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Software · head to head

Calm vs Epocrates

Calm logo

Calm

Software

Sleep, meditation and relaxation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
E

Epocrates

Software

Mobile clinical reference and decision support app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Calm free tier is severely limited, with almost all content requiring payment; Epocrates the App Store listing for Epocrates (seller Epocrates) states subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and introductory pricing applies only to the first subscription period
  • They diverge on capability: Calm covers Sleep Stories, Epocrates covers Drug Reference.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Calm and Epocrates actually diverge.

Attributes where Calm and Epocrates differ
AttributeCalmEpocrates
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebMobile
Founded20122000

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Epocrates

  • Drug Reference
  • Interactions
  • Dosing Calculators
  • Disease Information
  • Medical Procedures
  • Patient Education
  • EHR Systems
  • HIPAA

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Calm

  • Workout trackingnot Epocrates
  • Nutrition managementnot Epocrates
  • Health monitoringnot Epocrates
  • Fitness coachingnot Epocrates
  • Wellness improvementnot Epocrates

Epocrates

  • 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

Epocrates

  • The App Store listing for Epocrates (seller Epocrates) states subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and introductory pricing applies only to the first subscription period

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

Epocrates

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Drug references
    • Calculators
    • Interactions
  • Premium$99/year
    • Enhanced content
    • Offline access

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.
Calm review

Choose Epocrates if

  • You need drug reference.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Mobile.
  • You also want interactions.
Epocrates review

Questions people ask

Is Calm or Epocrates better?
Neither clearly leads. Calm starts at Free and Epocrates at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Calm or Epocrates?
Calm starts at Free and Epocrates at Free.
Does Calm or Epocrates run on more platforms?
Calm runs on iOS, Android, Web. Epocrates runs on Mobile.
Can I use Calm for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Epocrates is typically brought in for.
What can Calm do that Epocrates cannot?
Calm covers Sleep Stories, Guided meditations, Daily Calm, Breathing exercises. Epocrates covers Drug Reference, Interactions, Dosing Calculators, Disease Information.

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.

Source
Calm: 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.

Source
Calm: 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.

Source
Calm: 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.

Source
Calm: 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.

Source
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