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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Headspace vs Calm

Headspace 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Headspace
Calm 4.8★ · Free + IAP 70

Headspace offers a more comprehensive mental wellness experience with features like a virtual therapist, while Calm excels in its core meditation and sleep content, despite both facing user complaints about paywalls and app usability.

Full reviews: Headspace · Calm

Headspace and Calm both provide extensive meditation and sleep content, but recent updates have led to user dissatisfaction regarding paywalls and app functionality. Headspace has an edge with its AI-powered virtual therapist and broader wellness offerings, while Calm is praised for specific sleep stories and meditation guides.

Head to head

Features & Content Variety edge: HeadspaceR8R11R32R56
Headspace Headspace offers a wide range of content including meditation, exercise, sleep sounds, and a virtual therapist named Ebb, which some users find incredibly helpful for anxiety and depression R8R11R32R56. However, some long-time users feel the app has become too broad, moving away from its core meditation focus to include 'everything app' wellness features R39.
Calm Calm provides guided meditations, sleep stories, and breathing exercises, with specific narrators like Harry Styles and Matthew McConaughey being popular for sleep R63R80. Users appreciate the variety for sleep and daily reflections . However, some users report a lack of new content and repetition in sleep stories and meditations .
Ease of Use & User Interface tieR39R41R45R48
Headspace Headspace users report significant issues with the app's usability, including slow loading times, continuous login prompts, and a confusing home screen R39R41R45R48. Many miss the older, simpler daily routine and structured journey, finding the current content library overwhelming .
Calm Calm's interface is frequently described as busy, disorganized, and not intuitive, making it difficult to find specific content . Users also complain about too many pop-ups and notifications, which detract from a calming experience .
Reliability & Performance tieR5R29R34R35
Headspace Headspace users have experienced various technical issues, including the app not updating properly, features like pause/rewind not working when the phone is locked, and the app failing to load or authenticate logins R5R29R34R35. Some also note bugs since a switch to Flutter .
Calm Calm users report glitches, such as the app kicking them off, meditations dropping in between sessions, and scene background noise no longer playing . There are also complaints about broken playlist functionality .
Price & Value tieR10R13R18R19
Headspace Many Headspace users are frustrated by the extensive paywall, stating that almost everything, including basic breathing exercises, requires a subscription R10R13R18R19. They feel the app has become a 'money grabber' compared to when it offered more free content R10.
Calm Calm also faces significant criticism for its paywall, with users stating that 'barely anything is free' and that they are forced to subscribe to access most content, even after a trial R64R73R82. Some feel it's 'stupid expensive' for the limited free offerings R82.
Customer Support tieR14R16R26R61
Headspace Headspace users report negative experiences with customer service, including being directed to AI for support tickets and difficulty obtaining refunds R14R16R26.
Calm Calm users also express frustration with customer support, citing issues with AI chatbots for payment problems, difficulty navigating cancellations, and problems with refunds R61.
Pick Headspace if

you value a broader mental wellness app that includes features like a virtual therapist (Ebb) and exercise content, and you are willing to navigate a potentially overwhelming content library R8R11R32R56.

Pick Calm if

you prioritize sleep stories and guided meditations, especially those with specific popular narrators, and you are comfortable with a subscription model that offers a good selection of core content R63R80.

Evidence note: Both apps have a strong negative skew in recent reviews, primarily due to changes in pricing models (more content behind paywalls) and app usability issues. The lifetime ratings are high for both, but recent feedback indicates a decline in user satisfaction for free-tier users and some paid subscribers.

Frequently asked

Is Headspace free?
Headspace offers a free tier, but many users report that most content, including basic breathing exercises, is locked behind a paywall, making the free experience very limited R10R19R25R28.
Is Calm free?
Calm has a free trial, but users frequently state that almost everything requires a paid subscription, and even free items are limited in plays, forcing users to pay R64R73R82R104.
Which app has better sleep content?
Calm is frequently praised for its sleep stories, with users highlighting specific narrators like Harry Styles and Matthew McConaughey as very relaxing and effective for falling asleep R63R80R101R115. Headspace also offers sleepcasts, which some users enjoy .
Do Headspace and Calm use AI?
Yes, both Headspace and Calm incorporate AI. Headspace has a virtual therapist named Ebb, which some users find helpful, but others are concerned about AI in mental health and report issues with its functionality R8R40R46R49. Calm uses AI for customer support, which users find frustrating and not calming R61.

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. [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
  2. [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.
  3. [R32] Headspace 5/5 · US Best app!: This app has been a huge help in managing my anxiety and stress. There’s so much amazing content for all kinds of situations. The exercises, yoga sessions and guided content have made a difference for me. I’m so grateful I found this app 4 years ago. Thank you for creating something so helpful and supportive.
  4. [R56] Headspace 4/5 · US Using meditation to reduce stress and anxiety: i’ve been using Headspace for meditation sleep. i’ve been use this app for about a month and now and it helps you have a good variety of meditations and breathing exercise exercises. They also give you CBT therapy that you can listen to they give you sessions to do every day what i found interesting is how the app connects to psychological concepts th
  5. [R39] 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
  6. [R41] Headspace 4/5 · US Great for meditation, bad for usability: I get real value from Headspace’s meditations, they’ve helped me build a consistent practice and manage stress effectively. That said, the app’s usability holds it back from being an enjoyable and user-friendly experience. On my iPhone 15 Pro, the initial load into the "Today" tab takes nearly 25 seconds, and switching to "Explore" or "Settings" adds another
  7. [R45] Headspace 3/5 · US Failed authentication: This is a very good app however, it keeps kicking me out and forcing me to log back in. When I use my login it says authentication failed try again. I have tried numerous times. I paid for this app and my subscription does not end until September. This needs to be fixed immediately.
  8. [R48] Headspace 3/5 · US good enough i guess: constantly asks to login, very annoying
  9. [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
  10. [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. 😖
  11. [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
  12. [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
  13. [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
  14. [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.
  15. [R18] 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.
  16. [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.
  17. [R14] Headspace 4/5 · US Dissatisfied: Don’t bother. app doesn’t create calm and their customer service creates the opposite of calm.
  18. [R16] Headspace 2/5 · US No AI please: I decided not to subscribe due to my customer service ticket being directed to AI.
  19. [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
  20. [R61] 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
  21. [R25] Headspace 1/5 · US not worth it: I used this app for years. took a long break from it and redownloaded it recently only to find absolutely everything has ben blocked off with a subscription. the app is completely useless now. It was nice a great tool I used in my daily life for anxiety and insomnia. Now it’s become a subscription only app. extremely disappointing.
  22. [R28] Headspace 1/5 · US Paywall: This app used to be great. I returned to it today after some time away only to find the entire app locked behind a pay wall. So much for easy stress relief!
  23. [R64] 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.
  24. [R73] 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.
  25. [R82] Calm 1/5 · US ugh stupid expensive: almost everything is locked behind a paywall. better off with something free like smiling mind, which has no dumb paywalls.
  26. [R104] Calm 1/5 · US Calm: It’s not free
  27. [R63] 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.!
  28. [R80] Calm 5/5 · US Get now: This app is amazing it has really helped me to sleep better and they have so many voices to listen to they even have harry styles this is the best
  29. [R101] Calm 5/5 · US Great: , Super great I always listen to it while I sleep. When I go away, me and my daughter always listen to it. We fall asleep instantly.
  30. [R115] Calm 5/5 · US Better than a sleeping pill: I use this app every night to go to sleep. Easy-peasy
  31. [R40] Headspace 1/5 · US AI doesn’t belong in mental health care: Preface: Yes I understand that this app isn’t a substitute for medical care. AI therapy is incredibly harmful, it enables dangerous behaviors. Not only is it in the unavoidable ai therapy model in this app but it’s also rampant in the voices. Not all of them are human. The scripts are not all human. The titles, art, etc are so clearly AI. Robots should not
  32. [R46] Headspace 1/5 · US This app has gone downhill: I initially used Headspace when I started meditating over a decade ago. I stopped for a few years because I couldn’t afford the increased pricing. I decided to download it again recently (Spring 2026) for another trial period and was so disappointed. Now the app is busy, not focused on the simplicity of mindfulness and meditation. The worst thing is that it now pushes i
  33. [R49] Headspace 1/5 · US Disappointing: This used to be my favorite app. Now with the overwhelming amount of AI and absolutely ridiculous and annoying pop ups this app is getting deleted. Congrats instead of lowering my heart rate I have increased my rage. Why is it that I HAVE to chat with a coach every time I open the app? GOD FORBID A GIRL WANTS TO DO A BREATHING EXERCISE IN A MOMENT OF PANIC BUT NOOOOOOOOOO SHE HAS TO

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