Calm app reviews from customers and media
Learn what some of our customers and journalists are saying about Calm and the Calm app with our curation of reviews (updated for 2026).
If you’ve been considering exploring mindfulness, then you might be also considering trying out the Calm app. We know we might be a little biased in thinking Calm is the best app for meditation, mindfulness, and sleep, but we also know that doing your due diligence is important before making a commitment to a subscription.
To help you decide whether or not Calm is for you, we’ve collected a few noteworthy Calm app reviews from all over the internet to help you get a feel for what our most loyal users think about us.
Calm app reviews from Apple’s app store
“My therapist recommended this app to me years ago. I can honestly say that it changed my life! You have so many options of scenery, of sounds, they have a variation of mediations, they can read to you, have small calming podcasts with you. Honestly, get it. This app is the best that you can do for yourself if you struggle with any mental illness and stress.”
— Aurora S. (Apple’s App Store)
“I am so grateful for this app. Now, the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars would be due to a recommendation I have for the creators, they should create a watch or something that can track your sleep & in the morning provide meditations, music, Sleep Stories that reflect how you slept the night before. For example, if someone woke up a lot, or if people were waking up frequently and having a hard time going back to sleep & maybe making suggestions for a meditation they could choose that one as more personal, or for anxiety with sleep or sleeplessness, things like that. I don’t know if that would be my only recommendation, but overall it's an amazing app that’s worth the price.”
— Cailey H. (Apple’s App Store)
“I can't say enough how much I love this app. It has trained me in how to settle and focus myself, while also making a habit of it. It is my little space of peace on very hectic days. Not sure how Tamara knows just what I need to hear in the daily meditations, but it almost always hits me in just the right way. I have tried other mediation and gratitude programs and apps, but this one has everything and the best teachers. There are even parts perfected just for children and my little ones love listening and practicing with me. Worth every penny.”
— Anonymous (Apple’s App Store)
“I really like this app. It allows you to be able to meditate, practice mindfulness, listen to sounds when trying to fall asleep, and practice techniques to work on anxiety and stress. Not only that, it is very aesthetically pleasing to the eye. [Calm app] is easy to navigate through. I also like that this app is available for people of all ages to use. The app is a bit pricey, but the free portion of the app is enough to use if you do not want to pay for it. I suggest using the 7-day free trial to see if you want to pay for it, or if you just want to stick with the free app.”
— Julia D. (Apple’s App Store)
“The best way to calm anxiety - I’m a 19 year-old college student that suffers from an anxiety disorder. I feel anxious most of the time and when things [I should actually] feel anxious about present themselves it can be absolutely debilitating for me physically and emotionally. However Calm allows me to find hope in my current predicaments, and is amazing at calming me down. I really enjoy the soundscapes and meditation but my favorite thing is definitely the Sleep Stories.
Listening to a bedtime story made for little kids mostly is really strangely therapeutic. There are more adult options but give the kiddy one’s a try. I feel like I’m one of the last demographics that these Sleep Stories would reach but they make me feel more secure and able to connect back to the security of childhood.
But anyways I highly recommend this app, the subscription is a bit pricey but the quality isn’t matched anywhere else. Falling asleep, calming down, feeling secure, and gaining more confidence & hope have all been easy and peaceful to do with this app. I’ve been falling asleep with my headphones on every night so I can listen to this without disturbing my roommate. But I feel like he would enjoy it too. After just the first day of the free trial I’m hooked.”
— Anonymous (Apple’s App Store)
“…I got Calm [to] strengthen my DBT skills, but it's gone beyond that. I'm learning more about myself… I'm learning how to be present, all the time. I deleted all my social media apps and distractions and I just use Calm all day now. I love the music for focus, I love the daily move — mindful ways to be more connected to your body, and curated stretches for specific needs. I love the Masterclasses (only wish there were more of them!) I love the Courses — I'm on my third round of the 7 Days of Gratitude and 7 Days of Happiness… There are so many tools, SOS meditations, soothing voices that feel like they really care, and the SLEEP STORIES!!! they are so good… The soundscapes are probably what I utilize for the longest periods — Miss Honeys Garden from Matilda gave me the best nap of my life, and I don't even take naps!”
— Anonymous (Apple's App Store)
“I live a good life and am generally a happy person, and still I always felt like I was carrying so much stress… Despite my attempts to lower stress through exercise, a healthy diet, and time outdoors, I always found those techniques to be short-term solutions… Calm has not only met but exceeded my expectations. It definitely takes a personal commitment, but carving out even just 10 minutes for the Daily Calm has completely altered my mindset in just a few weeks… I absolutely love the narrators, the categories (including bedtime stories, soundscapes, music, and traditional meditations), and the overall peace of mind that comes with this wonderful program. $70/year is so worth the price! Of course Calm is just the tool. You're the one who will have to come to the table with an open mind and a ready heart willing to do the work, but doing so will yield tremendous value!”
— Anonymous (Apple's App Store)
Calm app reviews from the Google Play Store
“Been using since 2022. Love the app for music to play while asleep. But the most recent update made it so none of my favorites/recents showed up before updating, and I ended up having to uninstall then reinstall to get it to function, as after updating, it wouldn't even open. It said the update fixed bugs, but honestly it caused bugs for me when there weren't any previously. Overall not a horrible thing to deal with, but when I'm exhausted & half asleep & want to go to bed, it was quite annoying.”
— Breanne (Google Play Store)
“I use Calm every night. They add new stories frequently. I save the ones I really like that help me to fall asleep fast and try new ones on nights that I don't need to get to sleep quickly. I have also begun to use the meditation section at night and find that when I get stressed during the day, I remind myself to breathe through it. I find it does help, though I need to get better at it still. Thank you, Calm, for such a great App!”
— Donna (Google Play Store)
“While some people may say ‘Oh you can just find this stuff on YouTube,’ I actually quite enjoy having it all in one place, and unlike YouTube it can run while your device is turned off, which has allowed me to sleep with the sounds going. I quite like the train ride track (WHICH IS FREE!) And it has helped with my insomnia. I highly recommend this to people who 1. Have a stressful life 2. Trouble sleeping or 3. Enjoy being relaxed.”
— James B. (Google Play Store)
“I love the app and have been using it for years. One of my favorite tools is the breathing exercises and I often reach for a specific one when I feel a pain attack coming on. Ideally, it would be easier to access these breathing exercises through either a dedicated "widget" on my phone's home screen or maybe as a "sticky" user favorite section on the top of the app home screen when you open it up. As you can probably guess, searching through history/favs while having a panic attack isn't ideal.”
— Yvonne P. (Google Play Store)
“I have been using the Calm app for about six months now, and it has genuinely made a huge difference in my daily routine. Like many people, I struggle with a mind that refuses to quiet down at night and a daily schedule that often feels overwhelming. I originally downloaded Calm hoping it might help me fall asleep a little faster, but it has quickly become my go-to tool for managing stress, improving my focus, and getting better rest every single night.”
— Anonymous (Google Play Store)
“I started using this app about a year ago at the recommendation of my therapist. It has really helped get me through some tough times. I've used all of the different tools you can use (Sleep, Meditate, Music, Breathe, etc) but my favorite tool in this app is the 'Sleep Stories'. I bought Bluetooth headphones to listen while I'm going to sleep. I can't tell you how many stories I know the beginning of and have never gotten to the end because they always get me sleeping! Thanks Calm team!”
— Anonymous (Google Play Store)
“…This app was recommended to me by a therapist and has really helped me develop techniques that help me cope with anxiety. Just know meditation isn't meant to be a quick fix. It is like [exercise]. The more you go at it the better you get.”
— Melodie N. (Google Play Store)
“Excellent for teachers and students. I use this app daily for my personal practice. I have also shared with my students. We use it in my school for staff self-care, too. A nice upgrade would be for the background music or waves to continue after the Daily Calm finishes. I often continue to meditate after Tamara finishes the guided meditation and it changes my focus when the background stops.”
— Anonymous (Google Play Store)
“Weekly I see a counselor who uses guided meditation and always walk out a better person. But it's easy to fall back into some of the things that bring me down in the course of a week. But Calm and it's meditations are like a daily booster shot for me and I find it helps fortify the wall of positivity and awareness, far less of the downers in my week get to me.”
— Anonymous (Google Play Store)
Calm app reviews from social media
"I've been using Calm every day for meditation and it's been so helpful with my anxiety. I did short ones here and there and noticed I felt better immediately so then I did the 7 day course for releasing anxiety and that helped a lot. So I've just been doing it normally when I wake up. I've had such bad anxiety for a while so it is nice to get some relief. I was waking up almost every single night at 3:30am unable to fall back asleep and now since I've been doing this, I've slept until 5am (my normal wake-up time during the week)."
— Anonymous (Instagram)
“My daughter is learning how to take pills and her anxiety is getting in the way. I’ve talked before about how she’s named her amygdala WIT. After practicing a bit, we took a break. She did a short loving kindness meditation on Calm with Tamara Levitt directing it to WIT. We started talking to WIT, “I appreciate you looking out for me but I’m safe right now. I have my parents with me and taking this medicine will help me, not harm me. I don’t need your help right now.” Then, we did some deep breaths and she gave it another try. Success. These moments are challenging for everyone. It’s so hard for me to stay calm and regulated because it seems simple to me. Anxiety is a real MF-er. We will build on this success tomorrow.”
— Lisa H. (Threads)
“Calm Sleep Stories are absolutely marvelous! I haven’t heard a complete story since I learned about the app. Pre-transplant, the Sleep Stories helped me rest comfortably during my nocturnal dialysis treatments. Post-transplant, the meditations help me adjust my attitude and relax. And the Sleep Stories still induce peaceful rest. I love playing the water soundscapes when I’m working on a demanding task. Calm is a great help to my mental health and wellness.”
— Anonymous (Threads)
Calm app reviews from our Daily Calm Community
“I started using Calm after being diagnosed with cancer in 2018. Love the app, but I do agree with others that the organization of the app could use some work. I think it needs to be simplified. I would also prefer that the children's Sleep Stories are separate from the adults. Also listing new Sleep Stories first, instead of featured. I look forward to new Sleep Stories. I always have a difficult time finding the various colored noises in the soundscapes.
One thing to keep in mind, at least for me, I'm usually rooting around looking for something either as I'm tired and going to bed or in the middle of the night. sifting through featured, popular, playlists, trains... while I'm trying to find something quickly so I don't have to find my glasses and scroll. Just seems like too many categories. Something on my wishlist would be to see more breathing, or even introduce breathwork. That would be really great. Hope this helps make this great app even better.”
— Kim C. (Daily Calm Community)
“I have been using Calm for several years. When I first started using it I loved it so much that I became a lifetime member. I still use it almost everyday. My favorites are the Daily Trip and Sleep Stories. However I am finding that the content is not as good as when I first joined.
There does not seem to be any new meditations added. I would love to see some new ones in addition to the dailies. Particularly some sleep meditations that do not involve body scans or breath work, perhaps some visualizations. I would also love to see more Sleep Stories that are like the ones that enticed me to become a lifetime member.
My favorites are ones like: The Far North Line, The Grand Plan to Rise and Shine, The Queen Mary, A Very Proper Tea Party, and The Bookshop to name a few. I am particularly grateful for this Daily Calm Community.”
— Tracy C. (Daily Calm Community)
“I have been using Calm on a daily basis for over 7 years. It has taught me so much about managing strong emotions, improving my reactivity and improving my sleep. The Master Classes [has] given me insight on how to manage PTSD and how to improve my diet. The presenters infuse gentleness and calm. I would not be without it and my routine is now well ingrained. Thank you to Tamara for your gentle guidance through difficult times.”
— Maggie T. (Daily Calm Community)
“…I took a life time subscription from Calm in 2019. I lie or sit with a Calm recording each day for 10 mins soon after waking… Currently my streak for this is 1,205 consecutive days. Yes! I feel it has made me a better human. Thank you Calm!”
— Karen M. (Daily Calm Community)
“ I 💙 the CALM app. I 💙 relaxation & sleep exercises, especially the binaural ones! They calm my crazy, busy brain. I enjoyed the one that Harry Styles did… I'm trying new things like stories & tones & music. Love it all! I'm looking forward to using this community to grow my meditation journey.”
— Lequeta L. (Daily Calm Community)
“Today's Daily Trip with Jeff, 'Vertical Time,' is one of my favourites. It's a mini-master class in the essence of meditation. As opposed to horizontal time - which is about the movement of the mind back and forth from past through future - vertical time is about being purely present and it can bring considerable nourishment and space and peace. It's about going within and finding consciousness within the liminal spaces of meditative moments. A little venture here into basic mysticism. Thank you Jeff and Calm.”
— Eric W. (Daily Calm Community)
Calm app reviews from major media outlets
Forbes
“Calm currently boasts an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars on the iOS store, based on 1.6 million reviews… This app offers a lot of quality content if you decide to subscribe, and it can be very worthwhile if you actually use it.”
Calm App Review: Tried And Tested (Kimberly Dawn Neumann)
Healthline
“The Calm app may be a great investment if you frequently deal with feelings of anxiety or stress.”
Calm Review: We Tested the Popular Meditation App (Iman Balagam)
New York Times Wirecutter
“Calm’s Sleep category is full of celebrity narration, including Cillian Murphy settling you in with a story about crossing Ireland on a scenic train ride and LeBron James describing a boy’s imaginative view of the city from a fire escape. One long-term tester said she found a Calm subscription worthwhile “for the Sleep Stories alone.””
The Best Meditation Apps (Caira Blackwell)
USA Today
“Calm treads a fine line between doing so much that it does nothing well, and doing enough that it offers users versatility. Its broad appeal may in part come from the star-studded lineup of narrators—something that most other meditation apps lack.”
The Calm Meditation App Has Something For Nearly Everyone (Lindsey Vickers)
Parade
“I tried the new Calm Sleep app for two weeks and mostly enjoyed it. I appreciated how it was evidence-based and… offered no-cost and practical tips for improving sleep… It helped me sleep well and stay grounded during a stressful period.”
I Tried Calm's New Sleep App—Here's How It Worked For Me (Beth Ann Mayer)
Calm app reviews FAQ
Where can I download the Calm app?
You can download the Calm app from several platforms:
App Store (iOS): For iPhone and iPad users, you can download the Calm app from the Apple App Store.
Google Play Store (Android): For Android users, you can download the Calm app from the Google Play Store.
Amazon Appstore: For users with Amazon devices, such as Kindle Fire, you can find the Calm app on the Amazon Appstore.
Additionally, you can visit the Calm website for more information and links to download the app on your preferred platform.
Can I use Calm on the web?
At this time Calm does not have a full-fledged web version, and is primarily available on mobile platforms (iOS and Android) and offers apps for devices like Apple TV. However, you can access some Calm content on the web through their website, which features resources like blogs, articles, and guided meditation videos.
Does Calm really work for anxiety?
Many users and studies suggest that Calm can be effective in helping to manage anxiety. Here are a few points to consider:
User testimonials: Many users report that Calm's guided meditations, breathing exercises, and Sleep Stories help them reduce anxiety and improve overall well-being.
Scientific studies: Research supports the idea that mindfulness meditation, which is a significant component of Calm, can reduce symptoms of anxiety.
Variety of content: Calm offers a wide range of content tailored to different needs, including quick relaxation techniques, longer meditation sessions, sleep aids, and more. This variety allows users to find resources that work best for their specific situations.
Ease of use: The app's user-friendly design makes it easy for individuals to incorporate mindfulness practices into their daily routines, which can be beneficial for managing anxiety.
While Calm can be a helpful tool for many, it's important to remember that it might not work for everyone. For some, professional therapy or medication might be necessary. Always consider consulting with a healthcare provider for personalized advice on managing anxiety.
What do Reddit users say about the Calm app?
Reddit users have a range of opinions about the Calm app, with many sharing positive experiences while others offer constructive criticism. Here's a summary of common themes found in discussions on Reddit:
Positive feedback:
Effective for sleep: Many users find Calm's Sleep Stories and relaxing sounds very helpful for falling asleep and staying asleep. They often highlight specific narrators and content that they find particularly soothing.
Reduced anxiety: Several users report that Calm's guided meditations and breathing exercises help them manage anxiety and stress effectively.
User-friendly interface: The app's intuitive and attractive design is frequently praised, making it easy to navigate and use regularly.
Variety of content: Users appreciate the wide range of content available, including meditations, Sleep Stories, music, and masterclasses. This variety helps keep the experience fresh and engaging.
Constructive criticism:
Cost: Some users feel that the subscription cost is high, especially the annual and lifetime options. However, others argue that the value provided justifies the expense.
Personal preference: Meditation and relaxation preferences are highly personal, and some users find that other apps or techniques work better for them.
Technical issues: A few users report occasional bugs or issues with the app, such as difficulties logging in or syncing progress across devices.
Content overlap: While many appreciate the variety, some users note that after using the app for a long time, they feel there could be more frequent updates or new content additions to keep things fresh.
Overall, the consensus on Reddit is that Calm can be a valuable tool for relaxation, sleep, and anxiety management, but it might not be the perfect fit for everyone. It often comes down to individual preferences and needs.
Calm your mind. Change your life.
Mental health is hard. Getting support doesn't have to be. The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life.
Images: Getty
