Is The Calm App Worth Trying? A Full Review Of The Popular Meditation App

It's ironic to think that more tech can help us combat the stressors of modern life. But in the case of using meditation apps to help manage anxiety, a racing mind, and overthinking, it can actually be true.

Some tech tools are actually helpful to manage our minds and bodies—and after spending just one week on the Calm app, I'd say this is definitely one of them.

While there are a good number of meditation apps on the market, Calm feels a bit different from the rest. From its neuroscience-inspired origins, light use of pop culture, and polished aesthetic, Calm feels like the cool spiritual uncle you want to hang out with. 

The Calm app was founded in 2012 by Alex Tew and Michael Acton Smith. According to an Inc. report, the origin story of the app starts with Smith's bout of burnout and a big dose of skepticism around the "woo-woo" of meditation. But after cultivating his own mindfulness practice and reading more about the neuroscience behind meditation, Smith was convinced it was the right focus for his next business venture.

Over the years, Calm's popularity has grown, snagging Apple's "App of the Year" in 2017. With over 4 million users, Calm continues to receive high praise on The App Store (4.8 stars) and Google Play Store (4.4 stars).

In general, accessing meditation and mindfulness through an app is way more convenient than researching a meditation studio, making your way there, sitting for 30 to 60 minutes, and making your way back home.

The Calm app is essentially a massive library of audio and video content meant to guide you through various meditation, mindfulness, and wellness-related exercises and activities. The app is broken down into 11 categories of content, which you can filter by 16 goals from "Start Meditating" to "Wellness at Work" to "Sleep Support."

Cited in the ancient Vedic texts, the practice of meditation dates back to 1500 B.C.1 in the Vedic Age of India as a way to "connect oneself to one's deep inner Self," according to a 2015 paper1 by Hari Sharma, M.D., physician and Ayurvedic practitioner at the Center for Integrative Medicine at The Ohio State University.

According to Calm, the app's meditation offerings are grounded in scientific research. The company even has their own research arm, Calm Science, to support their commitment to "developing evidence-based sleep and mindfulness resources, informed by rigorous scientific research."

The main difference between the free and paid versions of Calm is access to more content with more frequent releases. If you're a person who only anticipates using minimal content, you may be able to use the free version just fine. If you like variety and are looking for a tool to help cultivate your daily mindfulness practice, the paid version—known as Calm Premium—is for you.

If you're debating between the free and paid versions of Calm, you can try Calm Premium (the paid version) for free for seven days to decide if it's worth it to you. As soon as you sign up, you're required to input your credit card information to access content (even for the free trial), but you can cancel anytime, which essentially makes the trial free of charge.

If you're using the free version, pop-ups throughout the mobile app will encourage you to unlock more content by paying for the Calm Premium subscription.

While the free version is limited, the paid version is definitely worth it for the wide array of meditations and courses available. It's also fun to have celebrity features on the app, like a bedtime story narrated by Idris Elba and an Ariana Grande Sleep Remix, which are unique to Calm.

From an inclusivity standpoint, I'm happy to see practitioners like Lama Rod Owens featured with a "Coming Out" series caring for the LGBTQ+ community, and actress and LGBTQ+ changemaker Emily Rios narrates a sleep story called "Dreaming with Frida."

Overall, I'm a fan of the Calm app, and I'll likely keep it for the Daily Jays, walking meditations, and sound bath music. It has easily become part of my morning routine, and I've only had it for a week.

The Calm app is great for a wide range of people because it has so much to offer. It can help the busy professional use mindfulness during their workday. It can help new parents bond with their kids over audio stories. It can even help those who are experiencing a rough patch and need just a bit of mindful encouragement throughout the day.