Source-backed analysis13
Review basis
Research-based review: the AppDuo Editorial Team compiled it from official pages, documentation, app stores, press and user feedback, without hands-on testing. Every claim links to a source with the date it was checked.
13 reference sourcesInformation updated Nov 10, 2026
How we review
Calm Review
Meditation and Sleep Stories app with a big library and a high price
By AppDuo Editorial Team · Updated
- iOS
- Android
- Web
On this page
Decide at a glance
Our verdict
Calm suits people who want better sleep or less stress and like having Sleep Stories, music and guided meditations in one app. The trade-offs: most content needs a paid plan, the interface comes in only 10 languages, and its Trustpilot score is very low because of complaints about auto-renewals and refunds.
Best for: People who want Sleep Stories and soothing sounds at bedtime
Skip it if: Users who need an interface outside the 10 languages the app offers (English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Traditional Chinese)
Pros
- Large library: 100+ exclusive Sleep Stories, guided meditations, music and nature sounds
- 4.8/5 on the App Store across nearly 2 million ratings
- Apps for iOS, Android, Apple Watch and Wear OS
Cons
- Paid plans are expensive, and prices vary by platform and region
- Trustpilot 1.3/5 with many complaints about auto-renewals and refunds
All pros and cons · Who is it for?
Pros
- 30-day refund window for Calm.com purchases
- No ads, including on the free tier
Cons
- The policy says Calm "sells" and "shares" identifiers for advertising
- Interface in only 10 languages, with few smaller languages covered
Best for
- Beginners who prefer short guided sessions from 3 minutes
Skip it if
- People who need clinical treatment; Calm is not a replacement for a clinician
Problems it solves
Experience & key features
What Calm is
Calm is a sleep, meditation and relaxation app from Calm.com, Inc. (US), founded in 2012. Per its store listing it offers 100+ exclusive Sleep Stories narrated by names such as Matthew McConaughey and Stephen Fry, plus guided meditations, breathing exercises, music and nature sounds.
How it works
Calm organizes content by goal such as sleep, anxiety relief or focus. Beyond single sessions from 3 minutes, there are 7- and 21-day programs, the Daily Calm, Daily Jay and Daily Trip series, and streak tracking. Sessions are written to Apple Health, and the Apple Watch and Wear OS apps quick-start breathing exercises.
Pricing and value
The app is free to download but most content needs a paid plan. The US App Store lists price points from $14.99 to $79.99; the help center lists a $119.99/year family plan for 6 people and a non-refundable $499.99 Lifetime plan. The official pricing page blocked access when checked, so check the in-app price before subscribing. Trustpilot has many complaints about auto-renewal, so note the renewal date and set a reminder if you plan to cancel.
More analysis
Compared with alternatives
Calm leans toward sleep and relaxation with exclusive Sleep Stories. Headspace focuses more on structured mindfulness programs, while Insight Timer offers a large library from community teachers. The sources read are not enough to say which is better; choose by listening preference and budget.
Screenshots
Plans & pricing
Prices last verified Nov 10, 2026
Free
PersonalFree
Per the App Store, the app is free to download and use with no ads, and some programs and features are free forever. Calm's help center says the free tier has a few selected Sleep Stories and limited music, without Daily Calm or Masterclasses. CarePaths (2026) adds that it includes one breathing exercise and day 1 of multi-day meditation programs.
Calm Premium
Personal$16.99/mo/user
$5.83/mo billed yearly
The US App Store lists Calm Premium purchases from $14.99 to $79.99, including $16.99, $69.99 and $79.99. CarePaths says the monthly plan is $16.99 and the annual plan $69.99-$79.99 (about $5.83-$6.67/month). Calm's pricing page blocked access when checked, so these two figures could not be confirmed there; the help center says prices vary by region. Lifetime costs $499.99 as a one-time payment and is non-refundable. The paid tier unlocks the full library: Sleep Stories, Daily Calm, music, Masterclasses and Daily Move.
Calm Premium Family Plan
Personal$10/mo
Sold on the website at $119.99/year (plus tax) for 6 accounts: 1 admin and 5 members, all aged 18 or over. Yearly billing only. Calm does not support Apple Family Sharing or Google Play Family Library, so an individual App Store subscription cannot be shared.
- Free plan limits
- The free tier covers limited content; most of the Sleep Stories and meditation program library needs a paid plan.
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial · no credit card
Cancellation & refunds
Per the help center, Calm.com purchases can be refunded within 30 days of purchase, usually landing in 5-10 business days. For Google Play purchases you contact Calm support; App Store refunds are handled by Apple. Lifetime purchases are non-refundable. The free trial lasts 7 days, and some partner offers extend it.
Privacy
Calm's privacy policy (updated 13 October 2026) says it collects account details, payment information, usage activity, and device and log data. With your permission it also receives data from Apple HealthKit or Health Connect and states it does not infer health-related characteristics from it. The policy says Calm and its advertising partners use cookies for targeted advertising and that it "shares" and "sells" identifiers and browsing activity; you can opt out at calm.com/optout. Calm honors Global Privacy Control signals. You can request access, correction, portability and deletion via [email protected]. The Google Play data safety section says the app may share personal info, financial info and two other data types with third parties; data is encrypted in transit and deletion can be requested.
Calm alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is Calm free?
It is free to download and use, and some programs are free forever, but most of the library needs a paid subscription. Paid plans come with a 7-day free trial.
Does Calm support Vietnamese?
The App Store lists English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish and Traditional Chinese. Vietnamese is not listed.
How do I get a refund?
For Calm.com purchases, ask Calm within 30 days; for Google Play purchases, contact Calm support; for App Store purchases, request a refund from Apple. Lifetime purchases are non-refundable.
Does Calm sell my data?
In the legal sense, yes: the policy says Calm "sells" and "shares" identifiers and browsing activity with advertising partners. You can opt out at calm.com/optout.
Review evidence & sources13
Scores
- Ease of use
- 8.0
- Features
- 8.2
- Value for money
- 6.5
- Performance
- 7.8
- Support
- 5.5
- Privacy & security
- 5.5
Why this score
4.8/5 on the US App Store across nearly 2 million ratings. Some Google Play reviews report playback bugs, such as a session that kept restarting and could not be closed.
Why this score
Sleep Stories, meditation, breathing, music, Masterclasses, 7- and 21-day programs, streak tracking and Apple Health integration.
Why this score
Annual $69.99-$79.99, monthly $16.99, family $119.99/year and lifetime $499.99, in line with Headspace ($69.99/year); Calm does keep an ad-free, if narrow, free tier.
Why this score
iOS version 7.4.1 shipped on 9 November 2026, two weeks after 7.4; Google Play 4.5/5 across 617,000 reviews.
Why this score
There is a help center and contact form, but Trustpilot's review summary says customers found support nearly impossible to reach and refunds hard to get.
Why this score
Deletion, portability and ad opt-out rights exist, but the policy says Calm "sells" and "shares" identifiers, and Google Play says the app may share financial info with third parties.
What users say
- App Store (United States)4.8/5 · 1,993,550
- App Store (Vietnam)4.8/5 · 3,379
- Google Play4.5/5 · 617,000
- Trustpilot1.3/5 · 498
Sources
- Vendor-providedCalm privacy policyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedCalm help center - refund policyNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedCalm help center - Family PlanNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedCalm help center - Lifetime MembershipNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedCalm help center - Premium vs FreeNov 10, 2026
- Vendor-providedCalm blogNov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (US)Nov 10, 2026
- storeApp Store listing (Vietnam)Nov 10, 2026
- storeGoogle Play listingNov 10, 2026
- pressTechCrunch (2019-02-06)Nov 10, 2026
- Community-reportedWikipedia - Calm (company)Nov 10, 2026
- review-siteTrustpilot - calm.comNov 10, 2026
- review-siteCarePaths - Calm app pricing (2026)Nov 10, 2026
Specs & compatibility
- Developer
- Calm.com, Inc.
- Headquarters
- United States
- Launched
- 2012
- Category
- Health
Capabilities
- Mobile app
- Integrations
Platforms
- iOS
- Android
- Web
Interface languages
- English
- French
- German
- Japanese
- Korean
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- Chinese
Integrations
- Apple Health
- Health Connect
- Apple Watch
- Wear OS
Support
- Help center
Change history
- Company.Reports four million paid subscribers.
- Feature.Launches Calm Health, initially for patients with anxiety or depression.
- Company.Acquires Ripple Health Group.
Full change history (7)
- Company.Raises an $88 million Series B led by TPG Growth at a $1 billion valuation, with over 1 million paying subscribers.
- Feature.Launch of the first 23 Sleep Stories.
- Launch.The iOS app first appears on the App Store.
- Launch.Michael Acton Smith and Alex Tew found Calm.
About the author
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