Headspace vs. Calm: Which App Is Right for You? – PsychCentral.com

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Headspace and Calm are both popular, top-rated meditation apps. But which one is really best?
If you’d like to boost your mental, emotional, and physical health — and, really, who doesn’t? — one thing worth trying may be meditation.
A 2014 review of 47 studies found that meditation programs improved anxiety and depression. A 2017 review found that mindfulness meditation may improve pain and overall quality of life.
Whether you’re a meditation rookie or pro, meditation apps can be a great option to jump-start or deepen your practice. They’re especially powerful if you’re already glued to your phone — better to lose yourself in a guided meditation than the latest bleak headline.
Countless apps exist, but Headspace and Calm are particularly popular for their:
Before we recommend a meditation app, we carefully research several factors, including:
If you’d like to learn more about our vetting process, you can find more information here.
Started in 2010, Headspace simplifies meditation and mindfulness, making it less serious and even fun. Co-founder Andy Puddicombe, a former Buddhist monk, narrates most of the meditations. With millions of users worldwide, Headspace aims to improve your health and happiness.
And so far, studies conducted by Headspace and independent researchers suggest that it can do just that. For example, using the app for 10 sessions increased participants’ positivity and well-being, and reduced stress and irritability.
Research involving nurses found that Headspace reduced stress and boosted job satisfaction.
Launched in 2012, Calm aims to “train your mind to sleep more, stress less, and live better.” Its design is completely different from Headspace, with soothing sounds and natural landscapes. Think birds chirping, rain falling, oceans, forests, and mountains.
But like Headspace, it also has millions of users, and research has demonstrated some key benefits. For example, a 2019 study involving 88 college students who felt stressed out found that using Calm reduced stress and improved mindfulness and self-compassion.
In a 2021 study, adults with sleep issues who used Calm for at least 10 minutes a day for 8 weeks reported feeling less tired and sleepy during the day and sleeping better at night.
In another study, college students who used Calm’s 7-day introductory mindfulness course every day or once in a while also experienced greater well-being.
It’s important to note that researchers who also work for Calm have done most of these studies.
If the above overview of the two services doesn’t give you enough info to decide which may be right for you, here’s a more direct comparison.
Both Calm and Headspace are overall considered reputable and well reviewed.
The Calm app receives a 4.8 out of 5 rating on the App Store with about 1.5 million ratings submitted. On Google Play, the app receives a 4.3 rating with about 485,000 ratings total.
Similarly, Headspace receives an App Store rating of 4.9 out of about 894,500 ratings submitted and a 4.4 rating on Google Play based on 270,000 user reviews.
The vast majority of users give both apps a 5-star rating. Still, not all users are satisfied. For both companies, users:
These types of complaints are not only noted in reviews on the App and Google Play Stores but also in the Better Business Bureau profiles for both apps.
You can sign up for Calm and Headspace on their respective websites or get started by downloading the app you’re interested in and creating a user account.
For both apps, payment information is required at sign-up, which means you cannot make use of their free trial without adding your credit card or other payment data.
If you’re interested in trying Calm or Headspace, it may be worth checking with your employer to see if they offer either app as a company benefit. If this is the case, sign-up may look slightly different, but your employer may have clear instructions for you, which you can follow.
Because both Headspace and Calm are helpful for kick-starting and maintaining a meditation practice. Picking the best one really comes down to personal preference.
To figure out which app is right for you, it helps to reflect on your intentions and natural tendencies. For example, start by considering these questions:
Besides the above questions, here’s a quick cheat sheet to help you figure out which app is best for your specific needs.
Meditation has many benefits, including reducing anxiety and improving sleep. Meditation apps, such as Headspace and Calm, can help you get started and build a more consistent practice.
To figure out which app is right for you, it’s a good idea to reflect on your personal preferences and needs. Why do you want to meditate? What kind of aesthetic do you like? Does it even matter? How much time can you carve out for meditating?
Once you’ve homed in on what’s important to you, consider downloading your pick.
Last medically reviewed on January 23, 2022
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