Brandwave

Smiling Mind vs Waking Up:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Smiling Mind had more branded searches than Waking Up among meditation apps worldwide. Smiling Mind had about 9,900 branded searches, while Waking Up had 6,600. Smiling Mind made up 3.8% of all meditation app searches we track, and Waking Up accounted for 2.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about meditation apps, Waking Up appeared in three of the five answers and Smiling Mind in one. Waking Up was mentioned before Smiling Mind in every answer that named either.

Among meditation apps worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Smiling Mind, about 50% more searches than Waking Up

Smiling Mind 9.9K searchesWaking Up 6.6K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Waking Up, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Smiling Mind in 1

Waking Up in 3 of 5Smiling Mind in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Waking Up, named ahead of Smiling Mind in 3 of 3 answers

Waking Up first in 3Smiling Mind never first

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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. 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. Waking Up was listed before Smiling Mind in every answer 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 Smiling Mind or Waking Up more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Smiling Mind 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.

Smiling Mind and Waking Up among meditation apps worldwide, by month

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

3 findings
  • Smiling Mind was ahead of Waking Up in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • 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.
  • 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

  1. In September 2026, Smiling Mind lost share of searches among meditation apps worldwide, from 9.2% to 3.8%.

  2. In September 2026, Waking Up lost share of searches among meditation apps worldwide, from 3.3% to 2.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

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

Smiling Mind

1 branded search term

  • smiling mind

Waking Up

1 branded search term

  • waking up app

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among meditation apps

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