Apps and online care
Smiling Mind vs Calm
They differ on 6 of 10 things we check. No winner here: the better one is the one that fits what you need and how you'd pay.
Smiling Mind
You pick short guided meditations or programs for yourself or your child (ages 5–12), for things like stress, calm and sleep, and can check in on your mood.
Calm
Calm helps you relax and sleep with guided meditations, Sleep Stories, music and breathing exercises.
Where they differ
- Good for
- Smiling Mind: Families who want free mindfulness exercises for children aged 5–12; Adults who want a free meditation app with no subscription
- Calm: Beginners who want short guided meditations; People who fall asleep better with stories, soundscapes or music
- Cost
- Smiling Mind: Free
- Calm: Free version, or $79.99/year or $16.99/month
- How you pay
- Smiling Mind: Free
- Calm: Free, I'll pay myself
- Where
- Smiling Mind: iPhone, Android
- Calm: iPhone, Android, Web
- Research
- Smiling Mind: Some research support
- Calm: Strong research support
- Sells your data
- Smiling Mind: No
- Calm: Yes
The same for both: kind of help (an app i use on my own), probably not for (anyone in crisis: call or text 988), privacy (grade c), 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.