# Calm vs Meditation Timer－ZenMinder

The clearest difference is ads: Meditation Timer－ZenMinder at none against Calm's shown. Meditation Timer－ZenMinder also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). Calm's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (2M vs 5). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Calm sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Meditation Timer－ZenMinder sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Calm holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Calm has 2M ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Calm's written reviews are positive against 50% of Meditation Timer－ZenMinder's.

Calm ships an update every 4 days, Meditation Timer－ZenMinder every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Calm | Meditation Timer－ZenMinder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calm/id571800810/reviews)** | [4.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meditation-timerzenminder/id1545980320/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2M** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | **64.1% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#7** | — |
| Size | 167 MB | 352 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Calm.com](https://appshunter.io/developer/571800813) | [Funn Media, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/646811578) |

## What reviewers say

### Calm

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calm/id571800810)

**Currently charting:** #7 Top Grossing · Health & Fitness, #55 Top Free · Health & Fitness, #125 Top Grossing (US App Store)

This app offers guided meditations, sleep stories, music, and breathing exercises to help users reduce stress, anxiety, and improve sleep. It caters to all experience levels, integrating mindfulness into daily routines for enhanced mental well-being.

**Highlights:** Guided meditations, Sleep Stories, Breathwork exercises, Relaxing music, Stretching exercises, Mindfulness programs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Calm Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| Calm Premium | $14.99 | per month |
| Calm Premium | $16.99 | per month |
| Calm Premium | $29.99 | per month |
| Calm Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Calm Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Calm Premium | $79.99 | per year |
| Calm Premium | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💤 Helpful for sleep
- 🧘‍♀️ Effective for meditation and relaxation
- 🎨 Variety of content (sleep stories, meditations, music)
- 🙏 Positive impact on mental health
- 🤗 Soothing narrators

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔒 Limited free content
- 🕰️ Difficulty finding specific content
- 🔁 Repetitive sleep stories
- 🙃 Accessibility issues for disabled users

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes
- Playback issues with audio and video
- Difficulty cancelling subscription

**Requested features**

- Add repeat button for sleep stories
- Separate kids and adult content
- Allow creating custom playlists
- Improve search and navigation
- Add more diverse narrator voices


### Meditation Timer－ZenMinder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meditation-timerzenminder/id1545980320)

Develop awareness and peace of mind with tools designed to help you achieve calm and focus. This app offers guided sessions, goal setting, daily reminders, and progress tracking to enhance your meditation journey. Personalize your experience with user-friendly themes and enjoy a mindful practice.

**Highlights:** Guided meditation sessions, Meditation goal setting, Daily reminders and affirmations, Progress tracking, Customizable themes, Light mode option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ZenMinder Premium Monthly | $1.49 | per month |
| ZenMinder Premium Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| Premium Plus Bundle | $59.99 | per year |
| ZenMinder Premium One Time | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Calm free?

Calm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Meditation Timer－ZenMinder free?

Meditation Timer－ZenMinder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Calm or Meditation Timer－ZenMinder?

Calm is rated higher. Calm averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2M ratings, while Meditation Timer－ZenMinder averages 4.6 from 5 ratings.

### Do Calm or Meditation Timer－ZenMinder have ads?

Calm shows ads; Meditation Timer－ZenMinder does not.

### Which is updated more often, Calm or Meditation Timer－ZenMinder?

Calm ships an update every 4 days, and Meditation Timer－ZenMinder every 2 months. Most recently, Calm was updated on September 28, 2026 and Meditation Timer－ZenMinder on September 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*