Calm
Subscription app for guided meditation, Sleep Stories, breathing exercises and relaxing music.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · iOS, Android, Web
Is Calm free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
- Yearly price (web):
- $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial
Checked on Calm's site Nov 8, 2026
Switch from Calm to
All 8
HeadspaceCompareFamily plan: $99.99 a year for up to 6 people
Insight TimerCompareStarting price: $9.99 a month (MemberPlus)
BetterSleepStarting price: $59.99 a year per Premium membership (regular price)
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 8
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Calm
Calm is one of the two best-known subscription meditation apps, and it leans harder toward sleep than most. Alongside guided meditations it has a large library of Sleep Stories (narrated bedtime stories, from classic literature to nature essays), soundscapes, sleep music and a short Breathe Bubble exercise for in-the-moment breathing. New users are pointed to 7 Days of Calm and then 21 Days of Calm, two introductory programs, before the wider library of sessions on themes like focus and gratitude. A Daily Calm session is added every day. It runs on iPhone, Android and the web, and also on Apple TV, Apple Watch and Wear OS. On calm.com the yearly plan starts with a free trial and then bills annually; a family plan and a lifetime membership are also sold. The trade-off: almost everything worth using sits behind the subscription, and prices can differ between the website and the app stores. If you mainly want meditation instruction rather than sleep content, the sleep-heavy library can feel like more than you need.
Best for: People who want a large library of sleep stories, music and guided sessions in one paid app.
Calm pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Calm's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly price (web) | $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial | Nov 8, 2026 | calm.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- 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
Why people leave
- Most content needs a paid subscription
- Prices differ between web, App Store and Google Play
- Sleep-heavy library is more than some meditators need
Calm vs Headspace, Insight Timer 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 | Calm | Headspace | Insight Timer | BetterSleep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial | $99.99 a year for up to 6 people | $9.99 a month (MemberPlus) | $59.99 a year per Premium membership (regular price) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited free content after the trial |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android, Web | iOS, Android |
Full Calm vs Headspace comparisonFull Calm vs Insight Timer comparison
Top Calm alternatives
See all 8- 1Headspace68.8
The other big subscription app, with more structured beginner courses and a cheap student plan.
- 2Insight Timer64.8
A mostly free library of more than 200,000 tracks, including sleep content, if you don't want a subscription.
- 3BetterSleep42.3
Lets you build your own mix of sleep sounds rather than picking fixed tracks.
- 4
Abide42.3Sleep stories and meditations rooted in Bible verses for Christians.
- 5
Happier Meditation42.3More teaching and practical courses from well-known teachers, with three courses free.
Why people left Calm
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 Calm, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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Calm: common questions
What is Calm?
Calm: Subscription app for guided meditation, Sleep Stories, breathing exercises and relaxing music. Best for people who want a large library of sleep stories, music and guided sessions in one paid app. Available for iOS, Android and Web.
Is Calm free?
Calm has a free plan and paid plans.
How much does Calm cost?
Calm is free with paid plans. Yearly price (web): $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial. Checked on Calm's own site, November 2026.
Is Calm open source?
No, Calm is not open source.
What platforms does Calm run on?
Calm is available for iOS, Android and Web.
What are the best alternatives to Calm?
The highest-ranked Calm alternatives right now are Headspace, Insight Timer and BetterSleep. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Calm vs Headspace: what's the difference?
Both Calm and Headspace are free with paid plans. Verified prices: Calm $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial, Headspace $99.99 a year for up to 6 people. Both run on iOS, Android and Web.