Brandwave

Calm vs Insight Timer:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Calm and Insight Timer were level in searches among meditation apps worldwide, with an estimated 87.5K versus 86.8K branded searches, at 33.8% and 33.5% of the total. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about meditation apps, both Calm and Insight Timer appeared in all five answers. Calm was mentioned before Insight Timer in four out of five answers.

Among meditation apps worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Calm and Insight Timer are searched for about as often as each other.

Calm 87.5K searchesInsight Timer 86.8K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.

Calm in 5 of 5Insight Timer in 5 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Calm, named ahead of Insight Timer in 4 of 5 answers

Calm first in 4Insight Timer first in 1

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Top meditation apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Calm and Insight Timer showed up in all five answers. Calm was listed before Insight Timer in four of them.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Headspace1st
  2. Calm2nd
  3. Insight Timer3rd
  4. Waking Up4th
  5. Healthy Minds Program5th
  6. Medito6th
  7. Smiling Mind7th
  8. Balance8th
  9. BetterSleep–
  10. Happier–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Calm5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Insight Timer5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Headspace5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Waking Up3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Medito3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Healthy Minds Program3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Smiling Mind1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Balance1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • BetterSleep0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Happier0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about meditation apps

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Calm or Insight Timer more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Calm and Insight Timer by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten meditation apps we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Calm and Insight Timer among meditation apps worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Calm, Insight Timer. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthCalmInsight TimerBetterSleepHeadspaceSmiling MindWaking UpHappierMeditoHealthy Minds ProgramBalance
Oct 202524.6%29.3%12.4%14.1%6.8%3%5.2%3%0.6%0.93%
Nov 202526.4%31.2%8.9%12.7%7.3%3.2%5.4%3.2%0.64%0.92%
Dec 202531.1%25.6%10.8%12.2%5.9%3.9%6.2%2.6%0.63%1.1%
Jan 202632.2%31.2%8.6%10%4.7%3.8%5.2%2.6%0.74%1%
Feb 202636.7%24.7%8%11.3%6.5%2.9%6.5%1.9%0.57%0.89%
Mar 202636.3%25.3%7.4%10.5%9%3.3%4.5%2.2%0.77%0.7%
Apr 202626%28.1%9.7%14.3%8%3.5%5.1%3.5%0.86%0.85%
May 202623.2%28.3%9.9%17.6%6.6%3.6%6.7%2.4%0.88%0.8%
Jun 202622.8%29%11.5%14.5%7.7%2.8%5.2%5.1%0.67%0.68%
Jul 202624.1%29.4%13.2%13.9%4.8%3.9%5.9%3.2%0.77%0.78%
Aug 202623.6%27.7%13.7%11.4%9.2%3.3%3.7%6.1%0.66%0.54%
Sep 202633.8%33.5%12.8%9.1%3.8%2.5%1.7%1.7%0.73%0.37%

How has the Calm and Insight Timer comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • The lead changed hands 3 times in the 12 months ending September 2026: Calm took it in December 2025, Insight Timer took it in April 2026, Calm took it in September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Calm’s share of searches among meditation apps worldwide moved from 24.6% to 33.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 53.7K to 87.5K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Insight Timer’s share of searches among meditation apps worldwide moved from 29.3% to 33.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 64K to 86.8K.

How did search popularity change for meditation apps worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Calm overtook Insight Timer to become the leader among meditation apps worldwide, with 33.8% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Insight Timer gained share of searches among meditation apps worldwide, from 27.7% to 33.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Calm’s and Insight Timer’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Calm

3 branded search terms

  • calm app
  • calm meditation
  • calm meditation app

Insight Timer

3 branded search terms

  • insight timer
  • insight timer app
  • insight timer meditation

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among meditation apps

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