Apps and online care
Insomnia Coach vs Calm
They differ on 8 of 10 things we check. No winner here: the better one is the one that fits what you need and how you'd pay.
Insomnia Coach
You follow a five-week plan based on CBT-I: log your sleep each day, get feedback, and try one new sleep tool at a time.
Calm
Calm helps you relax and sleep with guided meditations, Sleep Stories, music and breathing exercises.
Where they differ
- Good for
- Insomnia Coach: Adults with ongoing trouble falling or staying asleep who want to try CBT-I on their own; Veterans and service members, though anyone can use it
- Calm: Beginners who want short guided meditations; People who fall asleep better with stories, soundscapes or music
- Probably not for
- Insomnia Coach: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988 (veterans press 1)
- Calm: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988
- Cost
- Insomnia Coach: Free
- Calm: Free version, or $79.99/year or $16.99/month
- How you pay
- Insomnia Coach: Free
- Calm: Free, I'll pay myself
- Where
- Insomnia Coach: iPhone, Android
- Calm: iPhone, Android, Web
- Research
- Insomnia Coach: Some research support
- Calm: Strong research support
- Privacy
- Insomnia Coach: Grade A+
- Calm: Grade C
- Sells your data
- Insomnia Coach: No
- Calm: Yes
The same for both: kind of help (an app i use on my own), hipaa (no).
In crisis or thinking about suicide? In the US, call or text 988. This page is information from our reviews, not medical advice.