I?m not sure what ?triggered? it, if you would use that word, but I began to feel a little anxious about things in my life. Being a fan of meditation in the past, I set out to find the best meditation app. I tried both Calm and Headspace.
When I first set out looking for reviews of these apps, I was led to tons of sponsored videos and pieces that I wasn?t totally sure I could trust. I?m not cool enough to be sponsored ? so don?t worry about that here.
If you?ve been looking for an unbiased Calm app review, you?ve come to the right place. After using it for a month, I?ve found everything I love, everything I hate, and everything so-so about the app.
But to keep it simple: Is the Calm app worth it? Yes, it is. It?s affordable, soothing, and made a difference in my productivity and anxiety levels. Keep reading, and I?ll tell you all about it.
What is the Calm app?
First things first, the Calm app is an app available to download on your phone or tablet. It?s filled with hundreds of meditation practices and sleep stories that are written and recorded by some of the top experts.
Though it?s a meditation app, Calm goes above that. They have every meditation that you can dream of, and then some. Calm also has sessions for how to train your mind to focus, like the one led by Lebron James.
Is the Calm app really free?
Calm does offer a free version of their app, but it?s not very good. A lot of people wonder what you can get for free, and basically, you can get one session of varying series for free. So, these range in about 10?15 minutes, but that?s it.
For me, I wanted to continue on in the series, and that first session wasn?t something that could be repeated. So while you can definitely use it on the free version, I don?t feel like it benefits you very much.
The paid version is $69.99/year, but after you sign up, they send you a coupon to sign up for the paid version, and it makes the first year about $41.99.
Is the paid version worth it?
Personally, I think the paid version is worth it. Here?s why:
- There are a ton of different sessions to take
- With mind exercises, meditation, and sleep stories, there?s something for everyone
- They have guided and unguided meditations
- There is constantly new things added (they even have a daily calm session that?s new each day)
The Pros and Cons of Calm
Alright, now that you know a little more about Calm, let?s get into the nitty gritty. The pros and cons. Though I really liked the app, there were a few things that stood out to me more than others, and a few things I?d rather do without.
The Pros of Calm
- The app is easy to use
- There is always new content
- The narrators? voices are calming
- You can adjust the nature sounds in the background of each meditation
- They have categories of meditations that are broken down by emotion
- They have sleep stories for adults and kids, and they?re 30+ minutes
- There are meditations for ?non-meditating people,? like the Lebron James series
- Calm suggests meditations based on how you rate your previous sessions
The Cons of Calm
- It?s still about $6 a month, which is an added cost
- The kid sleep stories are too long
- The meditations aren?t that different than what you can find for free in podcasts or YouTube
- It?s one of those apps that is bound to sit on your phone unused if you?re not committed
- Their reminders aren?t strong enough
My Thoughts on Calm
For me, there is a lot more good than bad when it comes to the app. Honestly, I?ve used it for a month and don?t see myself stopping. One thing I really love about the app is that it sends daily mindfulness quotes.
These are considered to be their reminders, and while I don?t think they are strong enough for me to stop what I?m doing and start meditating, I did find that they made me more mindful in the moment.
I also really liked how after each session, they gave you a quote that you could share on social media. I mean, I definitely *didn?t* share it, but it was a nice thought and the quotes were good (lol).
Is Calm Better Than Headspace?
I like Calm better than Headspace, but truthfully, it?s probably a personal preference. Headspace has good meditations, and they are beautifully narrated, but the interface is a bit busier.
I like how calm Calm is (no pun intended). The nature sounds and photos really do calm me down. Headspace?s little illustrated things don?t do it for me. It?s not that it?s bad, but when it came time to purchase a subscription, I purchased Calm.
Try them both out and decide for yourself! More mindfulness is always a good thing.
Oh, and a special little note. Calm?s 7 Days of Calming Anxiety was a huge help for me. It explained to me why we feel anxious, how to pause and feel those thoughts instead of pushing them away, and it was insightful. I?m happy to report that after a month of meditation, I?m feeling better than ever.
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