Brandwave

Balance vs Smiling Mind:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Smiling Mind had more branded searches than Balance among meditation apps worldwide. Smiling Mind had about 9,900 branded searches, while Balance had 960. Smiling Mind made up 3.8% of all meditation app searches we track, and Balance accounted for 0.37%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about meditation apps, Balance and Smiling Mind each appeared in one of the five answers. Balance and Smiling Mind were each mentioned first in one of the two answers that named either.

Among meditation apps worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Smiling Mind, about 10 searches for every 1 for Balance

Smiling Mind 9.9K searchesBalance 960 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 1 of 5 answers.

Balance in 1 of 5Smiling Mind in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 1 of 2 answers.

Balance first in 1Smiling Mind 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, Balance was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. 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. Balance and Smiling Mind were each listed first in one of the two answers that named either.

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 Balance or Smiling Mind more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Balance 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.

Balance and Smiling Mind among meditation apps worldwide, by month

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

3 findings
  • Smiling Mind was ahead of Balance in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Balance’s share of searches among meditation apps worldwide moved from 0.93% to 0.37%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2K to 960.
  • 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, Smiling Mind lost share of searches among meditation apps worldwide, from 9.2% to 3.8%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Balance worldwide fell 52.5% over 12 measured months, from 2K to 960 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Balance’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.

Balance

2 branded search terms

  • balance meditation
  • balance 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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