Compare Merlin AI and Calm: Which App is the Best?

Calm's content library is genuinely impressive and sets the standard for meditation apps. The celebrity-narrated sleep stories are the standout feature—falling asleep to Cillian Murphy's voice, Bob Ross painting descriptions, or Rosé's calming narration provides a unique experience users rave about. These aren't just celebrity gimmicks; they're high-quality productions that genuinely help people fall asleep.

Outstanding features include:

• Celebrity Sleep Stories: Premium productions with recognizable voices that have become nightly routines for millions of users
• Daily Programs: Daily Calm with Tamara Levitt, Daily Trip with Jeff Warren, Daily Jay, and Daily Move provide fresh, structured content that builds meditation habits
• Extensive Meditation Library: Comprehensive content addressing anxiety, focus, habit breaking, stress management, and sleep improvement
• Soundscapes & Music: High-quality nature sounds, sleep music, and EMDR sounds for therapeutic use
• Kids Content: Sleep stories specifically designed for children that parents find highly effective for bedtime routines
• Wear OS Integration: Quick-start tiles and tracking complications for smartwatch users
• Breathing Exercises: Guided breathwork for stress reduction and relaxation
• Progress Tracking: Streaks and mindful minutes to maintain motivation

The library is genuinely extensive, with enough variety that most users find multiple favorites. The quality is consistently high—professional voice work, good production values, and thoughtful content design. Users frequently mention specific favorites like "Painting with Bob Ross" or programs with Tamara Levitt that they return to regularly.

The app uses a subscription model, with most content requiring payment. The free version offers limited access, which is standard for premium apps in this category. Some users wish for more free content to evaluate before subscribing, though the free trial provides opportunity to explore the library.

A few long-term subscribers mention content updates could be more frequent, though the existing library is large enough that most users have plenty to explore. For daily users who cycle through content quickly, occasional waits for new stories can be noticeable.

We're rating features 8.0 out of 10. The celebrity sleep stories, daily programs, and extensive meditation library provide excellent value, making Calm a feature-rich leader in the meditation app category.

Calm performs reliably for the vast majority of users across 50+ million downloads and two platforms. The 4.8-star iOS rating and 4.1-star Android rating indicate consistent, stable performance that users depend on nightly. Audio playback is smooth, sleep stories run without interruption, and the app handles background playback well while you sleep.

Performance strengths:

• Reliable Playback: Sleep stories and meditations play consistently without issues for most users
• Background Stability: App runs reliably in the background through the night for sleep content
• Quick Loading: Content loads promptly and playback starts without long waits
• Cross-Platform Performance: Works well on both Android and iOS with high ratings on both
• Battery Efficient: Doesn't drain battery excessively during overnight use
• Multiple Device Support: Performs consistently across phones, tablets, and smartwatches

The app handles demanding use cases well—playing audio continuously through 7-8 hours of sleep, managing large content libraries, and supporting offline downloads. Users who've used Calm for years mention it working consistently night after night, which demonstrates solid long-term reliability.

A small percentage of users report occasional audio stopping during sleep sessions or rare app crashes. These issues seem device or configuration-specific rather than widespread problems, as the majority of users don't mention performance concerns. Some users note the splash screen takes a moment to dismiss, though this is designed as a brief mindfulness moment rather than a technical delay.

Load times are generally good, with content starting quickly after selection. The app's size and resource usage are reasonable for the extensive content library it manages. Updates are regular, suggesting active maintenance and performance optimization.

For an app with 50M+ downloads used nightly by millions, achieving 4.8 stars on iOS demonstrates exceptional performance reliability. The vast majority of users experience smooth, consistent operation exactly when they need it most—during meditation and sleep.

We're rating performance 7.5 out of 10. Calm delivers reliable, stable performance for the overwhelming majority of users, with consistent playback and efficient resource usage. The high ratings across millions of users demonstrate performance excellence at scale.

Calm's design successfully creates a soothing, peaceful atmosphere that supports its meditation and sleep mission. The dark, calming color scheme with deep blues and purples sets the right mood immediately. Visual elements are thoughtfully chosen to promote relaxation rather than stimulation, which is exactly what you want from a meditation app.

Design strengths:

• Beautiful, Calming Aesthetic: Dark themes, soothing colors, and nature imagery create an immediately relaxing visual environment
• Intuitive Content Organization: Sleep stories, meditations, soundscapes, and daily programs are clearly categorized and easy to browse
• Material Design Excellence: Clean, modern interface that follows Android design guidelines effectively
• Visual Consistency: Cohesive design language throughout the app maintains the calm atmosphere
• Easy Discovery: Featured content, favorites, and recently played sections help users find what they need

The interface generally succeeds at fading into the background, letting the content take center stage. For most users, navigation feels natural—open the app, select your content, and start your meditation or sleep session without friction.

Some users mention the splash screen "take a breath" message appears frequently and takes a moment before you can access content. While this fits the app's philosophy, a few long-term subscribers find it repetitive after daily use for years. The search function within categories could be more robust for power users who want to explore the full catalog depth.

For subscribers, the experience is streamlined. For free users exploring before committing, distinguishing between free and premium content could be clearer, though this is fairly standard for freemium apps.

We're rating design 7.5 out of 10. Calm delivers a beautiful, calming visual experience with thoughtful design that supports meditation and sleep. Minor navigation refinements would elevate it further, but the overall aesthetic excellence justifies the premium positioning.

At around €70 per year (pricing varies by region), Calm positions itself as a premium meditation app, and for most users, the content library justifies the investment. With 50M+ downloads and 4.8 stars on iOS, millions of people clearly find value worth paying for. Users who've subscribed for years mention the app becoming an essential nightly routine they wouldn't want to give up.

The value proposition is strong:

• Celebrity Content: Unique sleep stories narrated by Cillian Murphy, Rosé, Bob Ross, and Jerome Flynn you won't find elsewhere
• Daily Fresh Content: Daily Calm, Daily Trip, Daily Jay, and Daily Move provide new material regularly
• Extensive Library: Hundreds of meditations, sleep stories, soundscapes, and programs for stress, anxiety, sleep, and focus
• Professional Production: High-quality audio and voice work throughout the library
• Multiple Use Cases: Sleep stories, meditation, soundscapes, breathing exercises, and movement all in one subscription
• Family Sharing: Kids content makes it valuable for entire families
• Employer Coverage: Many insurance companies and employers provide Calm subscriptions as wellness benefits

For users getting Calm through employer wellness programs, the value is excellent—high-quality content at no personal cost. Even at full price, long-term subscribers frequently mention the subscription has become essential for their sleep quality and mental health, which makes the cost worthwhile.

The subscription model is standard for premium apps—the free version offers limited access to encourage paid subscription. Users can try the app during a free trial period to evaluate whether the content works for them before committing long-term. Cancellation through the Play Store is typically one-click, which most users navigate successfully.

Some users report billing confusion during trial periods or difficulty with customer service responses when issues arise. A small number mention pricing discrepancies during promotional periods. Like any subscription service, it's important to track trial end dates and verify charges match promotional pricing if taking advantage of special offers.

Compared to competitors, Calm sits at the premium end with Headspace, while Medito offers free content. The celebrity narrations and production quality differentiate Calm's value proposition.

We're rating value for money 7.0 out of 10. The extensive, high-quality content library with unique celebrity narrations provides solid value for the subscription price, particularly for users committed to regular meditation and sleep improvement. Those with employer coverage get excellent value, and even full-price subscribers generally find the cost justified by daily use.

Calm is designed to be intuitive, and for most users, it succeeds. Opening the app and starting a meditation or sleep story takes just a few taps. The main interface presents your options clearly—browse by category, check out daily programs, or jump back to recently played content. Playback controls are simple and work as expected.

For subscribers in their daily routine, the experience is smooth. Select your favorite sleep story, set a timer if desired, and drift off. The app remembers your preferences, making it easy to return to content you love. Many users mention using Calm nightly for years, which speaks to how well the basic experience works.

Usability strengths:

• Simple Navigation: Clear categories and straightforward content selection
• Quick Start: Recently played and favorites let you start familiar content immediately
• Intuitive Playback: Controls work as expected without confusion
• Progress Tracking: Streaks and history visible but not intrusive for most users
• Multiple Devices: Works across phones, tablets, and smartwatches

The free trial process is standard for subscription apps—you provide payment information upfront, explore the content during the trial period, and can cancel before being charged. Most users navigate this successfully, though like any subscription app, you need to remember to cancel if you don't want to continue.

Some users report specific issues: occasional login difficulties with Google authentication, confusion about which content is free versus premium for non-subscribers, and rare cases of the app stopping playback during the night. A small number of users mention subscription management confusion, though canceling through the Play Store is typically straightforward with one-click unsubscribe.

The splash screen appears when opening the app, which some daily users find repetitive over time. For those who want to jump straight into content, this adds a brief delay, though it's designed to encourage that initial mindful breath.

We're rating ease of use 7.0 out of 10. The app is genuinely easy to use for the vast majority of users, with intuitive navigation and simple playback. Minor friction points exist, particularly for free users exploring content boundaries, but don't significantly impact the subscriber experience.