Calm vs Headspace: Which is better?

Our mission is to support everyone on every step of their mental health journey. We're a mental health brand with the #1 app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation*, with over 150 million downloads and 2.5M 5-star reviews**. We’re here to help you sleep more, stress less and live mindfully. We’re honored to be Apple's 2017 App of the Year, Apple BEST OF 2018 award winner, one of Fast Company’s 2020 Most Innovative Companies and Time100’s 2022 Most Influential Companies.

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Headspace

Headspace's mission is to provide every person access to lifelong mental health support. Think of Headspace as your lifelong guide to better mental health. We’re here for you whenever you need us, wherever you are, helping you get through tough times and find joy in every day. Through evidence-based meditation and mindfulness tools, mental health coaching, therapy, psychiatry, Headspace helps you create life-changing habits to support your mental health and find a healthier, happier you. Our four values inform our decisions and how we operate day-to-day: put members first; bring a beginner's mind; seek truth, speak truth; embrace ownership We make mental health support accessible to everyone, no matter their background or experience. Through our flagship Headspace app, we provide mindfulness tools for everyday life, including meditations, sleepcasts, mindful movement and focus exercises. Our enterprise offerings combine this experience with a human-centered model of care, with coaching, therapy, psychiatry and EAP services under one roof. Our team of experts ranges from mental health clinicians, to Emmy award-winning producers and data scientists, working together as one to help millions of people around the world be healthier and more productive.

Key features

Calm

Provides tools for managing stress, anxiety, and sleep through personalized content.
Offers over 500 Sleep Stories, soundscapes, and guided meditations to aid relaxation and sleep.
Features a variety of mindfulness practices, including breathing exercises and meditation sessions.
Includes a subscription model that unlocks access to a full library of resources and content.
Available on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, and web, ensuring accessibility across devices.

Headspace

Offers a variety of mental health services including meditation, online therapy, mindfulness, sleep resources, and mental health coaching.
Features an AI companion, Ebb, for personalized support and recommendations based on user interactions.

Calm vs Headspace: Which is better?

Calm

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Headspace

Key features

Calm

Provides tools for managing stress, anxiety, and sleep through personalized content.
Offers over 500 Sleep Stories, soundscapes, and guided meditations to aid relaxation and sleep.
Features a variety of mindfulness practices, including breathing exercises and meditation sessions.
Includes a subscription model that unlocks access to a full library of resources and content.
Available on multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, and web, ensuring accessibility across devices.

Headspace

Offers a variety of mental health services including meditation, online therapy, mindfulness, sleep resources, and mental health coaching.
Features an AI companion, Ebb, for personalized support and recommendations based on user interactions.

Useful for

Calm

Provides in-the-moment relief for stress and anxiety, helping users return to a state of relaxation quickly.
Offers a variety of sleep aids, including over 500 Sleep Stories and soundscapes, to help users fall asleep naturally and peacefully.
Supports mindfulness practices that enhance resilience and confidence in navigating life's challenges.
Features guided meditations and breathing exercises designed to improve mental health and emotional well-being.
Includes personalized content and tools that help users build healthy habits for managing stress, sleep, and overall mental health.

Headspace

Provides a comprehensive range of mental health services, including meditation, online therapy, and mindfulness, catering to various needs.
Offers personalized support through mental health coaching and an AI companion, Ebb, enhancing user engagement and accessibility.
Facilitates stress reduction, improved sleep, and better management of anxiety, contributing to overall mental well-being.
Features a library of guided courses and resources that help users develop mindfulness and coping strategies for everyday challenges.
Supports businesses with tailored mental health care solutions, promoting a healthier workplace environment.

Use cases

Calm

Provide in-the-moment relief for stress and anxiety through quick exercises like the 60-second Breathe Bubble.
Assist users in falling asleep and staying asleep with over 500 Sleep Stories and guided sleep meditations.
Offer mindfulness practices to help users navigate life's challenges with resilience and confidence.
Support individuals with diabetes by providing tailored mindfulness tools and resources to manage emotional well-being.
Facilitate personal growth and self-care through guided meditations and daily routines that promote mental health.

Headspace

Meditation and Mindfulness: Users can access guided meditations and mindfulness exercises to manage stress, anxiety, and improve overall mental health.
Online Therapy: The application offers online therapy sessions with licensed therapists, allowing users to receive personalized mental health support from home.
Mental Health Coaching: Users can engage with mental health coaches for personalized support, helping them build healthy habits and cope with life challenges.
Sleep Resources: The app provides tools and resources, such as sleep music and white noise, to help users improve their sleep quality.
Ebb AI Companion: Users can interact with Ebb, an AI companion, for real-time support and personalized recommendations based on their mental health needs.

Price

Calm

Yearly Plan: $79.99 per year, which breaks down to $6.67 per month, includes a 14-day free trial.
Automatic Renewal: The yearly subscription automatically renews each year until cancelled.
Cancellation Policy: Users can cancel anytime, and must do so at least 24 hours before the next billing cycle to avoid being charged.
Family Plan: Allows access for the main account holder and up to 5 additional accounts, with the main account holder needing to be at least 18 years old.
Lifetime Subscription: Available for a single account, providing access for the lifetime of the Calm Premium service, but does not guarantee access to future features not included at the time of purchase.

Headspace

Annual Subscription: Currently offered at 40% off for the first year, with automatic renewal at the full price thereafter.
Monthly Subscription: Priced at $99.99 per month, with the first month available for 50% off.
Mental Health Coaching: Includes three 30-minute text-based sessions per month for $99.99, with the first month available for 50% off.
Online Therapy Sessions: Costs vary based on insurance coverage, with some sessions as low as $0.00.
Family Plan and Student Plan: Specific pricing details not provided, but options are available.