Brandwave

BetterHelp vs Calm:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, BetterHelp had more branded searches than Calm among mental health apps worldwide. BetterHelp had about 301,000 branded searches, while Calm had 74,000. BetterHelp made up 53.6% of all mental health app searches we track, and Calm accounted for 13.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about mental health apps, Calm appeared in four of the five answers and BetterHelp in none.

Among mental health apps worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

BetterHelp, about 4 searches for every 1 for Calm

BetterHelp 301K searchesCalm 74K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Calm, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, BetterHelp in 0

Calm in 4 of 5BetterHelp in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Calm, the only one of the two named

Calm first in 4BetterHelp never named

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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. BetterHelp did not appear in any of the five answers.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. Headspace1st
  2. Daylio2nd
  3. Calm3rd
  4. MindShift CBT4th
  5. Wysa5th
  6. Insight Timer6th
  7. Talkspace7th
  8. 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

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 BetterHelp or Calm more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for BetterHelp and Calm 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.

BetterHelp and Calm among mental health apps worldwide, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthBetterHelpCalmInsight TimerTalkspaceHeadspaceWysaDaylioMindShift CBT
Oct 202565.5%5.9%7.2%10.8%3.9%3.9%2.2%0.65%
Nov 202563.6%7%8.6%10.5%3.8%3.8%2.1%0.64%
Dec 202560.1%8.1%8.1%12.1%4.4%3.6%3%0.68%
Jan 202659.5%8%9.8%12%3.6%3.6%2.9%0.68%
Feb 202665.4%5.9%7.2%10.8%3.9%3.9%2.2%0.69%
Mar 202663.3%5.7%7%12.7%3.8%4.7%2.1%0.67%
Apr 202665.7%5.9%5.9%10.8%4%4.8%2.2%0.7%
May 202666.5%4.9%6%10.9%4%4.9%2.2%0.59%
Jun 202660.1%6.6%8.1%12.1%3.6%5.4%3.6%0.55%
Jul 202663.7%5.7%7%12.8%3.8%3.8%2.6%0.55%
Aug 202661.2%6.7%8.2%12.3%3.7%3.7%3.7%0.53%
Sep 202653.6%13.2%13.2%10.8%3.2%3.2%2.2%0.58%

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

3 findings
  • BetterHelp was ahead of Calm in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, BetterHelp’s share of searches among mental health apps worldwide moved from 65.5% to 53.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 450K to 301K.
  • 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.

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

2 changes
  1. In September 2026, Calm overtook Talkspace and Insight Timer to rank 2nd among mental health apps worldwide, with 13.2% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, BetterHelp lost share of searches among mental health apps worldwide, from 61.2% to 53.6%.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BetterHelp’s and Calm’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.

BetterHelp

2 branded search terms

  • better help
  • betterhelp

Calm

1 branded search term

  • calm app

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among mental health apps

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