Calm alternatives: 5 apps for relaxation, sleep and mood
By the MOJO team · Updated · 3 min read
The short answer
If you like Calm but want something different: Headspace for structured meditation courses, Insight Timer or Medito for free guided sessions, BetterSleep for sleep sounds you can mix, and MOJO if you want to see how your sleep, mood and daily habits connect through 30-second voice check-ins.
What Calm does well
Calm is known for helping people relax and sleep: Sleep Stories, calming music, breathing exercises and guided meditations. If winding down is what you need, it's a very good app.
Why people look for alternatives
- They want structured courses rather than a library.
- They'd like a free option.
- They want more control over sleep sounds.
- They want to understand why they sleep badly, not just fall asleep tonight.
Our picks
Disclosure: we make MOJO, so it's listed first. Every other app here is one we'd genuinely suggest for the use case, and we've kept descriptions to what each app is known for.
Calm is a trademark of its owner. MOJO isn't affiliated with or endorsed by Calm; we mention it only to help you compare.
1. MOJOBest for: Seeing how sleep, mood and habits connect
Say how your day went in about 30 seconds; MOJO logs your mood, sleep and activity and shows what tends to lift or drain your energy. Launching on iOS and Android on 1 December 2026.
2. HeadspaceBest for: Beginner-friendly guided meditation
Guided meditations, courses and sleep content, known for making mindfulness approachable for beginners.
3. Insight TimerBest for: A huge free meditation library
A very large collection of guided meditations and talks from many teachers, with a lot available for free.
4. MeditoBest for: Free meditation from a nonprofit
A meditation app run by a nonprofit, with guided sessions and courses offered for free.
5. BetterSleepBest for: Sleep sounds you can mix
Known for sleep sounds and soundscapes you can mix yourself, plus sleep stories and meditations.
How MOJO compares to Calm
Calm helps you relax in the moment. MOJO helps you see the bigger picture: a quick voice check-in each day logs your mood, sleep and activity, and after a week or two shows patterns, like shorter nights before your hardest days, or better sleep after time outdoors.
They work well together: Calm for winding down, MOJO for finding what helps you sleep and feel better.
More comparisons
Prefer a full round-up? See our guides to the best mood tracker apps and the best apps for stress and anxiety.
Apps help, but they're not treatment
Wellness apps are good at building habits and helping you notice patterns. They don't diagnose or treat anything. If low mood, anxiety or exhaustion last for weeks or make it hard to function, talk to a doctor or mental health professional. If you're in crisis, contact your local emergency number or a crisis line such as 988 in the US or Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
What is a free alternative to Calm?
Insight Timer has a large free library and Medito is free from a nonprofit. MOJO is free to start if you want to track how your sleep affects your mood.
What app is like Calm but for tracking sleep and mood?
MOJO logs your sleep alongside mood and activity from a 30-second voice check-in, and shows which habits lead to better days.
This guide is general wellbeing information, not medical advice. If you're worried about your mental health, talk to a doctor or mental health professional.