Happier vs Waking Up:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Waking Up had more branded searches than Happier among meditation apps worldwide. Waking Up had about 6,600 branded searches, while Happier had 4,400. Waking Up made up 2.5% of all meditation app searches we track, and Happier accounted for 1.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about meditation apps, Waking Up appeared in three of the five answers and Happier in none.
Who do people search for more?
Waking Up, about 50% more searches than Happier
Who does AI mention more?
Waking Up, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Happier in 0
Who does AI recommend more?
Waking Up, the only one of the two named
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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. Happier 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.
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 Happier or Waking Up more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Happier 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, Happier. 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 Happier and Waking Up comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 12 months ending September 2026: Waking Up took it in September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Happier’s share of searches among meditation apps worldwide moved from 5.2% to 1.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 11.3K to 4.4K.
- 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, Happier lost share of searches among meditation apps worldwide, from 3.7% to 1.7%.
In September 2026, Waking Up lost share of searches among meditation apps worldwide, from 3.3% to 2.5%.
How are branded searches counted?
4 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Happier’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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