Balance vs Waking Up:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Waking Up had more branded searches than Balance among meditation apps worldwide. Waking Up had about 6,600 branded searches, while Balance had 960. Waking Up made up 2.5% of all meditation app searches we track, and Balance accounted for 0.37%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about meditation apps, Waking Up appeared in three of the five answers and Balance in one. Waking Up was mentioned before Balance in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Waking Up, about 7 searches for every 1 for Balance
Who does AI mention more?
Waking Up, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Balance in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
Waking Up, named ahead of Balance in 3 of 3 answers
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Top meditation apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Waking Up was mentioned in three out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in both 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. Waking Up was listed before Balance in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Headspace1st
Calm2nd
Insight Timer3rd- Waking Up4th
Healthy Minds Program5th
Medito6th
Smiling Mind7th
Balance8th
BetterSleep–
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which meditation app should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best meditation apps?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best meditation app for daily mindfulness?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“meditation apps”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“mindfulness 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 Balance or Waking Up more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Balance and Waking Up 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.
Share of searches by month for Waking Up, Balance. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Calm | Insight Timer | BetterSleep | Headspace | Smiling Mind | Waking Up | Happier | Medito | Healthy Minds Program | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 24.6% | 29.3% | 12.4% | 14.1% | 6.8% | 3% | 5.2% | 3% | 0.6% | 0.93% |
| Nov 2025 | 26.4% | 31.2% | 8.9% | 12.7% | 7.3% | 3.2% | 5.4% | 3.2% | 0.64% | 0.92% |
| Dec 2025 | 31.1% | 25.6% | 10.8% | 12.2% | 5.9% | 3.9% | 6.2% | 2.6% | 0.63% | 1.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 32.2% | 31.2% | 8.6% | 10% | 4.7% | 3.8% | 5.2% | 2.6% | 0.74% | 1% |
| Feb 2026 | 36.7% | 24.7% | 8% | 11.3% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 6.5% | 1.9% | 0.57% | 0.89% |
| Mar 2026 | 36.3% | 25.3% | 7.4% | 10.5% | 9% | 3.3% | 4.5% | 2.2% | 0.77% | 0.7% |
| Apr 2026 | 26% | 28.1% | 9.7% | 14.3% | 8% | 3.5% | 5.1% | 3.5% | 0.86% | 0.85% |
| May 2026 | 23.2% | 28.3% | 9.9% | 17.6% | 6.6% | 3.6% | 6.7% | 2.4% | 0.88% | 0.8% |
| Jun 2026 | 22.8% | 29% | 11.5% | 14.5% | 7.7% | 2.8% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 0.67% | 0.68% |
| Jul 2026 | 24.1% | 29.4% | 13.2% | 13.9% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 5.9% | 3.2% | 0.77% | 0.78% |
| Aug 2026 | 23.6% | 27.7% | 13.7% | 11.4% | 9.2% | 3.3% | 3.7% | 6.1% | 0.66% | 0.54% |
| Sep 2026 | 33.8% | 33.5% | 12.8% | 9.1% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 0.73% | 0.37% |
How has the Balance and Waking Up comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Waking Up 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, Waking Up’s share of searches among meditation apps worldwide moved from 3% to 2.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 6.6K.
How did search popularity change for meditation apps worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Waking Up lost share of searches among meditation apps worldwide, from 3.3% to 2.5%.
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 Waking Up’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.
Other head-to-heads among meditation apps
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