Calm vs Insight Timer:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Calm and Insight Timer were level in searches among mental health apps worldwide, with an estimated 74K branded searches each, at 13.2% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about mental health apps, Calm appeared in four of the five answers and Insight Timer in two. Calm was mentioned before Insight Timer in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Calm and Insight Timer are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI mention more?
Calm, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Insight Timer in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Calm, named ahead of Insight Timer in 4 of 4 answers
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Top mental health apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Calm was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. Insight Timer was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Calm was listed before Insight Timer in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Headspace1st
Daylio2nd- Calm3rd
MindShift CBT4th
Wysa5th
Insight Timer6th
Talkspace7th
BetterHelp–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Daylio5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Calm4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Headspace4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Insight Timer2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Talkspace2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Wysa2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- MindShift CBT2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- BetterHelp0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about mental health apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which mental health app should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best mental health apps?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best mental health app for daily support?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“mental health apps”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“mood tracking app”
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 eight mental health apps we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Calm, Insight Timer. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | BetterHelp | Calm | Insight Timer | Talkspace | Headspace | Wysa | Daylio | MindShift CBT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 65.5% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 10.8% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 2.2% | 0.65% |
| Nov 2025 | 63.6% | 7% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 0.64% |
| Dec 2025 | 60.1% | 8.1% | 8.1% | 12.1% | 4.4% | 3.6% | 3% | 0.68% |
| Jan 2026 | 59.5% | 8% | 9.8% | 12% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 0.68% |
| Feb 2026 | 65.4% | 5.9% | 7.2% | 10.8% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 2.2% | 0.69% |
| Mar 2026 | 63.3% | 5.7% | 7% | 12.7% | 3.8% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 0.67% |
| Apr 2026 | 65.7% | 5.9% | 5.9% | 10.8% | 4% | 4.8% | 2.2% | 0.7% |
| May 2026 | 66.5% | 4.9% | 6% | 10.9% | 4% | 4.9% | 2.2% | 0.59% |
| Jun 2026 | 60.1% | 6.6% | 8.1% | 12.1% | 3.6% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 0.55% |
| Jul 2026 | 63.7% | 5.7% | 7% | 12.8% | 3.8% | 3.8% | 2.6% | 0.55% |
| Aug 2026 | 61.2% | 6.7% | 8.2% | 12.3% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 3.7% | 0.53% |
| Sep 2026 | 53.6% | 13.2% | 13.2% | 10.8% | 3.2% | 3.2% | 2.2% | 0.58% |
How has the Calm and Insight Timer comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Calm was ahead of Insight Timer in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Calm’s share of searches among mental health apps worldwide moved from 5.9% to 13.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 74K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Insight Timer’s share of searches among mental health apps worldwide moved from 7.2% to 13.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 49.5K to 74K.
How did search popularity change for mental health apps worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Calm overtook Talkspace and Insight Timer to rank 2nd among mental health apps worldwide, with 13.2% of the searches.
In September 2026, Insight Timer gained share of searches among mental health apps worldwide, from 8.2% to 13.2%.
How are branded searches counted?
2 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
1 branded search term
- calm app
Insight Timer
1 branded search term
- insight timer
Other head-to-heads among mental health apps
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