Initially, the Calm app was designed to be a resource for those on-the-go people who may or may not suffer from anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorder or other mental health conditions. As time went on, the app has evolved to be user friendly for people who just wish to be, as the name says, calm. It is an incredibly simple and easy to use app that, according to Apple, is ranked 4.8 out of 5 by 135k users.
The app takes you through the "seven steps of calm.” After you download the app to your phone, you don't need to do a thing. Just launch the app at any point that you feel necessary and go through its program while you focus on the natural scenery and sounds that it has to offer. Each of the relaxation steps have a specified duration that appears on the screen. This means you can even fit them in here and there during the middle of your day when you need a little break.
This great app comes with many desirable features making it the number one go-to app for relaxation. However, while there are many pros to it, there are also some cons.
Pros
Introductory 7-day program plus some additional content at no cost
Statistics and meditation tracking along with optional daily reminders
Customizable audio and visual cues to support relaxation
Robust curriculum including stories to help with sleep
“Daily Calm” new meditation each day
Suitable for anyone no matter what your age is
Cons
Subscription-based platform to access content beyond introductory sessions
Requires user engagement and commitment to achieve results
Product Description
Calm introduces the basics of mindfulness meditation with the “7 Days of Calm,” a guided course featuring 7 sessions of 10 minutes each. Completing a session unlocks the next meditation in the series. After completing the 7 sessions, users can continue to “21 Days of Calm” and the full catalog with a paid subscription. Progress is tracked with statistics on time spent meditating.
The full catalog contains multi-day series that focus on specific goals (i.e., managing stress, focus, calming anxiety, sleep, happiness, gratitude, self-esteem). Calm has both guided sessions (e.g., body scan, loving-kindness) from 3 to 30 minutes and unguided meditations, with new programs regularly being developed. For example, “Daily Calm” is a 10-minute program for easing into the day or unwinding, and “Sleep Stories” is designed to aid the user in falling asleep. Some of this content is available without a subscription.
The Calm smartphone app features customizable settings (e.g., background nature sounds and scenes), mindfulness reminders, session history and FAQs. The app allows one button access to breathing exercises, meditations and sleep stories. The web-based program additionally offers entrance to the Calm online communities such as Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, and a blog which explores different aspects of mindfulness practice.
Target Audience
The introductory Calm program is geared toward those who like to or can benefit from meditation, including those new to the concept of mindfulness. Its content can be appreciated by anyone despite their level of experience. Calm may benefit individuals seeking to cope with daily stressors and that desire to find relaxation. It is important to note that individuals with serious psychological conditions should not use Calm as the primary replacement for mental health treatment. More specifically, this should not be used in replacement of any medical treatment. It should be purely supplemental.
Ease of Use and User Experience
Calm contains the standard mindfulness mobile app features of a session timer, e-mail reminders, progress tracking, program training, and an app community. There are audio and video features (e.g., music, nature sounds and scenery), which complement the guided meditation tracks. This app can be used on a computer or handheld device. The meditation sessions display a simple timer to let users see how much time remains. Some online users complained about the nature scenery and sounds as repetitive and distracting to the experience. Others noted program glitches such as the background sounds and timer being difficult to turn off. The FAQs address these issues (e.g., users must select a silent background scene in order to turn off the sounds). The app programmers continue to make improvements to enhance user experience.
Appropriateness of Feedback
Prior to downloading the app on your phone, you are able to read the feedback provided by those who currently or previously used the app. Here are a few that I pulled from my iPhone:
Ease of Account Management
A username and password are selected upon registering for the free program and downloading the application. Once the subscription fee is paid, the full Calm catalog is unlocked and users can select their own program. A profile button allows management of the subscription and settings. It is possible to purchase a gift subscription for another person.
Qualitative Review of Program Efficacy
Calm has not been evaluated using empirical methods, although it is increasingly recognized in the media as a preferred mindfulness app. Calm is advertised in app stores as the #1 app for mindfulness and meditation to bring more clarity, joy and peace to your daily life.
Cost
The initial 7 Days of Calm, unguided sessions, some guided sessions and tracking features has no cost. There are fancier options that come with a subscription for the entire Calm catalog, however, the cost can be a bit pricy for many. The options are $12.99/month, $59.99/year and $299.99 for a lifetime subscription. Although the subscription comes with a cost, note that this is comparable to other mindfulness apps and a good value for the amount of content currently offered and the rate at which new content is being developed.