If you're looking for a meditation app or something to improve your mindfulness and well-being, you've probably already come across Headspace and Calm. But with both being relatively expensive, you're probably wondering how the two compare and which to download.
Headspace was created by an ex-Buddhist monk. It is designed to offer users various meditations and techniques to help them manage stress, focus better and improve their mental well-being. It also provides several courses and programs on parenting, relationships, and work-related stress.
Calm is a lot simpler in its approach to meditation, offering users breathing and mindfulness exercises with meditation sessions that range from 3 minutes to 25 minutes. It also has an extensive library of guided meditations and sleep stories designed to help users wind down and relax.
So which is better, Headspace or Calm?
In this article, we'll pit Headspace vs Calm. We'll look at the pros and cons of both apps, their features, and what makes them different. Finally, we'll judge whether Headspace or Calm is right for you and make suggestions if they’re not quite what you're looking for. Let's jump in!
If we're going to pit Headspace vs Calm, we need to start somewhere. While Headspace may be the first app we look at, readers shouldn't assume it's the best. Both apps have important plus points and a few cons, so let's dive in and judge at the end!
Headspace has seen a dramatic surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. It differs from other meditation and mindfulness apps because of its quality, quantity, and user experience. Headspace provides daily guided meditations that range from ten minutes to one hour in length and address a wide array of topics, including stress, anxiety, sleep, and relationships.
Headspace also focuses on providing a unique and engaging experience for users with its lively animations, videos, mindful moments between sessions, meditations for kids, and sleep stories. This means that each time you open the app, there is something new to discover-making it a more enjoyable experience overall.
But does it live up to its lofty claims?
Here are some pros and cons of using Headspace for your mental health needs.
Overall, Headspace can be an effective tool for improving mental health and well-being. However, it's essential to consider both the pros and cons before using it as your primary source of help. It's also important to note that mental health issues should be discussed with a qualified professional to get the best possible results.
Now that we've heard about Headspace, we have one side of the Calm vs Headspace debate. However, we need to hear about the competition to judge whether Headspace or Calm is the better app. So let's take a look!
The Calm app is designed to help users relax and reduce stress through guided meditations, music, soundscapes, sleep stories, and more. It provides a wide range of content that appeals to both beginners and experienced meditators, making it one of the most popular meditation apps on the market. Calm was launched in 2012 by co-founders Michael Acton Smith and Alex Tew, best known for their previous success in creating the popular website Calm.com.
Calm provides users with guided meditation programs that can be followed via audio, video, and text. It also offers a range of sleep stories narrated by celebrities such as Harry Styles and LeBron James. Other features include“Mindful Moments” that take users through breathing exercises, body scans to help them focus on the present moment, as well as tools for tracking the user’s progress.
Before we delve into answering which is better, we need to truly pit the two apps against each other-Calm vs Headspace style!
One of the significant differences between the two apps is how their meditations are structured. Headspace's meditations are usually more structured and require users to complete one session before advancing to the next. This structure creates a sense of progression and encourages users to continue with their journey through meditation. On the other hand, Calm offers a free-flowing, user-choice approach. You can choose which sessions to complete at any time without feeling restricted by a predetermined program.
Another major difference when looking at Headspace vs Calm is their approach to sleep. Headspace has a significant section on its website on how to fall asleep, focusing on meditation. In comparison, Calm only has select meditation courses focused on sleep. Most of the content dedicated to mediation are children's stories narrated by celebrities or other well-known characters.
When it comes to focusing, Headspace again has the upper hand in this Headspace vs Calm contest. With Headspace, there are different ways that you can learn how to focus, with a considerable emphasis placed on meditation. In contrast, in Calm, there is no such emphasis. The Headspace app even has an entire area devoted exclusively to "Focus" with featured sections like "For studying" and "Quick Resets."
To finish our look at Headspace vs Calm, let's discuss exercise. Although Headspace and Calm both feature exercise, Calm dedicates more time to physical activity than Headspace does. The "Movement" section of the Calm app focuses on yoga and the variety of ways it can be performed. Similarly, some meditations are designed for walking, meaning you can integrate your mindfulness practice into your everyday life. In contrast, Headspace only has a few exercises available and doesn't give attention to exercise (like Calm does).
Ultimately, it depends on what you are looking for in an app when deciding which one is better-Headspace or Calm. Both are great options for anyone looking to incorporate meditation into their daily routine.
Headspace is ideal for beginners looking for a structured system to progress through, and Calm offers more freedom and choice. Headspace is better for those wanting to learn and focus on meditation. At the same time, Calm has a larger selection of activities, including yoga and walking.
Ultimately, the best one for you will depend on your needs and which app can better accommodate them.
If you find that neither Headspace nor Calm meets all of your needs, you could consider other avenues for your meditation, mindfulness, and well-being.
For example, most towns and cities will have local mindfulness classes or meditation groups. This can be a great way to get the support of an experienced teacher who can take you through your practice in person. Equally, you could make many lifestyle changes to support your well-being, such as getting more exercise, eating well, and connecting with people.
And, of course, you may also want to try other apps, which brings us to the next section.
If you’re looking for other apps like Headspace and Calm there are plenty of other options available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Mesmerize is a visual meditation experience that will help you relax and find clarity and inner peace. Featuring engaging visuals with relaxing music and expertly crafted guided meditations, it offers an immersive audio-visual experience like no other.
Unlike apps like Headspace and Calm, Mesmerize allows you to customize the meditation experiences according to your needs. You can choose from various visuals, music, and narrated meditations to tailor the experience to what you are looking for. Unlike Calm, it's perfect for beginners, and those unhappy with how overwhelming Headspace is will also be more comfortable here. Download Mesmerize on the App Store or Google Play today.
If you’re looking for an app that will help you fall asleep easier and feel more at peace, look no further than Pzizz. Unlike apps like Headspace and Calm, which require you to build up certain habits or practices, the Pzizz app works with the push of a button. With our unique combination of sounds, Pzizz provides a personalized experience for each user.
The most significant difference between these three solutions is their approach to helping people achieve better sleep. Apps like Headspace and Calm focus on creating habits leading to better sleep, such as breathwork techniques and mindfulness practices. On the other hand, Pzizz is designed to make falling asleep easier with its unique Dreamscapes. If you’re ready to start your journey to better sleep, download Pzizz on the App Store or Google Play today!
Happy Not Perfect is an interactive digital platform that makes caring for your mental health and well-being easy. It provides users with personalized tools, activities, and resources to help them manage stress, improve focus, gain clarity and reach their goals. Features include the Daily Happiness Workout, a Sleep Wind-Down tool, over 500+mindfulness sessions, and integrated tracking.
Happy Not Perfect is more of a mental self-care tool than apps like Headspace and Calm. It helps you understand your feelings, learn how to manage them, build healthy coping strategies and create an action plan. It's perfect for anyone looking to find the support they need in taking care of their mental well-being and has been backed by science.
So which is better, Calm or Headspace? Well, perhaps this is the wrong question. It all depends on which kind of experience you are looking for. If you want to focus on meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation, then Headspace or Calm may be the perfect choice for you.
But suppose your focus is more on sleep. In that case, Pzizz could provide an excellent solution for those who find apps like Headspace and Calm lacking customization options and sound variety. Ultimately which app is best for you comes down to which one resonates with you most!
Headspace and Calm both target beginners and experienced meditators alike. They offer content for users of all ages and skill levels, making them accessible to anyone interested in exploring meditation. However, Headspace is perhaps more beginner friendly.
Headspace provides a more comprehensive introduction to meditation than Calm does. It offers beginner-friendly audio lessons that gradually introduce users to different types of meditation practices, such as mindful breathing or visualization. Additionally, it features interactive activities and exercises that make it easy to understand the basics of meditation.
Calm offers a small amount of free content, while Headspace requires a subscription fee to access all its features. However, both apps offer discounts if you opt for an annual subscription.