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Healthcare · head to head

Calm vs Headspace

Calm logo

Calm

Healthcare

Sleep, meditation and relaxation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Headspace logo

Headspace

Healthcare

Meditation and mindfulness made simple

From
$12.99/month
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; Headspace paid subscription required for unlimited access; free tier is limited
  • They diverge on capability: Calm covers Sleep Stories, Headspace covers Sleep stories.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Calm and Headspace actually diverge.

Attributes where Calm and Headspace differ
AttributeCalmHeadspace
Starting priceFree$12.99/month
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, WebiOS, Android, Web, macOS, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro
Founded20122010

Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Healthcare).

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
  • Daily Calm
  • Calm Body stretching
  • Samsung Health

Only in Headspace

  • Sleep stories
  • Focus playlists
  • SOS sessions
  • Google Fit
  • Spotify

Both cover

  • Guided meditations
  • Breathing exercises
  • Apple Health
  • Apple Watch
  • Ios support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Calm

  • Workout tracking
  • Nutrition management
  • Health monitoring
  • Fitness coaching
  • Wellness improvement

Headspace

  • Workout tracking
  • Nutrition management
  • Health monitoring
  • Fitness coaching
  • Wellness improvement

Both are used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching, wellness improvement, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

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

Headspace

  • Paid subscription required for unlimited access; free tier is limited
  • Mobile-first design means web experience is less feature-complete than mobile apps
  • Limited integration with other health and fitness apps compared to some competitors
  • Coaching services available only at higher tiers or additional cost

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

Headspace

$12.99/month
  • Monthly$12.99/month
    • Unlimited meditation access
    • Sleep content
    • Focus music
  • Annual$69.99/year
    • Same as monthly
    • 14-day free trial
  • Student$9.99/year
    • Full access with student verification

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 daily calm.
Calm review

Choose Headspace if

  • You need sleep stories.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, macOS, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro.
  • You also want focus playlists.
Headspace review

Questions people ask

Is Calm or Headspace better?
Neither clearly leads. Calm starts at Free and Headspace at $12.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Calm or Headspace?
Calm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Calm and $12.99/month for Headspace.
Does Calm or Headspace run on more platforms?
Calm runs on iOS, Android, Web. Headspace runs on iOS, Android, Web, macOS, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro.
Can I use Calm for free?
Yes. Calm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Headspace starts at $12.99/month.
What is Calm best used for?
Calm is most often used for workout tracking, nutrition management, health monitoring, fitness coaching.
What can Calm do that Headspace cannot?
Calm covers Sleep Stories, Daily Calm, Calm Body stretching, Samsung Health. Headspace covers Sleep stories, Focus playlists, SOS sessions, Google Fit. Both handle Guided meditations, Breathing exercises, Apple Health, Apple Watch.

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
Headspace: How much does Headspace cost?

Headspace offers a monthly plan at $12.99/month or annual plan at $69.99/year (approximately $5.83/month). Students can subscribe for $9.99/year. A 14-day free trial is available. HSA and FSA eligible options support pre-tax payments.

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
Headspace: What content does Headspace include?

Headspace includes 1,000+ expert-led exercises covering meditation, stress relief, sleep resources including sleepcasts and soundscapes, anxiety management tools, and optional mental health coaching services with trained mindfulness experts.

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
Headspace: On which platforms can I use Headspace?

Headspace is available on iOS, Android, web browsers, Mac, Apple Watch Series 6+, and Apple Vision Pro. Smart home integration with Google Assistant and Alexa allows hands-free access on compatible devices.

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
Headspace: Does Headspace offer therapy or coaching?

Headspace includes meditation and mindfulness training led by trained experts. Mental health coaching is available as an add-on service. For therapy, users seeking clinical counseling should explore Headspace's mental health services or other dedicated therapy platforms.

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
Headspace: Is Headspace research-backed?

Yes. Headspace describes itself as the most research-backed meditation app on the market with 500+ hours of guided content, peer-reviewed studies demonstrating efficacy, and Ebb AI personalization that adapts sessions to user mood.

Source
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