Insight Timer and Calm are two of the best-known meditation apps, but they work in different ways. Insight Timer is a huge library with a strong free tier and a timer for silent practice. Calm is a curated app that leans toward sleep and relaxation, with a subscription after the trial. Prices were checked on November 1, 2026.
1
Variety on a budget, and silent meditationInsight Timer
Free; MemberPlus about $10/month or $60/year Insight Timer is a meditation and wellbeing platform with a large library of guided meditations, talks, music, sleep content, breathwork and yoga. It also has a customizable meditation timer, which is handy if you like to sit in silence. The free tier includes core content and community features, so you can use it for a long time without paying. MemberPlus adds courses, offline listening, advanced playback and premium content for $59.99 a year or $9.99 a month in the US. A 7-day free trial is usually offered, and prices vary by region.
Pick it if you want lots of choice, a timer and a real free option.
2
Sleep Stories and relaxationCalm
Subscription; free trial Calm is a meditation, sleep and relaxation app with guided meditations, Sleep Stories, music, sounds, breathing exercises and mindful movement. It is more curated than Insight Timer, with sleep at the center. Its website checkout shows a 14-day trial, then $79.99 a year or $16.99 a month, and also lists Calm for Life at $39.99 billed once. Prices are localized and can differ by country and store.
Pick it if you mainly want help sleeping and relaxing, and like a polished, focused app.
Insight Timer is about breadth: many teachers, styles and topics, plus community features, with much of it free. Calm is about a smooth, consistent experience built around sleep and calm. Calm also runs on Apple Watch, while Insight Timer adds a Mac app. On price, Insight Timer's paid plan is cheaper per year, and its free tier is far more generous.
Choose Insight Timer if you want variety, a meditation timer and the option to never pay. Choose Calm if better sleep is your main goal and you prefer a curated app with Sleep Stories. If you are unsure, start with Insight Timer's free tier, then try Calm's 14-day trial and compare.
