Brandwave

Calm vs Smiling Mind:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Calm had more branded searches than Smiling Mind among meditation apps worldwide. Calm had about 87,500 branded searches, while Smiling Mind had 9,900. Calm made up 33.8% of all meditation app searches we track, and Smiling Mind accounted for 3.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about meditation apps, Calm appeared in all five answers and Smiling Mind in one. Calm was mentioned before Smiling Mind in every answer.

Among meditation apps worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Calm, about 9 searches for every 1 for Smiling Mind

Calm 87.5K searchesSmiling Mind 9.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Calm, mentioned in every answer we collected

Calm in 5 of 5Smiling Mind in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Calm, named ahead of Smiling Mind in every answer

Calm first in 5Smiling Mind never first

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Top meditation apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Calm appeared in all five answers. Smiling Mind was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Calm was listed before Smiling Mind in every answer.

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 Smiling Mind more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Calm and Smiling Mind 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 Smiling Mind among meditation apps worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Calm, Smiling Mind. 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 Smiling Mind comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Calm was ahead of Smiling Mind in every measured month of the 12 months ending 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, Smiling Mind’s share of searches among meditation apps worldwide moved from 6.8% to 3.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 14.8K to 9.9K.

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, Smiling Mind lost share of searches among meditation apps worldwide, from 9.2% to 3.8%.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Calm’s and Smiling Mind’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

Smiling Mind

1 branded search term

  • smiling mind

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among meditation apps

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