Headspace alternatives

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

1. [R10] Headspace 1/5 · US Money grabber: I downloaded this app because I loved their content on Netflix for sleeping, turns out you have to pay for practically every single thing. It’s only $5 a month, not bad, but unnecessary. They post on YouTube for free. Making others pay for this app is absurd when I can easily find your content elsewhere. According to others, this app used to be fully functional and FREE. Why change
2. [R13] Headspace 2/5 · US New Version Sucks: App was amazing, genuinely amazing. Then they updated it and you have to pay for literally everything… no thank you, especially not the amount they’re asking. Just go on YouTube and search what you want to watch from creators similar; for free.
3. [R15] Headspace 3/5 · US Free Trial Doesn’t Have Much Content: Seems like it would be a great app but when I sign up for a free trial, it’s supposed to be designed to make me want to buy into the app. It’s impossible for me to want to do that when everything good seems to be locked. Only a few 3 minute breath work videos available from what I have seen.
4. [R19] Headspace 1/5 · US WHAT THE HELL!?!: Bro, Istg this app actually sucks. You need to freaking pay for everything!?! You can't even do breathing exercises! EVERYTHING COSTS MONEY. If you want a real app that helps you with self care, I suggest using Finch. In Headspace, you can't even do anything! This really pisses me off. Headspace needs to fix this.
5. [R5] Headspace 4/5 · US Updating (for me): Basically I use this every night and it helps me so much with like everything but the problem is that whenever I listen to a sleep cast the pause, rewind, and fast forward thing when my mobile is locked never shows up and then I have to upload it and then it’s a one time use thing and then it just stops working and the problem is that whenever I come to the App Store to update A
6. [R9] Headspace 3/5 · US Needs a shuffle feature: I used to love Headspace back when the app had a daily routine. Now I just feel overwhelmed with the amount of content. A feature that randomly selects a session would reduce decision fatigue. For now, I’m finding a different meditation app. But if Headspace ever installs a shuffle feature or reintroduces the Daily Routine feature, I will happily come back to Headspace and
7. [R12] Headspace 3/5 · US Love the content-Hate the App: I've had the app through two "upgrades". The content is wonderful, but the app's organization has now gotten so bad succeeding changes that if it gets any worse, I will drop it.
8. [R18] Headspace 3/5 · US App Needs Work: I love headspace, but looking at older videos the old home page with “morning, afternoon, and night” specifics was way better than what they have now. The continuous scrolling on the home page and sections offers too much to the eye without the option to do any specific saving like playlists beyond favorites. Having the ability to create our own playlists or create a queue (if the
9. [R8] Headspace 5/5 · US Incredible: This app has been so amazing and helpful to me. I have struggled with anxiety and depression for years, and this app has been amazing to help me calm down when I’m spiraling. Ebb (virtual therapist) has helped me more than my therapist has in a long time. I am able to talk things through when I am in a spot where I can’t grasp what is going on. The fact that this is available to me at
10. [R16] Headspace 2/5 · US No AI please: I decided not to subscribe due to my customer service ticket being directed to AI.
11. [R35] Headspace 4/5 · US Love this app! Recent problem.: Hiii! I love this app! I have been using it for years. I love the addition of Ebb. Ebb has really helped me! I really recommend the app! One recent problem has been happening since yesterday. It will tell me to update the app and there is no “x” button to click out so you are forced to update. I NEVER mind updating! So of course I clicked on the update button and u
12. [R36] Headspace 3/5 · US Good meditation but the app is SO SLOW.: The app takes too long to load, to the point it's unacceptable in 2026. There are so many meditations and categories it's tough to chose or understand. Most meditations have no real depth. It feels like this app is going out of scope a bit from what it set out to do initially. There's an AI but it just repeats what you tell it, and then suggests a med
13. [R1] Headspace 1/5 · US It’s not the same: I used this about years ago and it just isn’t the same it’s really a shame… I used to love it and found it super helpful,
14. [R2] Headspace 5/5 · US No Andy: I’d used the app for years. Recently I noticed that it was harder to find the meditations led by Andy. Then I found out that he had left. He was my favorite and had the most calming voice. I couldn’t get comfortable with anyone else. The leads either had voices that were creepy or had a serious vocal fry. I recently left the app.
15. [R22] Headspace 1/5 · US RIP Headspace: A big corporation bought Headspace and messed it up. Andy, the monk who founded it left and now it’s run by some jerk from DoorDash. The app used to be a good meditation app for beginners around 2018 and before, but it’s now full of woke ideology and coercive scam marking for therapy. It’s now a cruddy mental health app instead of a quality meditation app. The shiny animation exteri
16. [R30] Headspace 3/5 · US Original Headspace Was Better 💯: I miss the 2020, 2021 Headspace experience. The app felt like a guided journey with a clear next step through the day, rather than a large content library. That structure helped me build mindfulness skills, improve emotional regulation, and stay consistent with practice. The current emphasis on content discovery creates more decisions at the exact moment many users
17. [R29] Headspace 5/5 · US Love this app - 8.14.2 not working ☹️: This app has helped me manage with stress and anxiety. Unfortunately the latest update 8.14.2 does not work. It loads a dark blue screen that never goes away. Bummer. 😖
18. [R34] Headspace 1/5 · US Can’t even log in: Tried direct SSO and two different platforms including Google and Facebook and keep getting a “failure to authenticate” error even after allowing me to reset my password. Tried both the application and website - both give the same errors. App making you more stressed is not helpful and no accessible link to go to contact or help signing in so here it is in a review - cannot even
19. [R38] Headspace 5/5 · US Shiny & New doesn’t open: The new version seems self-recursive. I upgraded, and opening it say Try the Shiny & New again, over and over. No meditation tonight, which breaks my streak.
20. [R48] Headspace 3/5 · GB Demands online connection: I tend to use this when I need to distress with the data off in places where I don’t get a reception. I download everything at home. It’s a completely different experience that makes the app more awkward and stressful to use right at the point you’re trying to find some calm. Add into that, I went into it today to be told I have no downloads. System settings tells me I
21. [R53] Calm 2/5 · US $$$: Years ago when calm first started they actually had inspirational quotes after you finished a meditation. But now that version costs money lol. I get app developers need to make money, but the concept of charging to stay “calm” is just lame to me. Barely anything is free on this app.
22. [R55] Calm 2/5 · US Disorganized: Please please please fix the organization because it is impossible to find anything in this app. I used to love Calm, but now it’s just random lists of different options with no useful organization. And the search function is useless.
23. [R57] Calm 1/5 · US Anxiety-inducing: The layout is confusing and VERY busy. The opposite of “calm.” There are so many pop-ups, and almost everything is hidden behind a paywall. I downloaded the app to help diminish stress, but it only made it worse. Just download Headspace.
24. [R58] Calm 5/5 · US Dreamweaver: This App has helped me fall asleep. I’m very satisfied.
25. [R65] Insight Timer 1/5 · US What happened?: I’ve had this app since 2016, and never had this problem, but it’s been ongoing for months now snd hasn’t been fixed so now adjusting my review. Every time I open the app, it thinks it’s my first time logging in and had me go through the long I take questions every single time. Which has actually steered me away to not use this platform anymore. So developers, this is something to
26. [R66] Insight Timer 5/5 · US Why?: I have used IT for several years and have a committed practice. The app has helped me connect with and learn from a variety of teachers, several of them truly stellar.
27. [R68] Insight Timer 2/5 · US Destroying values: This app is a great tool, I just wish they would start living by the values they are trying to help people worth. Their goal is to help people live a better life yet they push push notifications even when I said no. It has happened twice. They make you go thought a survey when you come back, I don’t believe it is to be helpful, I see it as just another way for them to get more i
28. [R69] Insight Timer 5/5 · US Love Insight Timer: I’m there are so many beneficial opportunities with Insight Timer; everyone should use it!
29. [R79] BetterSleep 2/5 · US Bs: app opens on its own - gonna delete it, if continues
30. [R80] BetterSleep 5/5 · US Love this app: I purchased this app years ago, before it was bought out and upgraded by BetterSleep, and I’m SO glad I did! I love being able to layer my own sounds and music to suit my mood. Sometimes I want to have that cavern background. Sometimes I want ocean waves. Sometimes just a crackling fire. Other times I want them all! This does that for me and I love it. The stories just keep getting
31. [R81] BetterSleep 3/5 · US Goodish: Good in all but I have to pay to get more sounds and to listen to what happened last night. Good music…. That I can listen to but bad that I have to pay for 90% of things
32. [R82] BetterSleep 1/5 · US Can’t turn off music for onboarding: Why can’t I turn off the music when onboarding? I don’t want to listen or inconvenience those around me just to setup the app. This is still an issue.
33. [R93] Balance 1/5 · US Tried it for a year: This app had no effect, i do not recommend it. Not worth trying
34. [R94] Balance 5/5 · US Awesome: It’s really nice when you need to sleep or calm down
35. [R95] Balance 1/5 · US Lifetime Member and Can’t Advance Past Day 8 of Advanced Plan: App quits and prevents skipping defective meditation.
36. [R96] Balance 5/5 · US Wonderful tools for anxiety: I ran across this app during a tough time and began to use it to meditate. It’s not going to solve all your problems but meditation has been very helpful in relaxing my body and mind. I also love the sleep sounds.
37. [R107] Sleep Sounds by Sleep Pillow 1/5 · US Stopped working right: Paid for the full version, stopped working, messages developers. No real response
38. [R108] Sleep Sounds by Sleep Pillow 5/5 · US The perfect sleep formula: Sleep pillow mixes the perfect blend of noise and relaxation into my sleep. My personal fav is the rain, wind, and thunder noise and I have been listening to it for 15 years. The noise is great and I recommend this for anyone else that wants to sleep like a baby!
39. [R109] Sleep Sounds by Sleep Pillow 3/5 · US It’s really helpful: When I forget my sound machine to have a sleepover at grandpa and grandma‘s, I have my iPad with me and I have Sleep Pillow the most relaxing calm 😌🥹🥹🥹app in the world probably
40. [R110] Sleep Sounds by Sleep Pillow 2/5 · US No sound on 2nd track of mix: I just purchased the full package. Downloaded it to both my iPad and iPhone. It works great on my iPad. I can’t get any sound on my phone, though. I need it on my phone at night. Please help. Thanks.
41. [R21] Headspace 3/5 · US I can’t even use it: This app seems really helpful, especially with someone like me who struggles with anxiety, but I can’t really do anything because you have to pay for everything.
42. [R43] Headspace 2/5 · US Slowly getting worse: I don’t know what this team is thinking, but they keep removing things that made this app great. The today section as many users have mentioned was really helpful for a little routine. They have removed the ability to add a widget to the Home Screen, why?! they have removed some of Andy’s classic sleep meditations. Made it harder to find courses. Please stop messing with it