Apps and online care
Smiling Mind vs Headspace
They differ on 7 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.
Headspace
You pick short guided meditations, courses on stress, anxiety or sleep, sleepcasts and focus music, and do a few minutes a day on your phone.
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
- Headspace: Beginners who want structured, short guided meditations; People dealing with everyday stress or trouble winding down for sleep
- Probably not for
- Smiling Mind: Anyone in crisis: call or text 988
- Headspace: Anyone in crisis or thinking about suicide: call or text 988
- Cost
- Smiling Mind: Free
- Headspace: $69.99/year or $12.99/month
- How you pay
- Smiling Mind: Free
- Headspace: I'll pay myself
- Where
- Smiling Mind: iPhone, Android
- Headspace: iPhone, Android, Web
- Research
- Smiling Mind: Some research support
- Headspace: Strong research support
- Sells your data
- Smiling Mind: No
- Headspace: Yes
The same for both: kind of help (an app i use on my own), 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.