Headspace vs Calm: Which Mental Health App Is Worth Your Money in 2025?

Open the App Store, search "meditation," and you'll find hundreds of options. But two apps dominate: Headspace and Calm.

Together, they've been downloaded over 200 million times globally. Both promise better sleep, reduced anxiety, improved focus, and mental wellbeing—all from your smartphone.

But are they actually effective? Which is better? And crucially, are they worth the £50-£70 annual subscription?

As a therapist who's recommended both apps to clients (and tried them personally), I'll provide an honest, detailed comparison examining:

• Core features and content
• User experience and design
• Evidence base and effectiveness
• Pricing and value
• Who each app suits best
• Whether they can replace therapy (spoiler: no, but they can complement it)

TL;DR:

Feature	Headspace	Calm
Best for	Beginners, structured learning, focus/productivity	Sleep, relaxation, variety, aesthetics
Strength	Evidence-based, clear progression, science-backed	Beautiful design, celebrity content, extensive library
Pricing	£49.99/year or £12.99/month	£54.99/year or £14.99/month
Free version	Limited (14-day trial)	Limited (7-day trial)
Sleep content	Good	Excellent (Sleep Stories standout feature)
Meditation variety	Structured, guided, focused on fundamentals	Wide variety, music, masterclasses
Evidence base	Strong research backing	Moderate research backing
Verdict	Better for learning meditation systematically	Better for variety, sleep, and aesthetics

Headspace: The Mindfulness Trainer

What It Offers

Core meditation courses:

• Basics course (foundation, 30 sessions)
• Themed courses: stress, anxiety, sleep, focus, relationships, grief, etc.
• Single meditations (3-20 minutes)
• SOS meditations (quick anxiety relief)

Additional features:

• Move Mode (mindful movement exercises)
• Focus Mode (concentration music)
• Sleep content (sleepcasts, wind-downs)
• Mindful eating and walking guides

Unique selling points:

• Narrated primarily by co-founder Andy Puddicombe (former Buddhist monk)
• Structured, progressive learning path
• Strong research backing (collabouration with universities)
• Integration with healthcare (some NHS trusts provide subscriptions)

User Experience

Design: Clean, playful, approachable. Orange branding. Friendly animations. Not overly spiritual or intimidating.

Tone: Andy's voice is calm, measured, reassuring. Explanations are clear, accessible, not overly "woo-woo." Feels like a patient teacher.

Navigation: Straightforward. Clear course structure. Easy to find what you need. Slightly less aesthetically polished than Calm, but functional.

Evidence Base

Headspace invests heavily in research. Over 70 peer-reviewed studies examining its effectiveness.

Key findings:

Stress reduction: 2018 study (600+ participants) found 10 days of Headspace significantly reduced stress levels.

Anxiety: Multiple studies show reductions in anxiety symptoms after 30 days of use.

Sleep: 2021 study found Headspace's sleep content improved sleep quality and reduced insomnia symptoms.

Focus: Research suggests improved attention and reduced mind-wandering.

Caveats: Some studies are company-funded (potential bias). Effect sizes modest (clinically significant but not dramatic).

Pricing

Free version: Limited access (handful of meditations). 14-day free trial of full version.

Paid subscription:

• Monthly: £12.99
• Annual: £49.99 (works out to £4.17/month—better value)

Student discount: Available (check website)

Family plan: £74.99/year for up to 6 users

Free for healthcare workers, teachers, unemployed: Periodically offered

Pros

• Structured learning: Excellent for beginners; clear progression
• Evidence-based: Strong research backing
• Clear instruction: Andy's teaching is thorough and accessible
• Variety of lengths: 3-20 minute options suit different schedules
• Focus tools: Move Mode and Focus Mode useful for productivity

Cons

• Less variety: Smaller content library than Calm
• Single narrator: If you don't like Andy's voice, limited alternatives
• Less aesthetic: Design more functional than beautiful
• Sleep content: Good but not as extensive as Calm's

Calm: The Relaxation Sanctuary

What It Offers

Core meditation content:

• Daily Calm (new 10-minute meditation daily)
• Guided meditations (3-30 minutes)
• Themed programmes: anxiety, stress, sleep, self-care, etc.
• Open-ended meditations (with background sounds)

Sleep Stories: Bedtime stories for adults narrated by celebrities (Stephen Fry, Matthew McConaughey, Harry Styles, etc.). Wildly popular feature.

Additional features:

• Calm Music (relaxing playlists)
• Calm Masterclasses (expert talks on topics like relationships, resilience)
• Breathwork exercises
• Stretching and movement
• Calm Kids (content for children)

Unique selling points:

• Beautiful, immersive design
• Celebrity narrators (Sleep Stories)
• Extensive content library (constantly updated)
• Variety of voices and styles

User Experience

Design: Gorgeous. Nature-inspired visuals. Calming colour palette (blues, greens). Polished, premium feel. Each section feels like entering a serene space.

Tone: Soothing, gentle. Multiple narrator options. Feels like a spa experience.

Navigation: Intuitive but can feel overwhelming due to sheer content volume. Improved with recent updates.

Evidence Base

Calm has research backing, though less extensive than Headspace.

Key findings:

Stress and anxiety: 2019 study found 8 weeks of Calm reduced stress and improved mindfulness.

Sleep: Research shows Sleep Stories improve sleep onset and quality.

Workplace wellbeing: Study in corporate setting found Calm reduced stress and improved job satisfaction.

Caveats: Fewer published studies than Headspace. Some reliance on general mindfulness research rather than app-specific studies.

Pricing

Free version: Limited access (handful of meditations, some music). 7-day free trial.

Paid subscription:

• Monthly: £14.99
• Annual: £54.99 (works out to £4.58/month)
• Lifetime: £319.99 (one-time payment—only worth it if you'll use long-term)

Family plan: Not currently available (each user needs separate subscription)

Free for teachers, healthcare workers, those affected by disasters: Periodically offered

Pros

• Sleep Stories: Genuinely unique and effective. Worth subscription for sleep alone.
• Variety: Massive content library; something for every mood
• Beautiful design: Aesthetics enhance relaxation
• Celebrity narrators: Appeals to some (Stephen Fry's voice is divine)
• Constantly updated: New content added regularly

Cons

• Less structured: Not ideal for absolute beginners who need clear progression
• Can feel overwhelming: So much content it's hard to know where to start
• More expensive: Slightly higher price than Headspace
• Less research-focused: While evidence exists, less emphasis on scientific rigour

Head-to-Head Comparison

For Beginners

Winner: Headspace

Headspace's Basics course provides clear, structured introduction to meditation. You know exactly where to start and how to progress.

Calm's abundance of options can overwhelm newcomers.

For Sleep

Winner: Calm

Sleep Stories are genuinely brilliant. Falling asleep to Stephen Fry narrating a train journey through France is oddly delightful and effective.

Headspace has good sleep content (sleepcasts, wind-downs), but Calm's is more extensive and engaging.

For Anxiety

Tie (different strengths)

Headspace: More systematic approach. Anxiety-specific courses teach underlying principles and coping strategies.

Calm: SOS meditations and immediate relief focus. Quick anxiety relief when you're spiralling.

Choose based on whether you prefer learning foundational skills (Headspace) or in-the-moment relief (Calm).

For Variety

Winner: Calm

Sheer volume of content—meditations, masterclasses, music, stories. If you get bored easily, Calm offers more exploration.

For Evidence-Based Practice

Winner: Headspace

More research backing. Clearer emphasis on scientific rigour. Collabouration with healthcare institutions.

If evidence base matters to you (and it should), Headspace wins.

For Aesthetics

Winner: Calm

Simply more beautiful. If design and atmosphere enhance your relaxation, Calm delivers.

Value for Money

Slight edge: Headspace

£5/year cheaper. Given similar core content, Headspace offers marginally better value—unless Sleep Stories are essential to you.

A Therapist's Perspective: Do These Apps Actually Help?

Short answer: Yes, for many people—with caveats.

What meditation apps can do:

• Teach basic mindfulness and meditation skills
• Provide accessible, convenient mental health tools
• Reduce stress, anxiety, and improve sleep (supported by research)
• Serve as preventative mental health maintenance
• Complement therapy (I often recommend them between sessions)

What they can't do:

• Replace therapy for moderate-severe mental health conditions
• Address complex trauma or deep-rooted issues
• Provide personalised guidance tailored to your specific situation
• Offer human connection and therapeutic relationship
• Manage crisis situations

When to use an app:

• General stress management
• Sleep difficulties (mild-moderate)
• Developing mindfulness practice
• Between therapy sessions (as homework)
• Preventative mental health maintenance
• If you can't access therapy currently

When to seek professional help instead:

• Moderate-severe depression or anxiety
• Trauma or PTSD
• Suicidal thoughts
• Relationship difficulties requiring exploration
• Complex mental health presentations
• If self-help attempts haven't helped after 4-6 weeks

Best use: Apps as supplements, not replacements, for comprehensive mental health care.

Client Feedback: What My Clients Say

Headspace: "I'm a total beginner. Headspace's Basics course taught me meditation step-by-step. I actually stuck with it, which I never have before." — Sarah, 34

"I love Andy's voice. It's like having a meditation teacher in my pocket." — James, 41

Calm: "The Sleep Stories are the only thing that helps my insomnia. I'm genuinely asleep within 20 minutes." — Priya, 29

"I find Headspace too rigid. Calm lets me explore different meditation styles based on my mood." — Marcus, 36

Alternative Apps Worth Considering

Insight Timer:

• Free (seriously—huge library with optional paid features)
• 100,000+ meditations from teachers worldwide
• Community features
• Verdict: Best free option by far

Balance:

• Personalised meditation plans
• Free for first year (limited-time promotion)
• Adapts to your progress and preferences
• Verdict: Innovative approach; worth trying while free

Waking Up (Sam Harris):

• Philosophy-based mindfulness
• Less "relaxation," more "understanding consciousness"
• Academic, secular approach
• Verdict: For intellectually curious meditators

Ten Percent Happier:

• Meditation for skeptics
• Expert teachers, no fluff
• Courses on specific issues (anxiety, parenting, chronic pain)
• Verdict: Great for skeptics or people who dislike "woo-woo" language

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Headspace if you:

• Are new to meditation and want structured guidance
• Value evidence-based approaches
• Prefer clear, systematic learning
• Want focus and productivity tools
• Appreciate consistent narration (Andy's voice)

Choose Calm if you:

• Struggle with sleep and want Sleep Stories
• Enjoy variety and exploration
• Value aesthetics and beautiful design
• Like celebrity narrators
• Want extensive content library to explore

Choose Both (alternate annually) if:

• Budget allows
• You want structured learning (Headspace year 1) then variety (Calm year 2)

Choose Neither (try Insight Timer) if:

• Budget is tight
• You want free options first
• You value community features

Final Verdict

Both Headspace and Calm are excellent apps delivering genuine mental health benefits. Neither is objectively "better"—they serve different preferences.

My recommendation:

For most beginners: Start with Headspace. Learn meditation systematically, build consistent practice, then explore Calm for variety if desired.

For sleep issues: Go straight to Calm. Sleep Stories are genuinely unique and effective.

For budget-conscious: Try Insight Timer first (free). Upgrade to paid apps only if free options don't meet your needs.

Remember: Apps are tools, not magic solutions. Consistency matters more than which app you choose. Even 5 minutes daily yields benefits.

FAQs

Can I try both before committing? Yes. Both offer free trials (Headspace 14 days, Calm 7 days). Try both, see which resonates.

Will my data be secure? Both have privacy policies. Neither sells health data, but both collect usage analytics. Review privacy policies if concerned.

Can I share a subscription with family? Headspace offers family plan (£74.99/year for 6 users). Calm doesn't currently.

Do they work offline? Yes. Both allow downloading content for offline use (essential for commutes, flights, areas with poor signal).

Can I cancel anytime? Yes. Both allow cancellation without penalty. Annual subscriptions refundable within certain windows (check terms).

Conclusion: Worthwhile Investment for Most People

At £50-£55 annually, both Headspace and Calm cost roughly the same as one private therapy session.

For that price, you get year-round access to tools scientifically proven to reduce stress, improve sleep, and support mental wellbeing.

Not a replacement for therapy. Not a cure-all. But a valuable addition to your mental health toolkit—especially if you use them consistently.

My advice? Try the free trials. See which feels right. Commit to daily practice for at least 30 days. Then assess whether the investment is worthwhile for you.

For many people, it absolutely is.

Professional Mental Health Support

Whilst apps like Headspace and Calm offer valuable self-help tools, they don't replace professional therapy for significant mental health difficulties.

If you're struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or life challenges, Kicks Therapy offers compassionate, evidence-based counselling in-person in Fulham, online UK-wide, and as walking therapy in South West London.

Book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss how therapy can support you.

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Kicks Therapy is a BACP-registered counselling service. This review is independent; we have no commercial relationship with Headspace or Calm.