27 Best Calm Alternatives to Enhance Your Wellness Routine

Work can be stressful. Deadlines loom, demands increase, and pressure mounts. It’s no wonder many employees feel overwhelmed, anxious, and on edge at work. The good news is that there are many ways to cope with stress and improve mental well-being, including seated stretches, meditation and yoga. Apps that help users practice these techniques can be great tools for supporting employee wellness. Calm is one of several helpful apps for alternative stress relief.

While Calm is one of the most popular, others, like Pliability, offer similar features with unique twists; for example, suppose you’re seeking a natural way to manage stress. In that case, this article will help you find a meditation or mobility app that perfectly aligns with your wellness goals. These apps offer various features that support stress relief, mindfulness, and overall well-being. 

What is Calm and Its Capabilities?

Calm is an app that helps you manage stress, anxiety, and sleep. It includes guided meditations, breathing programs, stretching exercises, and sleep stories with calming music and visuals. The app focuses on de-stressing, relaxing, and caring for your mental health. Over the years, it has become one of the most popular relaxation apps for iPhone and Android users.

With the app's helpful tracking tools, you can keep track of your progress and create personalized plans tailored to your needs — whether that is a quick relief in moments of stress or long-term strategies for managing daily life without feeling overwhelmed.

Some of the main features of Calm include the following:

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• Guided meditations for relaxation and stress relief.
• Breathing programs so users relax and focus.
• Sleep stories with beautiful visuals and calming music to help promote restful sleep.
• Mindfulness courses from experts on topics like self-compassion, gratitude, and more.
• Customizable tracking tools to measure your progress over time.
• Relaxing soundscapes that can be used as background noise throughout the day.
• It is an inspiring community of like-minded people to connect with.
• A selection of inspirational quotes and affirmations on a variety of topics.

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Why Should You Choose an Alternative to Calm?

One of the main issues with Calm is that many people may find the cost of subscription plans too high. This can be an issue for those looking to get the most out of the app, as many of its more advanced features are only available if you pay a premium. This creates a two-tier system that some meditation practitioners disagree with, as it restricts access to those who cannot afford the cost.

Customization Concerns

Another problem is that while Calm offers a range of features and tools, they may not be suitable for everyone. Meditation and mindfulness practices can vary greatly depending on individual needs. 

Along a similar theme, many find a lack of customization options with Calm. This can be limiting for those looking to get the most out of their practice as they may not be able to tailor their experience to suit them precisely.

Calm Alternatives Guide

Alongside a lack of flexibility, Calm may also lack focus. In attempting to cover so many bases, Calm doesn't stand out in any single one. For example, if you're trying to get better sleep or focus, you'd be better served using a different app. Similarly, if you want to develop your meditation practice, various more comprehensive apps are available.

Related Reading

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• Why Is Employee Wellness Important
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• Benefits of Employee Wellness Programs
• Virtual Wellness Activities for Employees
• Benefits of a Workplace Wellness Program
• Benefits of Stretching at Work
• Staff Wellness Activities
• Employee Wellbeing Strategies

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27 Best Calm Alternatives for Your Wellness Routine

1. Pliability

Pliability offers a fresh take on yoga. This app caters to performance-oriented individuals and athletes. Pliability features a vast library of high-quality videos designed to:

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• Improve flexibility
• Aid recovery
• Reduce pain
• Enhance range of motion

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It also provides daily-updated custom mobility programs for those interested in optimizing their health and fitness. Pliability includes a unique body-scanning feature to pinpoint mobility issues. If you're feeling limited by pain or the ability to move, Pliability aims to complement your fitness routine and help you move better. 

Sign up today for 7 days for free on:

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• iPhone
• iPad
• Android
• on our website

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2. Pzizz

Unlike Calm, Pzizz exclusively focuses on ways to help you relax, unwind, and get a good night's sleep. This app utilizes sound effects, narration, and soothing music to create an environment of calming relaxation. 

Pzizz has been scientifically proven to:

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• Reduce stress
• Improve sleeping patterns
• Help you get the most out of your day

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With customizable settings and various calming Dreamscapes, Pzizz is the perfect tool for anyone looking to reduce stress and relax in their home. 

3. Mesmerize

Mesmerize is an innovative meditation app designed to help you achieve the benefits of consistent meditation. Compared to popular apps like Calm or Headspace, Mesmerize stands out due to its extensive collection of soothing music tracks and visuals. 

These entrancing visuals greatly help reduce stress and anxiety while improving overall well-being. Mesmerize is the perfect app for anyone seeking greater relaxation and inner peace.

4. Insight Timer

Insight Timer is a community-based meditation app that offers meditation and mindfulness features such as:

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• Secular Mindfulness
• Yoga Nidra
• Buddhist Mindfulness
• Insight Meditation
• Kundalini Yoga, and many more.

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This app offers more than 100,000 meditations and allows users to join communities and groups to practice meditation. It is a free alternative to Calm. However, users must purchase access to additional courses and offline meditation sessions.

5. Smiling Mind

Smiling Mind is another free alternative to Calm that you should consider adding to your meditation app list. Created by an Australian non-profit organization, 

Smiling Mind offers meditation sessions on:

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• Sleep
• Mindfulness
• Stress
• Relaxation
• Relationships, and more. 

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This app also offers a beginner’s course. It can be a good place to start if you're new to meditation. Moreover, Smiling Mind gives you access to sound meditation, body scan meditation, sleep meditation, and more.

6. Medito

Medito is another free Calm alternative that is a good choice for beginners. With no signup charge, you can access meditation courses and listen to sleep sounds, stories, and soothing sounds to help you sleep better.

With hundreds of meditation sessions, you can easily handle your stress and anxiety for free, such as:

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• Breathing exercises
• Walking meditation
• Mantra meditation

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7.  The Mindfulness App

If you’re struggling with daily stress and want to balance your life, then The Mindfulness App might be helpful. This other free alternative to Calm offers more than 300 meditation courses led by experts worldwide. 

You can access the same in over 10 languages, personalize your reminders, and even listen to sleep stories as you tuck in. The Mindfulness App features 3-99 minutes of meditation, silent or guided, background sounds, including rain, forest, waves, and more. 

8. Buddhify

Another free alternative to the Calm app, Buddhify, is here to help attain calm and clarity. If you want to reduce anxiety and stress or improve your sleep, this app can help you. The Buddhify app offers over 200 meditations that can help address:

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• Anxiety
• Sleep
• Pain
• Other strong emotions
• Mindfulness exercises
• Beginner sessions
• Content for kids, and more.

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This app is a good choice if you’re looking for apps to help you strengthen your meditation practice.

9.  Mindfulness With Petit BamBou

Petit BamBou is another app on our list that can be a good alternative to Calm. With over 2000 guided meditations in six languages, you can learn simple techniques guided by experienced practitioners and gurus. 

With this free Calm alternative app, you can also access:

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• Meditations for kids
• Meditation of the day
• Calming meditation
• A wide selection of soothing music with other features. 

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The meditation sessions that Petit BamBou offers address the following:

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• Sleep issues
• Stress
• Compassion
• Self-confidence
• Mindfulness
• Positive thinking, and more.

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10. Mindfulness Coach

Mindfulness Coach is an alternative to Calm that doesn’t require a subscription. This app aims to help you ground yourself in the present moment and learn to observe your thoughts without judgment.

Mindfulness Coach was developed to support Veterans and other Service members in practicing mindfulness. This app features a self-guided meditation program that helps users understand simple mindfulness techniques.

11. Let’s Meditate

A straightforward approach to guided meditation Let’s Meditate is a free alternative to Calm that offers guided meditations that cater to a wide range of topics such as:

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• Anxiety
• Healing
• Sleep, and more. 

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You can even get offline meditation sessions with short and long meditation tracks. The best part is that there are no ads and no sign-ups. This app has a simple interface and is available to download on the:

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• Apple App Store
• Google Play Store

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12. The Plum Village

The Plum Village is another free alternative to Calm, created by a monk, Thich Nhat Hanh. It offers impressive meditation and mindfulness sessions instructed by the Vietnamese Monk himself. 

The app provides access to:

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• Mindfulness programs
• Online discussions
• Workshops on meditation and others with a click of a button. 

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The Plum Village features more than 50 guided meditations, mindful practices daily, more than 300 video discussions, guided meditations for kids, and more.

13. Meditation Mindfulness: Lojong

Meditation can be easy for everyone with the proper support and luckily, we have more than a few options available. One such free alternative to the Calm meditation app is Lojong. With this app, you can learn to calm your worries in just a few minutes. 

With access to mindfulness meditations such as:

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• Anxiety relief
• Stress management
• Sleep meditations
• Gratitude meditations
• Anger management
• Happiness booster, and more.

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You can better understand how mindfulness works.

14. Declutter The Mind

Declutter the Mind is an excellent Calm app alternative because it has an immaculate interface and is easy to navigate, just like the Calm app. You’ll find that the meditations are free and focus on different topics, so there’s something for everyone, like:

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• Forgiveness
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Stress

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The meditations are guided and vary in length, but practitioners suggest courses. This app has a fantastic free version that will give you more than enough to get stuck into without needing to upgrade.

15. Breathe app

The Breathe app is a fascinating meditation app because, as you’d expect, its sole focus is on breathwork. Whilst the Calm app (and all the other alternatives on this list) focuses on different topics when it comes to meditation, the Breathe app focuses on one thing and one thing only: 

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• Four breathing exercises

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Along with these four core exercises for breathing, you can also create your custom breathing exercise, which is neat. Like all good meditation apps, Breathe has a tab that shows you your daily progress, including how many exercises you completed each day and for how long each. 

16. 7Mind

The 7Mind app is another meditation app that offers a few free meditation sessions before you sign up to access its library of 150 meditations, videos, sounds, progress tracker, trophies for doing well, and more. 

The free version is minimal, and annoyingly, you’ll need to create an account, but on the flip side, you won’t have to enter your payment details at this point. If you like what you see, you can then opt to sign up and pay a yearly subscription, which will unlock full access to their library of meditations and videos that are guided and unguided.

17. BetterMe

BetterMe. is another great-looking app that is designed for teenagers and adults. The app is free to download, and you don’t have to create an account if you don’t want to. 

When you first open the app, you’ll get to enter:

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• How much experience do you have with meditation
• What you want to improve
• How often you’d like to practice meditation

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It’s worth noting that most courses, bitesize sessions, and bedtime sleep tracks are behind a paywall.

18. Simple Habit

Simple Habit is an app designed to make mindfulness meditation easy in daily life. It’s another app that locks many sessions behind a subscription wall, but I was happy to see that many meditation sessions are freely available. The app covers an extensive range of topics. 

That’s because teachers are constantly adding new sessions for you to follow. If you find a session with a lock symbol, you can keep scrolling until you find a free session. The free version gives you these cool features, but if you want to personalize my experience and track my progress, I’d need to subscribe to a yearly plan.

19. 29K

It’s unique from the other apps on this list and a sublime Calm alternative. It has everything you’d expect, like meditations and courses, but it also offers challenges and exercises. 

Difficulties like Self-Care are broken up into bite-sized chunks and spread over a few days. What I love about them is that they engage you by asking questions about your current mood and prompt you to question your beliefs. 

Every challenge is set up as a ‘test,’ meaning it is question-based, like talking to a therapist. Once you complete each challenge, you can find your test scores on the Profile tab. This makes this app engaging, so you’re not just sitting there listening the whole time.

20. Headspace

Headspace is a meditation app with guided mindfulness and meditation sessions for beginners. Available on Apple and Android devices, this app focuses on:

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• Reducing stress
• Managing anxiety
• Improving sleep
• Enhancing focus

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Co-founder Andy Puddicombe leads most of the sessions on the app. 

Headspace is known for its suggested daily meditation routine, which includes:

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• Morning breathing exercise
• Meditation of the day
• An afternoon workout
• Nighttime sleep cast

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However, users don’t have to follow it with an easy-to-use interface and well-structured programs.

21. Ten Percent Happier

Inspired by Dan Harris’s book of the same name, Ten Percent Happier is a meditation app for mindfulness and meditation beginners that helps people achieve happier lives. 

The app simplifies meditation with the following:

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• Guided tracks
• Audio lessons
• Video courses
• Assisting users to manage stress
• Improve focus
• Boost happiness

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Ten Percent Happier stands out for its shorter, structured sessions, which focus on real-life uses of mindfulness, such as enhancing relationships and improving sleep quality.

22. Gaia

Gaia is a meditation app that offers:

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• Guided meditations
• Yoga classes
• Documentaries for a balanced and spiritual life

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It caters to beginners and experts. The app also provides tools to boost physical health, fitness, and spiritual exploration. To access Gaia, you can subscribe to their service and use it on:

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• Web browsers
• Mobile apps
• Smart TV

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23. Pixel Thoughts

Pixel Thoughts is a simple meditation app that helps you manage stress and anxiety in just 60 seconds. It uses a beautiful starry universe to help you relax. The app can be used on any device with an internet connection. The free version has all the key features, but you can upgrade to the paid version for even more functionalities.

24. Pokoy

Pokoy is a meditation app that combines gaming elements to make it more interactive and enjoyable. It is available on iOS and Android and has a free version with optional paid features. Pokoy is excellent for people new to mindfulness or prefer a more dynamic approach, but it likely won’t provide the same calming meditation as traditional methods.

25. Aura

Aura is a meditation app designed specifically for each user. Based on your feedback, it uses advanced technology to suggest things for you to try. It has a wide range of content, including:

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• Bedtime stories
• Calming nature sounds
• Helpful sessions with life coaches

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Plus, it offers quick three-minute meditations for when you’re busy. There’s a free version available on iOS and Android devices, but if you want more features, you can subscribe to the premium version.

26. Sleep Cycle

Sleep Cycle offers similar features to Calm, such as:

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• Sleep tracking
• Relaxation music
• Guided meditation

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The app also tracks your sleep cycles and helps you wake up feeling rested to help users get better quality sleep night after night. With its simple yet powerful design, Sleep Cycle allows you to:

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• Monitor your sleeping patterns
• Track any changes
• Adjust your bedtime accordingly

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Not only can this help you fall asleep faster and more efficiently, but it can also help improve the quality of your rest overall.

27. Journey LIVE

Journey LIVE is the last alternative to Calm on our list. It offers interactive classes on:

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• Reducing anxiety
• Finding balance
• Managing stress
• Skillful communication
• Mindful leadership
• Empathy

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With Journey LIVE, you can participate in live group classes led by expert teachers or access on-demand courses whenever needed. Whether you want to manage stress better or increase your overall well-being, Journey is a decent alternative to Calm.

Related Reading

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• Workplace Stretching
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• Corporate Mobility Services
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How to Choose the Right Meditation App for You

When choosing the best meditation and mindfulness app for your needs, list what you hope to achieve with the app. For instance, you might want to practice meditation, learn breathing techniques, discover anxiety coping skills, or improve your sleep. Next, consider how much time and money you can devote to the practice. 

Pricing: Balancing Your Budget with Your Goals

The listed apps range in price from free to $100 for an annual subscription. Balance your financial investment with your time investment so you don't blow your budget on an app you don't have the time to explore fully.

Devices: Don't Get Stuck with an App That Won't Work for You

Although all the apps on this list are available for iOS and Android, that doesn't mean they will work with all your devices. If you want an app to work with your smartwatch or tablet, make sure it's available on those devices before downloading.

Expert Guidance: Look for Research-Based Practices and Techniques

Apps for improving mental health should provide research-based information and expert-driven techniques. Better yet, look for apps that offer guided meditations.

Programs Offered: Choose an App That Covers All Your Needs

Meditation apps don't just target meditation. Find an app that meets your needs and offers a few additional options you are interested in, like breathing techniques, soothing soundtracks, sleep stories, self-help activities, and more.

Improve Your Flexibility with Our Mobility App Today | Get 7 Days for Free on Any Platform

Pliability offers a fresh take on yoga tailored for performance-oriented individuals and athletes. Our app features a vast library of high-quality videos designed to improve:

‍

• Flexibility
• Aid recovery
• Reduce pain
• Enhance range of motion

‍

Pliability provides daily-updated custom mobility programs for those interested in optimizing their health and fitness. It also includes a unique body-scanning feature to pinpoint mobility issues. If you're feeling limited by pain or the ability to move, Pliability aims to complement your fitness routine and help you move better. 

Sign up today for 7 days absolutely for free on:

‍

• iPhone
• iPad
• Android

‍

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• Best Corporate Wellness Software
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