Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Headspace vs Balance

Headspace 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner Balance
Balance 4.9★ · Free + IAP 70

Balance has a slight edge over Headspace due to its more consistent user experience and personalized approach, despite both apps facing criticism regarding paywalls and customer service.

Full reviews: Headspace · Balance

Headspace offers a broad range of content including meditation, sleep, and exercise, but recent changes to its UI, the departure of its original voice, and increased paywalls have frustrated long-time users. Balance is praised for its personalized meditations, streak tracking, and effectiveness in managing anxiety, though some users report issues with customer service and a lack of new content.

Head to head

Features & Content edge: BalanceR3R8R9R11
Headspace Headspace offers a wide variety of content including sleepcasts, exercise, and even a virtual therapist (Ebb), which some users find very helpful for anxiety and depression R3R8R11. However, many long-time users feel the app has become cluttered, moving away from its core meditation focus to an 'everything app' R9R18. There's also a strong preference for the original instructor, Andy, and dissatisfaction with the current voice options R2R55.
Balance Balance is lauded for its personalized approach, allowing users to select time options and other preferences for meditations, making it feel tailored . Users appreciate the variety of meditation topics, training modules, and sleep sounds . Some users, however, feel that new content is not released frequently enough, leading to a stagnant experience after completing available programs .
Ease of Use & UI edge: BalanceR5R9R12R18
Headspace Headspace's app organization has deteriorated for many users, with complaints about continuous scrolling, difficulty finding content, and a lack of features like playlists or shuffle R9R12R18. Users also report slow loading times, frequent login issues, and persistent update prompts R5R34. The integration of AI features like Ebb and mandatory quizzes are seen as intrusive and frustrating .
Balance Balance is generally considered simple and easy to use, with a design that allows for personalized meditation experiences . However, some users note slow startup times and a few experienced issues with onboarding or the app freezing and preventing progress . There are also requests for a native iPad version .
Reliability & Performance tieR5R29R33R34
Headspace Headspace users report numerous bugs, including issues with sleepcast controls, app freezing after updates, and authentication failures R5R29R33R34. Some also find the app requires an online connection even for downloaded content, which is inconvenient .
Balance Balance also has reports of technical issues, such as the app quitting or freezing during meditations . Some users mention slow startup times .
Price & Value tieR10R13R15R19
Headspace Many Headspace users are highly critical of the app's shift to a predominantly paid model, with most content locked behind a subscription R10R13R15R19. This change has led to feelings of disappointment and that the app is a 'money grabber' R10R13R19.
Balance Balance also faces significant criticism regarding its paywall, with many users expressing frustration that content previously free is now behind a subscription . There are also complaints about being charged after cancelling free trials or subscriptions, and difficulty obtaining refunds R67R73R82. Some users who purchased lifetime memberships feel they didn't get enough new content to justify the cost .
Support & Privacy tieR14R16R26R39
Headspace Headspace's customer service receives negative feedback, with reports of unhelpful responses, refusal of refunds, and redirection to AI for support R14R16R26. Users also express concerns about the amount of private information the app collects R39.
Balance Balance users also report poor customer service, particularly regarding refund requests after accidental subscriptions or cancellations R73R82R92. There are significant privacy concerns, with the app reportedly tracking users across other platforms .
Pick Headspace if

You are looking for a comprehensive wellness app that includes meditation, sleep, and exercise content, and you are open to exploring AI-assisted tools like Ebb R8R11. You also find value in a clean design and a wide range of content, even if it requires some searching R11.

Pick Balance if

You prefer a meditation app with a highly personalized approach that adapts to your feelings and responses, and you value a consistent daily practice with streak tracking . You are also looking for clear, soothing voices and expert guidance in your meditation journey .

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews related to paywalls and customer service, which skews recent sentiment. For Balance, the free-vs-paid asymmetry is particularly evident, with many negative reviews from users who expected more free content or faced issues with subscription cancellations after free trials R67R73R82. Headspace also has many similar complaints about its shift to a paid-only model R10R13R15R19.

Frequently asked

Is Headspace still free?
No, many users report that Headspace has significantly reduced its free content, with most features and meditations now locked behind a subscription R10R13R15R19. While some content might be available on platforms like YouTube, the app itself is largely pay-to-access R10R13.
Does Balance offer a free trial?
Yes, Balance offers free trials, but users report issues with automatic renewals and difficulty cancelling or getting refunds after the trial period ends R67R73R82R92. Some users also mention that content that used to be free is now behind a paywall .
What happened to Andy Puddicombe in Headspace?
Andy Puddicombe, the original voice and co-founder of Headspace, has reportedly left the app, which has disappointed many long-time users who found his voice calming and his guidance essential to their practice R2R55. Users express difficulty getting comfortable with other instructors and a feeling that the app has lost its original focus since his departure R2R22R55.
Does Balance use AI voices?
One review explicitly states a dislike for AI voices in Balance, questioning the use of artificial intelligence for human well-being R84. This suggests that at least some content within Balance may utilize AI-generated voices.

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. [R3] Headspace 3/5 · US It’s…ok?..: It’s really great like I love the sleepcasts, but otherwise….i don’t know
  2. [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
  3. [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
  4. [R11] 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.
  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. [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.
  7. [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
  8. [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. 😖
  9. [R33] Headspace 3/5 · US Exceptional content: I’ve used the app for almost 10 years and even bought the lifetime subscription when it was offered. It used to have incredible UX and excellent content. It was geared towards finding the right meditation, meditating, then moving on with your day. It seems like they have sacrificed that simplicity for engagement and a focus on developer productivity. Since they switched to flu
  10. [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
  11. [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
  12. [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.
  13. [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.
  14. [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.
  15. [R14] Headspace 4/5 · US Dissatisfied: Don’t bother. app doesn’t create calm and their customer service creates the opposite of calm.
  16. [R16] Headspace 2/5 · US No AI please: I decided not to subscribe due to my customer service ticket being directed to AI.
  17. [R26] Headspace 4/5 · US Won’t issue refund (Update: refund issues): Unfortunately I have to leave this review after requesting a refund and being told that it is not possible, for no reason other than it sucks to suck. I mean that’s basically what they told me, that they just can’t offer it to me because that’s their policy! Even though I will never use the app and just forgot to cancel the recurring charge! Thank you he
  18. [R39] Headspace 3/5 · US Too much private information collected: I was going to download and pay for headspace but I looked at all the private information the app is collecting like location, user content, search history etc and it was a dealbreaker.
  19. [R67] Balance 1/5 · US Horrible: I never used this app. I seen an ad for it on Snapchat and I just answered some questions and that was it and then it showed me like very little information about me, but that’s all it said I needed to do so from there on forward I will start realizing that I’m getting build like $70 and it’s saying balance app balance app balance app every month and I could never figure it out until jus
  20. [R73] Balance 2/5 · US Poor customer service: This is not a criticism of the app itself but the customer service. I downloaded and subscribed to this app by accident. I thought it was another app that a friend recommended. When I realized it was the wrong app I canceled and requested a refund. This was all within 10 minutes but they rejected my refund itself.
  21. [R82] Balance 1/5 · US Vile service and scammy: They gave me a free year, so I signed up. I don't recall it ever saying it was a free trial which now trying to tell me it was got no notification from Apple or this company that it was going to renew. Used it twice didn't like it. They refused to refund me "because I'm outside the refund window" but holding somebody hostage to a product. They didn't really want in the
  22. [R92] Balance 1/5 · US Cancelled my subscription correctly, and still charged my card.: You people are thieves.
  23. [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.
  24. [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
  25. [R55] Headspace 2/5 · US 10-year review: i’ve had headspace for over a decade. for the first 3-4 years, I loved it. this app’s approach toward meditation and wellness has noticeably shifted since its inception though. When I started, it was Andy Puddicombe doing all of the meditations, translating what he learned as a monk into meditations everyday people could use and understand. he made those meditations accessible. I a
  26. [R84] Balance 1/5 · US AI voices: i hate AI, why would i use artificial intelligence to try and heal a human wellbeing, so stupid i wish they would just use real voices BYE

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store