Alternatives to Calm
Sleep stories and daily calm
Calm ranks #2 of 7 in Meditation apps, with an Alt Score of 85. It is proprietary, freemium from $14.99/month and available on iOS and Android. 8 of 9 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
People dealing with stress, anxiety, or poor sleep who want a structured way to build daily relaxation or mindfulness habits. It also appeals to parents looking for calming content for kids.
A library of guided meditations organized by theme (anxiety, focus, sleep, self-esteem), 100+ Sleep Stories narrated by celebrities like Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba, and music/soundscapes for sleep or relaxation. It also includes breathing exercises, sleep tracking tools, and Masterclasses taught by mindfulness experts and other professionals.
Calm is a mobile and web app available via subscription (with a free trial), unlocking the full content library. Each day it surfaces a new 10-minute 'Daily Calm' meditation, with new music and Sleep Stories added weekly.
Where Calm stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Calm
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
Rows come from the Meditation apps checklist (13 rows). Human-verified cells only. ? means the value has not been verified.
| Meditation apps checklist | Calm | Insight Timer | Headspace | Medito | Waking Up | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
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| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Guided session library | ||||||
| Sleep content | ||||||
| Courses & programs | ||||||
| Offline downloads | ||||||
| Free tier depth | ||||||
| Background sounds | ||||||
| Wearable integration | ||||||
| One-time purchase option | ||||||
| Teacher variety |
Every fact and feature listed for Calm is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Starts at $14.99/month verified 2026-07-09
Calm offers an auto-renewing monthly subscription at $14.99/month and an auto-renewing yearly subscription at $69.99/year
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810 -
Platforms iOS, Android verified 2026-07-09
:"Apple TV, Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad","operatingSystem":"Requires iOS 17.0 and watchOS 8.3 or later." — Android via Play Store (com.calm.android); Wear OS app noted.
availableOnDevice
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810 -
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-09
Calm is the #1 app for Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810 -
Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-09
Calm is free to download and use. There are never any ads and some of the programs and features are free forever. Some content is only available through an optional paid subscription.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calm.android&hl=en_US -
Status active verified 2026-07-09
Updated on Jul 6, 2026
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calm.android&hl=en_US -
Guided session library Yes verified 2026-07-09
Explore an extensive library of guided meditations, Sleep Stories, breathwork, exclusive music and stretching exercises.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810 -
Sleep content Yes verified 2026-07-09
SLEEP STORIES — ONLY ON CALM ... Tackle insomnia with 100+ exclusive Sleep Stories, new content added every month
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calm.android&hl=en_US -
Courses & programs Yes verified 2026-07-09
7- and 21-day mindfulness programs to build a lasting practice
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calm.android&hl=en_US -
Free tier depth Partial verified 2026-07-09
Calm is free to download and use. There are never any ads and some of the programs and features are free forever. Some content is only available through an optional paid subscription.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calm.android&hl=en_US -
Background sounds Yes verified 2026-07-09
Soundscapes to sleep: Ocean waves, Heavy Rain, Camp Fire, Babbling Brook and more
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810 -
Wearable integration Yes verified 2026-07-09
Wear OS app with tiles to quick-start breathing exercises and complications that help you track meditations
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calm.android&hl=en_US -
One-time purchase option Yes verified 2026-07-09
Calm also offers a Lifetime subscription for $399.99 which is paid for by a one-off upfront payment with unlimited access to the Calm Collection forever.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/calm/id571800810 -
Teacher variety Yes verified 2026-07-09
Daily Calm with Tamara Levitt, Daily Jay with Jay Shetty, Daily Trip with Jeff Warren
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.calm.android&hl=en_US
FAQ
Yes. Insight Timer, Headspace and Waking Up have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Medito — every license claim links its source.