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Software · head to head

Calm vs Ginger

Calm logo

Calm

Software

Sleep, meditation and relaxation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ginger logo

Ginger

Software

Digital mental health platform with coaching and therapy

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Ginger no longer sold as Ginger. It is part of Headspace, and ginger.com redirects to the Headspace organizations site
  • They diverge on capability: Calm covers Sleep Stories, Ginger covers Mental Health Coaching.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Calm and Ginger actually diverge.

Attributes where Calm and Ginger differ
AttributeCalmGinger
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebWeb, Mobile

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2012).

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 Ginger

  • Mental Health Coaching
  • Therapy
  • Psychiatry
  • Meditation
  • Crisis Support
  • Wellness Content
  • Health Plans
  • Employers

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Calm

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

Ginger

  • Employer-funded mental health coaching for staffnot Calm
  • Therapy and psychiatry access through an employee benefitnot Calm
  • Self-guided meditation and sleep content alongside clinical carenot Calm
  • Workplace mental health workshopsnot 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

Ginger

  • No longer sold as Ginger. It is part of Headspace, and ginger.com redirects to the Headspace organizations site
  • Bought by employers, health plans and consultants rather than by individuals
  • Pricing is not published

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

Ginger

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Ginger 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.
Calm review

Choose Ginger if

  • You need mental health coaching.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want therapy.
Ginger review

Questions people ask

Is Calm or Ginger better?
Neither clearly leads. Calm starts at Free and Ginger at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Calm or Ginger?
Calm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Calm and On request for Ginger.
Does Calm or Ginger run on more platforms?
Calm runs on iOS, Android, Web. Ginger runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Calm for free?
Yes. Calm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Ginger starts at On request.
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 Ginger is typically brought in for.
What can Calm do that Ginger cannot?
Calm covers Sleep Stories, Guided meditations, Daily Calm, Breathing exercises. Ginger covers Mental Health Coaching, Therapy, Psychiatry, Meditation. 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.

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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