I have a confession: I was a Calm super-fan for almost two years. The sleep stories? Life-changing. Matthew McConaughey lulling me to sleep? Yes please. But then my subscription renewed at $70, and I started wondering: is there something better out there?
Spoiler alert: there is. Actually, there are several. And some of them do things Calm cannot even dream of (pun intended).
If you are searching for a Calm meditation app alternative, you are in the right place. I spent the last month testing every major competitor so you do not have to. Here is what I found.
🏆 Quick comparison: Calm alternatives at a glance
App
Best For
Price
Sleep Content
AI Chat
Headspace
Structured learning
$70/year
Good
❌
Insight Timer
Free content
Free (Premium $60/year)
Limited
❌
Balance
Personalization
$70/year (free first year)
Great
❌
Woebot
CBT therapy
Free
None
✅
Ube AI
AI companion + exercises
Free trial + $6/mo
Meditation
✅
Now let us break down each one.
1. Headspace 🧘
Best for: People who want structured courses
If Calm is Netflix, Headspace is more like a university course. Everything is organized into programs and series. The animations are playful, and Andy Puddicombe (the founder) has a voice that could calm a hurricane.
What I loved:
Incredibly well-structured learning path
Focus mode for work and study
Move section for mindful workouts
Sleepcasts (different from Calm Sleep Stories but equally good)
What annoyed me:
$70/year is the same price as Calm
Less celebrity content than Calm
Can feel too structured if you want freedom
💡 Pro tip: If you learn better with structure and progression, Headspace beats Calm. If you want to just pick and play, stick with Calm.
Here is a secret the meditation industry does not want you to know: Insight Timer is basically free. Over 100,000 guided meditations, music tracks, and yoga sessions. The catch? Quality is all over the place.
What I loved:
Largest free library anywhere
Community features (see who is meditating with you)
Live events with real teachers
Simple timer for silent meditation
What annoyed me:
So much content it is overwhelming
Quality varies from professional to bathroom recordings
Ads interrupt your zen unless you pay
💡 Pro tip: Start with the "Popular" filter. The top-rated content is genuinely excellent, and it is all free.
Balance is the underdog that deserves way more attention. It asks you questions and genuinely tailors the experience to you. The first year is completely free, which is insane for an app this polished.
What I loved:
Truly personalized meditation plans
First year is FREE (seriously)
Sleep content rivals Calm
Beautiful, minimal design
What annoyed me:
Smaller content library than Calm
Less celebrity star power
After the free year, it is $70/year
💡 Pro tip: If you have never meditated before, Balance is probably the best place to start. The personalization actually helps.
Best for: People who want therapy techniques, not just meditation
Woebot is completely different from Calm. It is not really a meditation app, it is a CBT therapy chatbot built by Stanford psychologists. If you deal with anxiety or depression, Woebot teaches you real coping techniques.
What I loved:
100% free (no hidden costs)
Based on actual psychology research
Daily check-ins build self-awareness
Genuinely helpful for anxiety
What annoyed me:
No meditation or sleep content at all
Can feel repetitive after a few weeks
Not as polished as Calm
💡 Pro tip: Use Woebot alongside a meditation app. It does something completely different but equally valuable.
Best for: People who want a real companion, not just content
Here is where I landed after all my testing. Ube AI is not trying to be Calm. It is something new: an AI mental health companion that actually remembers you.
Think about it: Calm gives you the same sleep story whether you are stressed about work or going through a breakup. Ube remembers your context. It knows what you talked about yesterday. It adapts.
What makes Ube AI different:
🧠 AI that remembers – It builds a relationship with you over time
🌬️ Breathing exercises – Cardiac coherence, box breathing, and more
🧘 Meditation – Sessions designed for sleep and focus
🎮 Gamification – Streaks and levels keep you coming back
💬 Real conversation – Not just pre-recorded content
Pricing:
Plan
Price
What you get
Free Trial
$0
Full access for 7 days
Premium
$6/month
Unlimited everything
💡 Pro tip: The breathing exercises alone are worth trying. Start with the free trial and see if the AI companion style clicks for you.
Do not get me wrong, Calm is a fantastic app. The production quality is unmatched. The sleep stories are genuinely helpful. But after two years, I realized something:
Calm is passive. I was consuming content, not building a practice.
With Ube AI, I actually talk through my problems. The AI helps me process what is going on, then suggests a breathing exercise or meditation based on what I actually need. It is active, not passive.
Plus, at $6/month versus $70/year, it is also cheaper. 🤷♂️
Which Calm alternative is right for you?
If you want...
Get this
Structured learning
Headspace
Free content
Insight Timer
Personalized meditation
Balance
CBT therapy techniques
Woebot
An AI companion that grows with you
Ube AI
The best app is the one you will actually use. All of these have free trials or free tiers, so try a few and see what clicks.
Final thoughts
Calm is not the only game in town. In 2025, you have more options than ever for meditation and mental wellness. Whether you want structured courses (Headspace), massive free libraries (Insight Timer), or something completely new like an AI companion (Ube AI), there is an app that fits your style.
My recommendation? Start with Ube AI if you want something fresh. The combination of conversation, breathing exercises, and gamification hits different than traditional meditation apps.
