Alternatives to Headspace
Approachable guided meditation
Headspace ranks #3 of 7 in Meditation apps, with an Alt Score of 75. It is proprietary, freemium from $12.99/month and available on iOS, Android and Web. 9 of 9 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Anyone looking to build a regular meditation or mindfulness practice, manage everyday stress and anxiety, or improve sleep and focus. It also serves organizations offering mental health benefits to employees.
A library of guided meditation courses and exercises covering stress, sleep, focus, and emotional wellbeing, plus sleepcasts, soundscapes, and wind-downs for better sleep and curated focus music for concentration. Higher tiers add access to mental health coaching and licensed therapy. An AI companion (Ebb) offers personalized content recommendations based on mood check-ins.
Users download the iOS or Android app, create an account, and subscribe (monthly or annual, with a free trial) to unlock the full content library. Sessions are self-guided audio/video exercises organized into themed courses and daily recommendations, with optional live coaching or therapist sessions available as an add-on.
Why people leave Headspace
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 | Headspace | Insight Timer | Calm | Medito | Waking Up | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| 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 Headspace is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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Pricing model Freemium verified 2026-07-09
Free · In‑App Purchases
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
License Proprietary verified 2026-07-09
Headspace Inc.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
Starts at $12.99/month verified 2026-07-09
Subscription options: $12.99/month, $69.99/year.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
Platforms iOS, Android, Web verified 2026-07-09
Android via Play (com.getsomeheadspace.android); Web at my.headspace.com.
availableOnDevice: Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, iPod … operatingSystem: Requires iOS 15.6 and watchOS 26.0 or later.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
Status active verified 2026-07-09
Updated on Jul 8, 2026
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.getsomeheadspace.android -
Guided session library Yes verified 2026-07-09
Discover mental wellness and mindfulness with over 500+ guided meditations.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
Sleep content Yes verified 2026-07-09
Headspace helps improve your sleep with expert-led sleep tools, guided sleep meditations, sleep sounds, sleepcasts, and more.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
Courses & programs Yes verified 2026-07-09
Explore science-backed exercises, courses, and programs that help you build everyday skills to care for your mind.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
Offline downloads Partial verified 2026-07-09
Offline save feature exists but reported unreliable; not documented in the official description.
Saved (offline) audios are lost, so basically you can't save audios
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.getsomeheadspace.android -
Free tier depth Partial verified 2026-07-09
Free trial + limited free content; emphasis on the trial.
Start your free trial and experience the benefits of meditation … Subscription options: $12.99/month, $69.99/year.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
Background sounds Yes verified 2026-07-09
Headspace helps improve your sleep with expert-led sleep tools, guided sleep meditations, sleep sounds, sleepcasts, and more.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
Wearable integration Yes verified 2026-07-09
Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, iPod""
availableOnDevice:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
One-time purchase option No verified 2026-07-09
Only subscription tiers; no lifetime/one-time option.
Subscription options: $12.99/month, $69.99/year.
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/headspace-sleep-meditation/id493145008 -
Teacher variety Partial verified 2026-07-09
Multiple teachers exist but no prominent named roster in store descriptions.
We will be happy to help with content recommendations and changing teachers.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.getsomeheadspace.android
FAQ
Yes. Insight Timer, Calm 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.