Calm 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. [R4] 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.
2. [R10] 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.
3. [R13] Calm 1/5 · US Forces you to subscribe: If you don’t save items to your favorites in the first few days, you won’t be able to access them once your free days end. Now, they’ve limited the number of free items and the number of times you can listen to them too, so you’re forced to pay.
4. [R16] Calm 1/5 · US Frustrating: I cant access only 2/3 meditations. All i see is more adds and locked screens
5. [R7] 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.
6. [R21] Calm 3/5 · GB Good but small selection of content and poor search/filtering: I use the app mainly to help with sleep and it does have a decent selection of both guided meditation and stories, but they don’t seem to be updating much lately asks I have been through most of them. It is also lacking some features such as the ability to filter search for say meditation with/without music or by narrator. Some of the
7. [R33] Calm 2/5 · US Disappointing and aggravating: For a Calm app, it’s awfully busy and stimulating, too many notifications, too much tracking, every time I open it another request from the app when I’m just trying to calm down. It doesn’t even scroll smoothly and that is aggravating to my senses. Too much content without straightforward ways to personalize or organize for quick access when it’s 2am and the dog nex
8. [R1] Calm 2/5 · US DITCH THE AI, PLEASE: I simply wanted to talk to a person about a payment issue on your support page. But after clicking the little chat box, the issue became something more. There is NOTHING natural or CALMing about talking to a freaking AI! Get rid of it!! I signed up for a year subscription on a promotion, thinking this app might help ground me, this app might help me better connect with those
9. [R19] Calm 1/5 · US Problematic Subscription Renewals: Unauthorized renewal charges, impossible to speak to customer service, navigate cancellation, or get refunds. Feels purposefully difficult and deceptive. Many, many complaints across the web from other customers concerning these very same issues. I do not recommend this company.
10. [R43] Calm 1/5 · US Don’t try the Trial: Don’t attempt to try this app out. Apple will charge you before the trial is up then you’re stuck paying $80 for a service you might not like. That’s what happened with me and support is a joke. So if their so called “30 day money back guarantee “
11. [R49] Calm 1/5 · GB Family Plan - AVOID!!!: My partner has loved this app for a good few months so we opted for the Family Plan. Unfortunately we are no longer able to Log-in & Customer Services are unable to respond due to “experiencing significant delays to response times”. Quick enough to take your money but way too slow from Customer Services. Always wary of providers that are unable to respond. AVOID and save yo
12. [R3] Calm 3/5 · US Sleep: Wow, I like a few of the sleep stories, most of them are annoying. They do not relax you at all. Harry Styles has a good one because it’s joined with some background music and it’s very relaxing.. It it would be nice to have more his sleep story. Matthew McConaughey is pretty good too. The rest of them are just either bad or mediocre. Please offer more of a selection.!
13. [R6] Calm 3/5 · US Too much repeating!: I am hearing repeats, need new ones!!!
14. [R18] Calm 3/5 · GB Helpful app: Been using this for well over a year. Has helped with sleep. Discovered Tamara who seems to be a great host for stories and relaxation. The only issue I have is the lack of sleep story updates. I’m considering going elsewhere and cancelling subscription. Sorry to say this.
15. [R9] Calm 3/5 · GB Scene background noise: I use the Daily Calm part of the app regularly and always enjoyed listening to the background scene noise I had selected, but it seems to no longer play in the background, and now between the narration there is just silence. Not being able to find how to get this function back is leaving me feeling anything but calm. Before this I have had no complaints
16. [R12] Calm 3/5 · GB Would have been higher: My review would have been higher but the music that’s meant to last 7 hours lets say doesn’t. Plays one song.
17. [R24] Calm 3/5 · GB It broke: Basically whenever I go on calm it Immediately kicks me off . I’ve been on calm for 6 years and now it’s just broken so I have no calm and just prerecorded stuff (1/2 a sleep story).
18. [R25] Calm 1/5 · US Glitching on Day 1: This is not with the money as glitchy as this thinks is. I downloaded the recent app and it should be updated???? This is not worth the cash.
19. [R15] Calm 3/5 · GB 😒: Too many notifications
20. [R27] Calm 1/5 · US Stop!: Stop asking me to upgrade to a family plan! I don’t have a family! Your app isn’t that great anyway.
21. [R46] Calm 4/5 · US Interface needs a massive makeover: Great app but the developers need to listen to the reviews. The app interface is NOT CALMING. It is busy and honestly not intuitive to navigate. How hard is it for you to have a timer embedded in the player? Please stop selling me the family subscription after I have bought the annual subscription.
22. [R58] 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
23. [R61] Headspace 4/5 · US Comprehensive and useful: There are a lot of different things to take use, meditation, exercise, sleep sounds. These are great. I also find the clean design appealing. It takes a bit of searching to find the voice that works for me. Some age variety among the coaches would be an improvement to include people over 40. Aside from that I I much prefer this to other similar apps.
24. [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.
25. [R67] Insight Timer 3/5 · US Life changing: My ‘go to’ site for peace and acceptance for 14 years.
26. [R75] Insight Timer 5/5 · US Thankful: What a great tool --the free version is filled with every you could imagine. So many teachers and topics . Very grateful to have this tool for my journey
27. [R78] Insight Timer 5/5 · US Best healing partner: I have relied on Insight Timer for years to help me through life‘s challenges. There’s always a tool, a teacher , a meditation available to me anytime I need it. The quality of instructors that I follow is really impressive. I don’t know what I would do without this app.
28. [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
29. [R97] Rain Rain Sleep Sounds 5/5 · US The best sound app: I used this in free for several years and eventually got the paid version. I still use it regularly. The outside sounds are fantastic when I’m trying to sleep or get my kids to sleep. The washer, dryer, and clock combo are the absolute best if I’m trying to focus on something important and I either need to give myself a quiet space to focus or I need the noise in my brain to g
30. [R99] Rain Rain Sleep Sounds 5/5 · US Great App: Has worked for me for literally forever. I’ve used this app for probably 8-10 years. I love it so much. Never fails to put me to sleep. Very easy to use it’s perfect.
31. [R103] Rain Rain Sleep Sounds 5/5 · US amazing app: This app was amazing. It helped me sleep at night whenever I was stressed at night and it just helped me calm down and sleep five stars.
32. [R106] Rain Rain Sleep Sounds 5/5 · US Essential and Generous: I’ve been using this app for years, it’s amazingly customizable and super simple. The fact that you don’t even have to have a subscription to enjoy the features the app has to offer is a surprisingly rare treat these days. I can never image having a smartphone without this app installed with it. 10/10, I quite literally use it every night. Thank you for the countless good n
33. [R110] 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.
34. [R112] Balance 5/5 · US Changed forever: I started using Balance over a year and a half ago, and using it has changed my life forever. I love how it keeps track of your streak and your skills. The daily streak counter has challenged me to meditate for nearly 515 days in a row! I have learned how to prioritize myself, manage my emotions in a much more healthy way, calm myself when I am stressed or anxious, and my daily ou
35. [R114] Balance 5/5 · US Central Nervous System Regulation: This is one of my favorite apps to sit with myself, hear my thoughts and regulate my nervous system. Truly a wonderful tool!
36. [R116] Balance 5/5 · US Really good app with a huge variety of choices from meditation singles, training modules and more: I have been enjoying this app for over two years now. The guided meditations have helped me when I am stressed, angry or anxious. Also the sleep meditations and guides are terrific. They have singles for cleaning, focus, low-fi, etc. They keep adding new content too which keeps making the app e