Calm review
Sleep Stories, meditation and relaxing sounds
- Calm.com, Inc.
- Subscription
- iPhone & iPad, Android, Web
Does it deserve #5?
The verdict
Calm is the app to get if better sleep is your main goal. Its Sleep Stories are excellent at helping you drift off, and soundscapes, music and breathing exercises round it out. Guided meditations cover anxiety and focus too. Most content needs a subscription, and the meditation teaching is less structured than Headspace's. Still, few apps make winding down this easy.
- Sleep Stories
- Soundscapes and sleep music
- Daily guided meditations
- Breathing exercises
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What we like
- Best-in-class Sleep Stories and sleep music
- Soothing, beautifully produced design
- Wide range of content for stress and anxiety
What could be better
- Most content is paywalled
- Less structured for learning to meditate
Light sleepers and anxious minds who want help winding down each night
you want a free app or a structured course in meditation
Questions about Calm
Is Calm free?
Calm has a few free sessions and a free trial, but most Sleep Stories, music and courses require a Calm Premium subscription.
Can I use Calm offline?
Yes. Premium members can download sessions and Sleep Stories to the mobile app and listen without a connection.
What are the best alternatives to Calm?
The closest alternatives are Headspace, Insight Timer and Sleep Cycle. See all of them ranked on our Calm alternatives page.
Where does Calm rank?
Calm ranks #5 of 9 in our Mind & Focus ranking, with an overall score of 8.6 out of 10.