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Waking Up alternatives: 3 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 8, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rankAll meditation and mindfulness apps

Top picks

  • Headspace logo

    Best overall

    Headspace

    Family plan: $99.99 a year for up to 6 people

  • Calm logo

    Best free option

    Calm

    Yearly price (web): $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial

Common reasons people leave Waking Up: annual subscription only, with no limited free tier, and less sleep and relaxation content than Calm. We ranked 3 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Waking Up, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Headspace currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingVerified priceOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Headspace logoHeadspaceFree plan + paid$99.99 a year for up to 6 peopleNoiOS, Android, Web6 of 668.8
2Calm logoCalmFree plan + paid$79.99/yr after a 7-day free trialNoiOS, Android, Web5 of 564.8
3Insight Timer logoInsight TimerFree plan + paid$9.99 a month (MemberPlus)NoiOS, Android, Web8 of 861.8
  1. Headspace logo

    1. HeadspaceTop pick

    Best for: Beginners who want structured courses and a tidy app, and students on the cheap plan

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    68.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Waking Up

    Simpler, friendlier courses for beginners who want a gentle structured path.

    Pros

    • Structured beginner courses starting from Basics
    • Sleep, focus music and movement sessions in one app
    • Family plan for six and a low-cost student plan
    • 14-day free trial on the yearly plan

    Cons

    • Little free content without a subscription
    • App increasingly promotes coaching and therapy services
    • Courses can feel basic for experienced meditators
    Visit Headspace Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Headspace a good Waking Up alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Free trial
    14 days
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Family plan
    $99.99 a year for up to 6 people
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Student plan
    $9.99/yr for verified students
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Minimum age
    18+, with limited exceptions
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Part of Sword
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Student discount
    $9.99 a year for verified students
    Checked Nov 8, 2026headspace.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Calm logo

    2. Calm

    Best for: People who want a large library of sleep stories, music and guided sessions in one paid app

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    64.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Waking Up

    Much more sleep and relaxation content, including Sleep Stories and music.

    Pros

    • Very large sleep library: Sleep Stories, soundscapes and music
    • Clear starter programs: 7 Days and 21 Days of Calm
    • Runs on phones, web, Apple TV and smartwatches
    • Family plan and a one-time lifetime option

    Cons

    • Most content needs a paid subscription
    • Prices differ between web, App Store and Google Play
    • Sleep-heavy library is more than some meditators need
    Visit Calm Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Calm a good Waking Up alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Yearly price (web)
    $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial
    Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Sleep Stories
    500+ narrated Sleep Stories
    Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Devices
    iOS, Android, web, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Wear OS
    Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starter programs
    7 Days of Calm, then 21 Days of Calm
    Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Breathing tool
    60-second Breathe Bubble
    Checked Nov 8, 2026calm.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Insight Timer logo

    3. Insight Timer

    Best for: People who want a large free library and a flexible timer without paying for a subscription

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android, Web

    61.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Waking Up

    Mostly free, with a huge library from thousands of teachers across traditions.

    Pros

    • Most of a 200,000+ track library is free
    • Thousands of teachers across many styles and traditions
    • Customisable timer for unguided sessions
    • Live events and community groups

    Cons

    • Quality varies widely between teachers
    • Size makes it hard to find a clear starting path
    • Courses and offline listening need Member Plus
    Visit Insight Timer Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Insight Timer a good Waking Up alternative?

    Verified facts

    8 of 8 verified
    Free content
    200,000+ tracks, mostly free
    Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid tier
    Member Plus, $59.99/yr
    Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Teachers
    18,000+
    Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Paid features
    Courses, advanced journaling, offline listening
    Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Company
    Insight Network Inc.
    Checked Nov 8, 2026insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $9.99 a month (MemberPlus)
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    MemberPlus annual plan
    $59.99 a year
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Nov 8, 2026help.insighttimer.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Waking Up alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Headspace logo

Best Waking Up alternative for most people

Headspace

Simpler, friendlier courses for beginners who want a gentle structured path.

Calm logo

Best Waking Up alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Calm

Much more sleep and relaxation content, including Sleep Stories and music.

Insight Timer logo

Best Waking Up alternative for iPhone and Android

Insight Timer

Mostly free, with a huge library from thousands of teachers across traditions.

Headspace logo

Best Waking Up alternative for working in the browser

Headspace

Simpler, friendlier courses for beginners who want a gentle structured path.

Waking Up alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Waking Up?

Headspace ranks first right now. Simpler, friendlier courses for beginners who want a gentle structured path. Calm and Insight Timer follow it in our ranking.

Waking Up vs Headspace: what's the difference?

Waking Up is a paid product; Headspace is free with paid plans. Only Headspace runs on Web.

Is Waking Up free?

Waking Up is a paid product. Free trial: 7 days; Pricing: Annual subscription. Checked on Waking Up's own site, November 2026.

How much do Waking Up alternatives cost?

Verified prices for the top-ranked Waking Up alternatives: Headspace, $99.99 a year for up to 6 people; Calm, $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial; Insight Timer, $9.99 a month (MemberPlus). Each price was checked on the app's own site; see each card below for the date and source.

Is there a free alternative to Waking Up?

Yes. Headspace (free plan + paid), Calm (free plan + paid) and Insight Timer (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Waking Up?

None of the 3 alternatives in this list is open source.

Why do people switch from Waking Up?

The complaints we hear most: annual subscription only, with no limited free tier; less sleep and relaxation content than Calm; philosophical focus may feel heavy for beginners after quick stress relief.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Waking Up, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.