Compare Motivated and Calm: Which App is the Best?

	Motivated	Calm
	Motivated is a comprehensive habit tracking app that focuses on building lasting habits through its unique strength-based system, offering beautiful organization tools and extensive customization options. Habit Tracker Productivity	Calm is a leading meditation and sleep app with 4.1 stars on Android, 4.8 stars on iOS, and 50M+ downloads. Known for celebrity-narrated sleep stories by Cillian Murphy and Bob Ross, plus comprehensive daily meditation programs. While most users love the content, some Android users report recent billing and technical concerns. Meditation
Key Features	Habit Strength Meter – Focus on building lasting habits rather than just maintaining streaks with a unique strength-based tracking system Smart Collections – Organize habits by time of day (morning, afternoon, evening) or custom categories for better workflow management Interactive Widgets – View and complete habits directly from your home screen for quick access and motivation Rich Text Notes – Add detailed notes to each habit for planning routines, tracking progress, or capturing thoughts Customizable Interface – Choose from over 550 custom icons and unlimited color options to personalize your experience Flexible Goal Setting – Set custom completion goals and repeat intervals without affecting your statistics Smart Reminders – Set custom notifications and opt-in for morning/evening summaries to stay on track Bad Habit Tracking – Special mode that auto-completes habits at day's end for easier bad habit monitoring	Sleep Stories – Bedtime stories narrated by celebrities like Cillian Murphy, Rosé, Jerome Flynn, and the popular Bob Ross "Painting" series Daily Programs – Daily Calm with Tamara Levitt (10-minute meditation), Daily Trip with Jeff Warren, Daily Move (mindful movement), and Daily Jay Extensive Meditation Library – Guided meditations for various needs including anxiety relief, focus, habit breaking, and stress management Soundscapes & Music – Sleep sounds, nature soundscapes, relaxing music, and EMDR sounds for therapeutic use Breathing Exercises – Guided breathwork sessions for relaxation and stress reduction Mindful Movement – Stretching exercises and movement sessions for relaxation Progress Tracking – Daily streaks, mindful minutes counter, and activity tracking Wear OS Support – Quick-start tiles and meditation tracking complications for smartwatches
Our Rating	8.3	7.3
Total users	0	0
Total ratings	0	0
Average rating	— ⭐	— ⭐
Entry Level Price	Free	Free
Android	Downloads	Downloads
iOS
Features	8.0 Motivated has some really cool features that make it stand out from other habit trackers. The best thing is probably the habit strength system - instead of just counting how many days in a row you did something, it shows you how strong your habit actually is. This is way more motivating when you're trying to build good habits. Here's what we liked most: 1. Habit Strength Percentage: This is the main thing that makes Motivated special. Instead of getting upset when you miss a day and break your streak, you can see your habit strength percentage. It's like having a progress bar for your habits - way better than just counting days. 2. Lots of Different Habit Types: You can track pretty much any kind of habit - daily stuff, weekly goals, or monthly targets. The app handles all of them without any problems. 3. Notes for Each Habit: You can add notes to your habits, which is really useful. We used this to plan our workout routines and keep track of what we're reading. It makes the app feel more like a personal planner. 4. Time-Based Organization: You can group habits by time of day - morning, afternoon, evening. This is actually really helpful for building routines. 5. Tons of Customization: There are over 550 icons to choose from and you can pick any color you want. It's fun to make each habit look different and personal. But there are some downsides too. The free version feels pretty limited - basic stuff like widgets is locked behind premium, and some users feel like it's a "paid app pretending to be free." We also noticed you can't easily mark a habit as missed on a specific day, which several users have asked for. Compared to Habitive which offers unlimited free habits, or Loop Habit Tracker which provides exceptional privacy features, Motivated's freemium model can feel restrictive. However, for users who want the unique habit strength tracking system, the premium features provide genuine value. Overall, we'd give features an 8.0/10. The core stuff works great and the habit strength idea is really smart, but the free version restrictions and some missing features keep it from being perfect.	8.0 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.
Performance	8.8 The app performs seamlessly, allowing you to track habits without any lag or interruptions. The habit completion functionality is quick and accurate, enabling you to mark off your daily habits effortlessly. Performance strengths we observed: Fast App Launch: The app opens quickly and is ready for use almost immediately. We never experienced long loading times or delays Smooth Interactions: All user interactions feel fluid and responsive. Marking habits complete, navigating between screens, and customizing settings all work smoothly Efficient Data Handling: The app handles multiple habits and extensive tracking history without any noticeable performance degradation Reliable Widget Performance: Home screen widgets update promptly and accurately, providing real-time information without draining device resources Stable Operation: We encountered very few crashes or bugs during our testing period. The app maintained consistent performance throughout However, we did notice some minor performance issues: Widget Updates: Some users have mentioned occasional delays in widget updates, though this didn't significantly impact our experience Date Picker Performance: The month-by-month scrolling in the date picker can feel sluggish when trying to set dates far in the past Large Data Sets: When dealing with very long habit histories, some operations may take slightly longer, though this is expected behavior The best part is that the app works entirely offline. So, you can track your habits from any device, even without an internet connection. Overall, Motivated delivers excellent performance that enhances rather than hinders the habit tracking experience. The app feels fast and reliable in daily use. We rate performance at 8.8/10 - very good performance with just minor areas for improvement.	7.5 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.
Design	9.2 The design is really clean and easy to use. You can start tracking habits right away without getting confused by a complicated interface. We really liked the customizable colors and how everything looks. What most users seem to love is the dashboard and how habits are organized in a grid. It's super easy to find what you're looking for and navigate around. Motivated's design is genuinely impressive - it's one of the cleanest, most intuitive habit tracking interfaces we've tested. The app strikes that perfect balance between being visually appealing and functionally clear, which is exactly what you want in a productivity app. What we particularly loved about the design: Clean, Premium Feel: The interface has this polished, premium quality that makes it feel like a high-end app. Users consistently mention the "beautiful UI" and "simple yet feels like premium" experience Intuitive Color System: Being able to assign custom colors to each habit creates a beautiful, personalized dashboard. We found ourselves actually looking forward to filling in our daily habits because the visual feedback was so satisfying Modern Iconography: The 550+ custom icons are well-designed and meaningful. We could easily find icons that perfectly represented our habits, making the app feel more personal and engaging Consistent Visual Language: Every screen follows the same design principles - clean spacing, clear typography, and logical information hierarchy. Navigation feels natural and intuitive Beautiful Widgets: The home screen widgets are thoughtfully designed and match the app's aesthetic perfectly. They're both functional and visually appealing We also noticed some design elements that users frequently praise. The percentage-based habit strength display is not only functional but also visually motivating - seeing your habits turn from red to yellow to green as you build consistency is genuinely satisfying. However, there are a couple of design quirks. The date picker for setting habit start dates requires scrolling month by month, which we found cumbersome when trying to set a habit that started years ago. Some users have mentioned this as well, suggesting it could be more user-friendly. While HabitKit offers the most elegant GitHub-style visualization and Habitive provides a clean, distraction-free interface, Motivated's design excels in creating a premium, motivating environment. The visual feedback system is particularly effective for maintaining user engagement. Overall, the design is excellent and clearly a major strength of the app. We rate it at 9.2/10 - it's beautiful, functional, and genuinely enhances the habit tracking experience.	7.5 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.
Value for Money	7.8 Motivated can be used for free without signing up, providing access to a range of offline features. However, the free version feels quite limited - basic features like widgets are locked behind premium, which some users find frustrating. What we found valuable about the app's pricing: Lifetime Purchase Option: The availability of a one-time lifetime license is excellent and provides great long-term value compared to subscription models. Many users appreciate this option Comprehensive Free Tier: The free version includes all essential habit tracking functionality, allowing you to fully evaluate the app before committing to premium Quality Premium Features: Premium features like unlimited habits, widgets, and advanced analytics provide genuine utility rather than just cosmetic enhancements No Hidden Costs: The app is transparent about pricing with no surprise charges or hidden fees However, we also encountered several value concerns that users frequently mention: Premium Gating: Several users have described it as a "paid app masquerading as a free app" with a "predatory paywall" that's "forced into your face at every opportunity" Feature Limitations: Some users feel that "some basics features that other apps would have free are paid for this app" Regional Pricing Concerns: Some users in certain regions have mentioned that the lifetime premium price could be more affordable for their local currency For users seeking the best free experience, Habitive offers unlimited free habits with no paywalls, achieving a perfect 10.0 value rating. Meanwhile, HabitNow provides comprehensive features with a one-time premium upgrade, earning a 9.5 value rating. The pricing plans are reasonable, making it a cost-effective solution for serious habit trackers. However, the heavy restrictions on the free version and the perception of aggressive premium gating affect its overall value proposition.	7.0 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.
Ease of Use	8.5 We can't think of a simpler habit tracking app to start with than this one. The best part? It works seamlessly right out of the box, no account needed. Installing it is a breeze, and you can easily add the app to both Android and iOS devices. Once installed, the interface appears clean and intuitive. The process is easy to grasp and you'll be tracking habits in minutes. Several aspects make the app particularly user-friendly: Quick Setup: Creating new habits is incredibly straightforward. We could name our habit, pick an icon and color, and start tracking in just a few taps. No complicated configuration needed One-Tap Tracking: Marking habits as complete is as simple as tapping the corresponding tile. This makes daily tracking effortless and encourages consistent use Clear Visual Feedback: The color-coded system provides immediate visual confirmation. We could instantly see which habits we'd completed and which ones still needed attention Intuitive Navigation: All the core functions are easily accessible. We never felt lost or confused about where to find what we needed Smart Organization: The time-based collections (morning, afternoon, evening) make it easy to maintain structured daily routines However, we did encounter some usability issues that users frequently mention in reviews. The date picker for setting habit start dates is quite cumbersome - you have to scroll month by month, which we found frustrating when trying to set a habit that started years ago. Several users have mentioned this same issue. We also noticed that while the collection system works well, some users have requested more advanced categorization options. The current system is good but could be more flexible for users with many different types of habits. For users who prioritize simplicity, Habitive offers an even more streamlined experience with its 3-click setup process. Meanwhile, HabitNow provides more comprehensive scheduling features for users who need advanced organization tools. That's why we rate it 8.5 out of 10. It's extremely user-friendly, though some features might take a little time to fully appreciate.	7.0 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.
Security & Privacy	7.5 In the Security & Privacy category, we give Motivated a solid 7.5/10. The fact that you can use this tool without needing an account sets it apart from some competitors. What we observed about privacy and security: Local Data Storage: The app stores your habit data locally on your device, which is good for privacy. Your personal information isn't automatically uploaded to external servers Minimal Permissions: Motivated only asks for essential permissions like notifications for reminders. It doesn't request access to unnecessary device features No Account Required: You can use the app without creating an account, which means you're not sharing personal information with the developers Transparent Policies: The app provides clear links to privacy policies and terms of service, though these are hosted externally However, we also noticed some privacy concerns that users have mentioned: Premium Features: Some premium features like cloud backup could potentially involve storing your data on external servers, though this is optional Analytics Usage: The app may use third-party analytics tools, which could potentially track your usage patterns Limited Privacy Controls: Compared to some privacy-focused alternatives, users have fewer options to control how their data is handled For users who prioritize maximum privacy, Loop Habit Tracker offers exceptional offline-first privacy with a 9.8 rating in this category. Similarly, Habitive keeps all data local without requiring accounts, achieving a 9.0 privacy rating. Based on our testing and the user feedback we've seen, we rate security and privacy at 7.5/10. The app provides basic privacy protection but doesn't go as far as some competitors in terms of transparency and user control over data.	7.0 Calm handles user data responsibly with standard privacy practices appropriate for a wellness app. The company partners with major employers and insurance providers, which requires meeting enterprise-level security and privacy standards. With 50M+ downloads and partnerships with Fortune 500 companies, Calm maintains professional data protection practices. Security and privacy strengths: Enterprise Partnerships: Trusted by major employers for wellness programs, requiring robust security standards Standard Data Protection: Privacy policy clearly outlines data collection and usage practices No Breach History: No prominent reports of data breaches or privacy violations Account Security: Standard authentication with options for Google login integration Usage Tracking: Data collection limited to progress tracking, streaks, and content preferences Professional Standards: Scale and partnerships require meeting industry privacy standards The app collects usage data to track your meditation progress, favorite content, and streaks—standard for any app with personalization features. This data helps improve your experience by remembering preferences and providing personalized recommendations. The privacy policy outlines what data is collected and how it's used. Financial transactions are processed through Google Play Store, which provides an additional layer of security and familiar payment infrastructure. The Play Store handles payment information rather than the app storing it directly, following best practices for subscription apps. For users concerned about mental health data privacy, Calm's meditation and sleep content choices represent personal information. The app's enterprise partnerships and scale suggest they take this responsibility seriously, though as with any wellness app, users should review the privacy policy to understand data handling. Some users report billing questions during trial periods, which is common across subscription apps and typically relates to understanding trial terms rather than security issues. Standard subscription management through the Play Store provides familiar cancellation options for most users. The lack of data breach reports across millions of users and years of operation demonstrates solid security practices. For a wellness app trusted by major corporations, maintaining strong security and privacy standards is essential to business partnerships. We're rating security & privacy 7.0 out of 10. Calm maintains professional privacy practices appropriate for a wellness app with enterprise partnerships, handles user data responsibly, and shows no history of security breaches across millions of users.
Conclusion	We have been using Motivated for our habit tracking needs and can confidently say it's a solid tool for anyone who's serious about building better habits. Its user-friendly design and powerful features make it a good choice for students, professionals, and anyone looking to improve their daily routines. The free version is functional, but if you need more advanced features, the premium options are worth considering. If you're serious about staying organized while building habits, we recommend giving Motivated a try. Just be aware that some key features require a premium subscription. For users who want unlimited free habits, Habitive is the best option with its completely free, ad-free experience. Those seeking elegant design might prefer HabitKit with its beautiful GitHub-style visualization. If you need comprehensive scheduling and timer functionality, HabitNow provides the most complete solution. However, if you value the unique habit strength tracking system and don't mind the freemium model, Motivated offers a compelling approach to building lasting habits.	Calm has earned its position as a leading meditation and sleep app with 50M+ downloads, 4.8 stars on iOS, and 4.1 stars on Android. The celebrity-narrated sleep stories are genuinely special—falling asleep to Cillian Murphy, Bob Ross, or Rosé provides a premium experience that justifies the subscription for millions of users. The daily programs, extensive meditation library, and variety of soundscapes create comprehensive value. Long-term subscribers frequently mention Calm becoming essential to their nightly routine, helping with sleep quality and stress management over years of use. The production quality is excellent, the content library is extensive, and the app performs reliably for the vast majority of users. For those whose employers provide Calm subscriptions as a wellness benefit, it's an excellent value proposition. Recent Android reviews show some concerns—the last 100 reviews average 3.04 stars, lower than the overall rating. Some users mention billing confusion during free trials, occasional technical issues, and customer service responsiveness questions. These issues appear to affect a subset of Android users rather than representing the typical experience, but they're worth noting. If you're considering Calm, the free trial lets you explore the content library to see if the sleep stories and meditation programs work for you. The celebrity narrations and production quality differentiate it from competitors. For daily meditation and sleep improvement, Calm delivers substantial value that users rely on over years. Alternative options include Medito for free meditation content with no subscription required, and Headspace for premium content with different stylistic approach. But Calm's unique celebrity content and extensive library make it a strong choice for those committed to meditation and sleep improvement.
	Install Motivated	Install Calm
Our Recommendation