Should someone talk you through meditation, or do you prefer silence? Here's how to decide.
Guided Meditation
What it is: An instructor's voice leads you through the practice—when to breathe, where to focus, how to handle distractions.
Best for:
- Beginners learning the basics
- Specific purposes (sleep, anxiety, focus)
- When your mind is especially busy
- Trying new techniques
- When you want to just follow along
Potential downsides:
- Some find voices distracting
- Less flexibility in practice
- Dependent on finding the right voice
Unguided/Silent Meditation
What it is: Just you, maybe a timer, and whatever technique you bring.
Best for:
- Experienced practitioners
- Deep, self-directed practice
- When you know what you need
- Building internal awareness
- Flexibility and experimentation
Potential downsides:
- Requires some experience
- Easier to drift or fall asleep
- No external support for technique
Semi-Guided (Best of Both?)
Some sessions offer guidance at the start, then fade to silence. This can be a good middle ground—structure when you need it, space when you're settled.
Our Recommendation
- New to meditation: Start guided, 100%
- Some experience: Mix based on your mood
- Regular practitioner: Use guided for new techniques, unguided for familiar practice
Finding What Works
Browse our library filtered by style. Try different approaches and notice what serves your practice best on different days.