# Calm vs Headspace: what people say

People are warmer about Calm: 74% of on-topic posts and comments are positive and 7% negative, against 26% and 11% for Headspace. Most liked about Calm: "Deep focus music keeps people relaxed and concentrated while working or driving". Top complaint: "The EMDR questionnaire is misleading and the program is not real EMDR therapy". Most liked about Headspace: "Signature soundscapes and sleep habitats keep long-term users subscribed". Top complaint: "App is buggy and unusable after updates (wrong sessions play, duration picker broken)".

https://sociallisteningai.com/samples/calm-vs-headspace/

| | Calm | Headspace |
|---|---|---|
| All platforms | 74% positive, 7% negative (168) | 26% positive, 11% negative (109) |
| YouTube | 94% positive, 0% negative (114) | 55% positive, 9% negative (11) |
| X | 25% positive, 13% negative (8) | 11% positive, 33% negative (9) |
| Reddit | 33% positive, 22% negative (46) | 19% positive, 10% negative (81) |
| TikTok | not read | 75% positive, 0% negative (8) |

## What people like

**Calm**

- deep focus music keeps people relaxed and concentrated while working or driving (12)
- affirmation videos and sleep stories reliably calm panic and help people sleep (10)
- late-night ambient music and gentle piano help people settle and focus (10)

**Headspace**

- signature soundscapes and sleep habitats keep long-term users subscribed (3)
- guided meditations are effective and better than other apps (3)
- specific meditation series content resonates and sticks with users (3)

## What people complain about

**Calm**

- the EMDR questionnaire is misleading and the program is not real EMDR therapy (5)
- bilateral stimulation content made sleep worse and triggered distressing thoughts (2)
- discount countdown timer feels scammy and pressures vulnerable buyers (1)

**Headspace**

- app is buggy and unusable after updates (wrong sessions play, duration picker broken) (2)
- subscription too expensive for what you get (2)
- too much content moved behind paywall, even 1-minute breathing exercises (1)

## What they compare it with

**Calm**

- Insight Timer praised over Calm and Headspace for free content (8)
- Medito positioned as the free alternative to Calm and Headspace (2)
- Calm vs Headspace: Calm leans toward sleep support, Headspace suits beginners (1)

**Headspace**

- Insight Timer praised as free alternative with huge library (9)
- Waking Up seen as deeper, more school-like alternative (5)
- Calm compared; some prefer its sleep stories or specific teachers (5)