R67] THE BEST MEDITATION APP: Hands down the best mindfulness app. No gimmicks, no fees or subscriptions, no ads. Just Pure, instructive life changing mindfulness. Only thing i would say to the developers, could you please create an organization/filter for the practices tab. When you download the iRest files they are supposed to be listened to in order, but you can’t because they get all mixed up. C
- [R2] Soothing Voice: This app has a soothing feminine voice that is clear with no accent. The segments of the sessions transition flawlessly. I have found it very easy to use, and setting the reminder alert helps me stay the course. Great Choice for PTSD anxiety episodes. Thanks!
- [R10] Exceptional healing: I found this app while working with a viet vet. I ended up using it too, as the phd videos online and activities really do work. It’s excellent self care for those suffering ptsd or anxiety. I’ve even drawn from the facts to help others in need, and shared it with a counselor for her own self care, or referral to others who use technology.
- [R32] Helpful free app: I suffer from PTSD and this app has been helpful when I’ve had triggers and anxiety attacks. Highly recommend for beginners suffering from anxiety disorders and PTSD.
- [R43] changed my life: made my anxiety so much better. i recommend this to everyone!
- [R3] Amazing: This is my favorite app and I recommend it to everyone. (And I’ve tried a lot of mindfulness apps, one was $70/ year too!) This app has a wide selection of high-quality, guided meditations, and going through the different “levels” was extremely motivating. There are a host of additional resources I’m still exploring. I credit this app for my ability to meditate 20 mins/day after only a
- [R4] Simplicity Works: So many choices of body scans and breath-focused exercises you can always find the right length and focus for what you need right at that moment.
- [R20] Easy to use: Meditation is not something I do well. This completely FREE app makes it easy. You can start at just 1 minute if you want after a gentle voice eases you into a little quiet time with your brain. At the end a soft bell sounds to let you know when to stop. Meditation takes practice and this app will help you enjoy the process.
- [R25] Nice to have: I enjoy the use of the app for easy access and isolation from distractions. The app allows me to not get distracted while searching for a relaxation video. The ability to tailor the session to my availability is something that works well for a quick relaxation session.
- [R17] Excelente App: Es un app fácil de usar con la cual he logrado practicar mindfulness todos los días.
- [R21] Make Mindfulness Part of You Life: This App combines training, practice and record keeping to help you make mindfulness part of your everyday routine and your life. It is my daily companion and has helped me deal with stress and the daily ups and downs of life. I have found no better mindfulness App.
- [R55] Practicing Mindfulness: This app has enabled me to schedule time each day to practice mindfulness. Because of daily practice I have maintained good mental health despite the Pandemic. I encourage everyone to practice daily mindful meditation!
- [R56] Constant companion: I am a former VA psychologist who worked with service disabled veterans for more than 25 years.Have been using MC for more than two years. Although I have taken some of the lessons, I use it now almost exclusively for the timer and for keeping a record of my meditations. It is my constant companion. I have also recommended it to several friends and associates. Mals2
- [R8] App malfunction: Hello. I am leaving a kind review to inform you about a bug that occurs. I am sure that you are aware however reminders are nice. I have been occurring clock malfunction during the last timer of “Mindfulness Breathing “ which does not speak. The timer does not show moving numbers. My most recent experience with this did not start the timer at all and a previous one ran a coupl
- [R58] Poor app: Very poor app. The alarm never goes off. So you need to set a secondary alarm, cause this won’t.
- [R79] Generally good: I like most of the meditations and progressions, although the end tone on the seated practices often doesn’t go off, leaving me wondering when the meditation is over, not realizing that it has been over for an unknown amount of time.
- [R51] Great app: Just avoid the older files, that lady sounds angry. Not mindful at all. Everything else is fantastic
- [R61] Didn’t like this: Found the instructors voice irritating to listen toe and have tried many other platforms such as headspace, which are many times better.
- [R66] Useless: The Department of Veteran Affairs is kind of on the right track, but the consumers this app is made for are half/mostly deaf. The audio tracks need to be re recorded. I had a track on, with headphones on max volume and couldn’t follow it.
- [R95] Love this app...but needs some changes: I absolutely love this app!! I downloaded a lot of mindfulness apps and this is my favorite. The only complaint I have is the voices and recordings could be done a lot better. Some of the recordings it’s easy to hear the speaker turn on and off the microphone. At least add a little music in the background to lessen that. Also, some of the voices are jus
- [R41] Needs a dark mode: The white screen hurts my eyes. Please make a dark mode so I can use this at night.
- [R92] Somewhat limited: I’ve just started using this app and I am quite familiar with meditation. I don’t understand why most of the meditations have you sitting in a chair. I’m more comfortable and use to meditation done on the floor. I would go ahead and use the floor anyway, but the speaker continues to speak of the floor. I find it hard to believe that users are giving this app a five star when it d
- [R38] How to search: Would help to have tips on navigating the site to find specific areas. Such as train stories or to find back sessions of Daily Calm and other daily sessions.
- [R44] Supposed to be free.: Supposed to be free?
- [R11] Mindfulness training: This app was introduced by my VA therapist to do the work and reorganize my brain after years of psych meds treating ptsd and drug and alcohol dependency.. to all my brothers in arms suffering from anxiety and depression this app together with Christ, a great therapist and psychiatrist can get you to be in the present, awake and aware of your self and others. I love this app!
- [R15] Extremely helpful: Such a useful app. It helps me with my OCD tendencies
- [R26] Ok: It doesn't let you track half minutes and you can't log in if you switch between apple and Android.
- [R98] Great...but...: Great tips and practices! But tends to freeze on settings!
- [R59] Grateful!: I love the clear, inspiring way every meditation practice is presented. The more I practice , the more I feel open to accept every moment as it is !! More willing to accept my feelings and emotions and not being defined by them . Thank you !!
Synthesized from 100 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store