It can be hard to find peace of mind when everything seems to be going so fast.
That’s where apps like Calm come in. They give people tools to help them deal with stress, sleep better, and become more focused.
You can read my full review of Calm below. I’ll talk about its features, my experience with it, and whether it’s worth your time and money. Let’s get started.
What is the Calm App?

The relaxation and meditation app Calm is meant to help people feel better about their mental health.
It was created in 2012 and now has millions of users all over the world.
The app has guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing exercises, and music tracks that are meant to help you relax and think more clearly.
Calm has been praised for its sleek design, easy navigation, and large content library.
It can be downloaded on both iOS and Android. But does it live up to all the fuss?
Key Features of the Calm App
1. Meditations with a guide
Calm’s guided exercises are about a lot of different things, like reducing stress, improving yourself, and being emotionally strong.
I liked how easy the sessions were for beginners because I was new to meditation when I first got the app.
There are soft voices from the teachers, and the directions are clear and useful.
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2. Bedtime Stories
Sleep Stories are one of the best things about Calm.
These audio stories are made to help people fall asleep and stay asleep.
These stories, read by soothing actors like Matthew McConaughey and Harry Styles, include both classic bedtime stories and madeup tales.
I often used these when I couldn’t sleep, and I was surprised at how well they worked.
3. Music to calm down and concentrate
Calm has a lot of different music sets that can help you relax or get more done.
The tracks have a wide range of sounds, from background noise to piano solos.
While I was working, I used the “Deep Focus” recording and found it to be both relaxing and helpful for focusing.
4. Exercises for breathing
Mindful breathing is an important part of dealing with stress, and Calm has tasks that can help people practice deep, purposeful breathing.
When I need to calm down before an important meeting, I often do these short but powerful activities.
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5. Series of master classes
Calm works with experts to offer mini Masterclasses on subjects like being creative, being thoughtful, and getting through tough times.
These meetings feel like short lessons on life from some of the smartest people I know.
6. Checking in on your mood
You can keep track of your mood over time with this app.
This gives you a chance to think about your mental state and find trends.
I’ve learned a lot about myself through the regular check-ins.
Who Should Use Calm?
The Calm app can be used for many things, but it works best for:
- Beginners to Meditation: It’s easy to follow directions and make it possible to be mindful.
- Stressed Professionals: short breathing exercises and meditations are easy to fit into busy plans.
- People who have trouble sleeping: The Sleep Stories are a great tool for people who have trouble sleeping.
- Anyone Looking for Tools for Mental Health: Because there is so much to choose from, it’s tough not to find something useful.
How Much Does Calm Cost? is it Worth it?

You can try Calm for free, but a lot of its best features cost money.
The service costs $14.99 a month or $69.99 a year.
This may seem expensive, but I thought it was about the same as one therapy session or a month’s worth of coffee.
Depending on how often you use it, the benefits may be worth it.
To get the most out of it, use the free trial to see what it has to offer before you commit.
You might decide that it’s an investment in your mental health that pays off.
Pros and Cons of Calm App
Pros:
- A huge collection of meditations, sleep aids, and songs to help you relax.
- Interface that is easy to use and looks nice.
- Updated often with new material.
- All kinds of experience can use it.
- has famous narrators to make it more interesting.
Cons:
- It costs more to subscribe than some rivals.
- Things may start to feel the same after a while.
- Some functions can’t be used offline (unless they were already downloaded).
Tips to Get The Most Out of Calm
Regularity is very important. Set up a routine. Make a habit of something, like meditating in the morning or reading a Sleep Story every night.
Try Everything The app is very large, so there’s always something new to try. Don’t limit yourself to routines.
Set Goals That Are Doable Start out small. There is a change that can be seen after just 5 minutes.
Use the free trial to find out which features you like best before you sign up for a full membership.
Smart Use of Notifications Calm lets you set gentle alarms to remember you to meditate or check your mood. These can keep you on track without getting in the way.
My Personal Experience With Calm
When I first got Calm, I was under a lot of stress and having trouble sleeping.
I was skeptical at first about the idea of using an app to relax, but it turned out to be a very good experience.
The “Daily Calm” session, which sends you a short meditation every day, is one of my favorites.
It turned into a small habit that helped me start each day on a good note.
The app’s design is relaxing, with peaceful scenery and natural sounds. Just opening it is relaxing.
I also remember the time I learned about Gratitude Meditation.
It made me think about all the good things in my life, no matter how little they are.
This simple activity changed the way I thought and helped me develop a more positive attitude.
But not everything was great. I thought the price of the contract was a bit high at times (more on prices later).
Some of the material also felt repetitive after a while of use, especially if you only used one type of feature.
How Does Calm Compare to Competitors?
Feature | Calm | Headspace | Insight Timer |
---|---|---|---|
Key Focus | Relaxation & Sleep | Structured Programs | Community & Free Content |
Pricing | $69.99/year | $69.99/year | Free with optional in-app purchases |
Guided Meditations | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Sleep Stories | Yes | Limited | No |
Music & Sounds | Yes | No | Yes |
Offline Access | Partial | Yes | Yes |
Free Content | Limited | Limited | Extensive |
Case Study:
I’ve searched on different forums and got this user review. Reddit User (BeachWoo) said I’ve used Calm for about 3 years and I really like it. It’s all I use for meditation, white noise to fall asleep or just background calming sounds during the day. For more knowledge visit Reddit
Final Words
Calm is a great app for people who want to improve their mental health, sleep better, or make mindfulness a part of their daily life.
It’s easy to use and has a lot of different kinds of material, and features like Sleep Stories and guided meditations make it really useful.
But its high price tag might not be right for everyone.
If money is tight, you might want to try the free sample or look at other options first.
From my own experience, Calm was more than just an app; it was a friend during hard times.
Calm might be worth every penny if you’re willing to spend money on your mental health.
Did you try Calm? Please share your stories below; they might help other people find peace.
Source:
Balagam, I. (2024, April 19). A 2024 breakdown of the Calm App: Tested and reviewed by 6 editors. Healthline.
Rowe, S. (2023, August 30). I tried the Calm app to help improve my sleep habits. Verywell Mind.
Goodman, W. (2022, February 14). I’m a therapist and I tried the Calm app for 7 days – Sitwithwhit.com.