Headspace
Subscription meditation and sleep app with structured courses, sleepcasts and focus music.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · iOS, Android, Web
Is Headspace free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
- Family plan:
- $99.99 a year for up to 6 people
Checked on Headspace's site Nov 8, 2026
Full Headspace pricing and plansSwitch from Headspace to
All 6
CalmCompareYearly price (web): $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial
Insight TimerCompareStarting price: $9.99 a month (MemberPlus)
Happier MeditationCompareSubscription: $99.99/year
- Verified facts
- 6 of 6
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Headspace
Headspace is a subscription meditation app known for its structured, beginner-friendly courses, starting with the Basics series. The library is organised into sleep content (sleepcasts, sleep music and white noise), meditations, movement sessions, short daily videos and focus music, with a new meditation every day. The brand has grown from a meditation app into a wider mental-health service: it now also sells coaching and therapy, and its about page says Headspace is now part of Sword. For individuals the core product is still the app subscription, with a free trial on the yearly plan. A family plan covers up to six people for one yearly price, and verified students get a heavily discounted yearly rate. Its terms say the products are meant for people aged 18 and over, with limited exceptions. The trade-off: free content is thin, the app increasingly promotes services beyond meditation, and experienced meditators may find the courses basic compared with apps aimed at deeper practice.
Best for: Beginners who want structured courses and a tidy app, and students on the cheap plan.
Headspace pricing (checked Nov 8, 2026)
Each line is quoted from Headspace's own site, with the page it came from.
| Plan or term | What it says | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free trial | 14 days | Nov 8, 2026 | headspace.com |
| Family plan | $99.99 a year for up to 6 people | Nov 8, 2026 | headspace.com |
| Student plan | $9.99/yr for verified students | Nov 8, 2026 | headspace.com |
| Student discount | $9.99 a year for verified students | Nov 8, 2026 | headspace.com |
Pros and cons
What works
- 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
Why people leave
- Little free content without a subscription
- App increasingly promotes coaching and therapy services
- Courses can feel basic for experienced meditators
Headspace vs Calm, Insight Timer and Happier Meditation
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Headspace | Calm | Insight Timer | Happier Meditation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Verified price | $99.99 a year for up to 6 people | $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial | $9.99 a month (MemberPlus) | $99.99/year |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Three courses |
| 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 Headspace vs Calm comparisonFull Headspace vs Insight Timer comparisonFull Headspace vs Happier Meditation comparison
Top Headspace alternatives
See all 6- 1Calm68.8
The main rival, with a bigger sleep library of Sleep Stories and soundscapes.
- 2Insight Timer64.8
Free access to most of a huge library, if the subscription is the sticking point.
- 3Happier Meditation61.8
Teacher-led courses that explain the how and why of meditation, with three courses free before subscribing.
- 4
Waking Up42.3Deeper, more philosophical teaching for people who've outgrown beginner courses.
- 5
Brain.fm42.3Dedicated to functional music for focus and sleep rather than meditation courses.
Why people left Headspace
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 Headspace, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
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Headspace: common questions
What is Headspace?
Headspace: Subscription meditation and sleep app with structured courses, sleepcasts and focus music. Best for beginners who want structured courses and a tidy app, and students on the cheap plan. Available for iOS, Android and Web.
Is Headspace free?
Headspace has a free plan and paid plans.
How much does Headspace cost?
Headspace is free with paid plans. Free trial: 14 days; Family plan: $99.99 a year for up to 6 people; Student plan: $9.99/yr for verified students; Student discount: $9.99 a year for verified students. Checked on Headspace's own site, November 2026.
Does Headspace have a free trial or refund?
Free trial: 14 days. Source: Headspace's own site.
Is Headspace open source?
No, Headspace is not open source.
What platforms does Headspace run on?
Headspace is available for iOS, Android and Web.
What are the best alternatives to Headspace?
The highest-ranked Headspace alternatives right now are Calm, Insight Timer and Happier Meditation. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Headspace vs Calm: what's the difference?
Both Headspace and Calm are free with paid plans. Verified prices: Headspace $99.99 a year for up to 6 people, Calm $79.99/yr after a 7-day free trial. Both run on iOS, Android and Web.