Software · head to head
Calm vs Athenahealth
The short version
- Only Calm has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Calm free tier is severely limited, with almost all content requiring payment; Athenahealth high implementation costs ranging up to $50,000+ for enterprise deployments
- They diverge on capability: Calm covers Sleep Stories, Athenahealth covers Electronic Health Records.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Calm and Athenahealth actually diverge.
| Attribute | Calm | Athenahealth |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $140/month |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2012 | 1997 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Calm
- Sleep Stories
- Guided meditations
- Daily Calm
- Breathing exercises
- Calm Body stretching
- Apple Health
- Apple Watch
- Samsung Health
Only in Athenahealth
- Electronic Health Records
- Medical Billing
- Patient Engagement
- Telehealth
- Analytics
- Labs
- Pharmacies
- Clearinghouses
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Calm
- Workout trackingnot Athenahealth
- Nutrition managementnot Athenahealth
- Health monitoringnot Athenahealth
- Fitness coachingnot Athenahealth
- Wellness improvementnot Athenahealth
Athenahealth
- Patient Carenot Calm
- Medical Recordsnot Calm
- Practice Managementnot Calm
- Telehealthnot Calm
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Calm
- Free tier is severely limited, with almost all content requiring payment
- Only one meditation per day included in free tier (Daily Calm)
- Annual pricing is among the highest in the meditation app category
- Less extensive free content library compared to Insight Timer (which has 100,000+ free meditations)
- Limited customization of meditation sessions; mostly follows Calm's curated content
Athenahealth
- High implementation costs ranging up to $50,000+ for enterprise deployments
- Pricing tiers not transparently listed, requiring custom quotes
Pricing, plan by plan
Calm
Free- FreeFree
- Daily Calm
- Select Sleep Stories
- 1 breathing exercise
- Premium Monthly$12.99/month
- All content unlocked
- Sleep Stories
- Masterclasses
- Premium Annual$69.99/year
- All content unlocked
- Sleep Stories
- Masterclasses
- Family Plan$99.99/year
- Up to 6 accounts
- All Premium content
- Separate customization per member
Athenahealth
$140/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Athenahealth review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Calm if
- You need sleep stories.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want guided meditations.
Choose Athenahealth if
- You need electronic health records.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want medical billing.
Questions people ask
- Is Calm or Athenahealth better?
- Neither clearly leads. Calm starts at Free and Athenahealth at $140/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Calm or Athenahealth?
- Calm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Calm and $140/month for Athenahealth.
- Does Calm or Athenahealth run on more platforms?
- Calm runs on iOS, Android, Web. Athenahealth runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Calm for free?
- Yes. Calm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Athenahealth starts at $140/month.
- What is Calm best used for?
- Calm is most often used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching. Of those, workout tracking and nutrition management are not what Athenahealth is typically brought in for.
- What can Calm do that Athenahealth cannot?
- Calm covers Sleep Stories, Guided meditations, Daily Calm, Breathing exercises. Athenahealth covers Electronic Health Records, Medical Billing, Patient Engagement, Telehealth. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Calm: What does Calm's free tier include?
The free plan includes 1 breathing exercise, Day 1 of programs, select Sleep Stories, and Scenes, plus the famous Daily Calm feature and bedtime stories. Most content is locked behind the paid tier.
SourceAthenahealth: What platforms does Athenahealth serve?
Athenahealth's athenaOne serves small to medium-sized physician practices and hospitals with integrated clinical, financial, and operational workflows.
SourceCalm: What is included in Calm Premium?
Calm Premium (all paid tiers are identical) includes The Daily Calm, Sleep Stories narrated by celebrities, exclusive music playlists, masterclasses taught by experts, Daily Move video lessons for stretching and mindful movement, and the entire content library.
SourceAthenahealth: What is the pricing model for athenaOne?
Athenahealth uses customized pricing with percent-based or encounter-based models. Starting price reported at $140/month with implementation costs ranging from $5,000-$20,000 for small businesses.
SourceCalm: How much does Calm Premium cost?
Monthly subscription is $12.99/month, annual is $69.99-$79.99/year, Family Plan is $99.99/year (includes 1 Admin + 5 Members), and lifetime membership is available as a one-time payment.
SourceAthenahealth: Does Athenahealth include revenue cycle management?
Yes, athenaOne includes network-driven claims scrubbing with 95%+ first-pass rates, denial management, and A/R optimization.
SourceCalm: Does Calm offer pricing for organizations or teams?
Yes. Calm offers organizational plans for groups of 5-300 people with per-seat pricing based on total 'covered lives.' Larger groups receive deeper discounts. Pricing is significantly reduced compared to individual subscriptions.
SourceAthenahealth: What patient engagement features does Athenahealth offer?
Athenahealth provides athenaCommunicator for patient portals, automated appointment reminders, online scheduling, telehealth integration, digital intake, and broadcast messaging.
SourceCalm: Does Calm work offline?
Calm's app functions offline for already-downloaded content. Downloaded Sleep Stories, meditations, and Music programs can be accessed without an internet connection.
SourceAthenahealth: How many pre-built integrations does Athenahealth have?
Athenahealth's marketplace includes over 250 pre-integrated third-party apps, allowing practices to extend functionality without custom development.
SourceRelated pages
More on Athenahealth
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