Health

Calm

Sleep stories, meditation, and relaxation - the sleep app leader.

4.4 (24 reviews)

MatchFast editorial rating, not a verified user review average.

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Price$14.99/mo - $69.99/yr
Founded2012
HQSan Francisco, US
Employees100 to 500

About Calm

Calm owns bedtime: celebrity-narrated Sleep Stories (Matthew McConaughey moves units), soundscapes, and wind-down sessions that anchor nightly routines. Daily Calm meditations and masterclasses fill the daytime side.

Key Features

Celebrity Sleep Stories
Daily Calm sessions
Soundscapes and music
Breathing exercises
Masterclasses

Pros & Cons

Pros

Unmatched sleep content
New Daily Calm every day
Soothing soundscape library

Cons

Pricier monthly than rivals
Less structured for learning

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Sleep Stories?

Bedtime tales narrated by famous voices, engineered to make you drift off.

Calm vs Headspace?

Calm for sleep; Headspace for meditation training.

Is there a free version?

Limited sampler; subscription unlocks the library.

Best For

People whose real problem is falling asleep.

Use Cases

Falling asleep to celebrity-narrated Sleep Stories
Daily Calm sessions building a consistent meditation habit
Ambient soundscapes and music for focus and relaxation
Managing anxious moments with breathing exercises
Kids sleep content for family bedtime routines

Pricing Details

Calm Premium costs about $14.99/month or $69.99/year after a 7-day trial, with a lifetime option around $399. A limited free tier includes basic sessions and one Sleep Story rotation. Family plans cover six accounts, and many employers and health plans offer Calm Health as a free benefit.

Security & Trust

Calm collects usage and optional wellness check-in data with clear controls, supports Google, Apple, and email sign-in, and does not sell personal data. Sleep and meditation history stay private to your account. As with all wellness apps, it complements rather than replaces professional mental-health care.

Alternatives To Consider

Headspace teaches meditation more systematically, while Calm wins on sleep and ambient content. Insight Timer offers the deepest free library, BetterSleep specializes in sound mixing for sleep, and Spotify or YouTube provide free sleep sounds without the curation or courses.

Editorial Verdict

Calm is the best app for sleep — Sleep Stories remain unmatched, and the soundscape library makes it a nightly utility rather than another unused subscription. Its meditation instruction is lighter than Headspace’s. If your problem is falling asleep, choose Calm; if it is learning to meditate, choose Headspace.