Brain.fm
Subscription music app with tracks designed for focus, relaxation, meditation and sleep.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows
Is Brain.fm free?
No, it's a paid product
- Monthly price:
- $14.99 per month
Checked on Brain.fm's site Nov 8, 2026
4 alternatives with a free option Full Brain.fm pricing and plansSwitch from Brain.fm to
All 4
CalmYearly price (web): $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial
HeadspaceFamily plan: $99.99 a year for up to 6 people
BetterSleepStarting price: $59.99 a year per Premium membership (regular price)
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Brain.fm
Brain.fm streams instrumental music made for specific mental states rather than for listening to. You pick an activity, such as deep work, creative work, unwinding, a power nap or deep sleep, and it plays functional tracks with adjustable intensity. The company says its audio uses a patented modulation method backed by peer-reviewed research and a US National Science Foundation grant, and it markets the app heavily to people with ADHD. It is explicitly not a binaural-beats app. Brain.fm works in the browser, on iOS and Android, and through desktop apps for Mac and Windows that sit in the menu bar with a session timer. It is a paid subscription, billed monthly or yearly, with a free trial and no permanent free tier. It suits people who want background music that stays out of the way while working or falling asleep; anyone who mainly wants guided meditation lessons or ambient noise mixing will find more in Calm, Headspace or Noisli.
Best for: Knowledge workers and people with ADHD who want unobtrusive music for focus sessions and sleep.
Brain.fm pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Brain.fm's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $14.99 per month | Nov 8, 2026 | brain.fm |
| Yearly price | $99.99 per year | Nov 8, 2026 | brain.fm |
Pros and cons
What works
- Separate modes for focus, relaxation, meditation and sleep
- Desktop menu-bar app with a built-in session timer
- Available on web, iOS, Android, Mac and Windows
Why people leave
- No free plan once the trial ends
- Few guided meditations compared with Calm or Headspace
- Can't mix your own ambient sounds like Noisli
Brain.fm vs Calm, Headspace and BetterSleep
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Brain.fm | Calm | Headspace | BetterSleep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | $14.99 per month | $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial | $99.99 a year for up to 6 people | $59.99 a year per Premium membership (regular price) |
| Free plan | No | Yes | Yes | Limited free content after the trial |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android |
Top Brain.fm alternatives
See all 4- 1Calm64.8
Adds guided meditations, sleep stories and focus music in one subscription.
- 2Headspace61.8
Pairs focus music and soundscapes with a structured meditation course library.
- 3BetterSleep59.4
Sound mixer and sleep stories aimed at falling asleep, with a free tier.
- 4
Insight Timer57.5Huge free library of music, ambient tracks and guided sessions for focus and sleep.
Why people left Brain.fm
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Brain.fm, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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Brain.fm: common questions
What is Brain.fm?
Brain.fm: Subscription music app with tracks designed for focus, relaxation, meditation and sleep. Best for knowledge workers and people with ADHD who want unobtrusive music for focus sessions and sleep. Available for Web, iOS, Android, macOS and Windows.
Is Brain.fm free?
No, Brain.fm is a paid product. Monthly price: $14.99 per month (checked on Brain.fm's own site).
How much does Brain.fm cost?
Brain.fm is a paid product. Monthly price: $14.99 per month; Yearly price: $99.99 per year. Checked on Brain.fm's own site, November 2026.
Is Brain.fm open source?
No, Brain.fm is not open source.
What platforms does Brain.fm run on?
Brain.fm is available for Web, iOS, Android, macOS and Windows.
What are the best alternatives to Brain.fm?
The highest-ranked Brain.fm alternatives right now are Calm, Headspace and BetterSleep. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Brain.fm vs Calm: what's the difference?
Brain.fm is a paid product; Calm is free with paid plans. Verified prices: Brain.fm $14.99 per month, Calm $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial. Only Brain.fm runs on macOS and Windows.