Alternatives Calm
Calm is an app for sleep, meditation and relaxation, with daily sessions of about ten minutes, Sleep Stories and breathwork. Steps is micro journaling in iMessage, a few questions about yesterday and today that you answer in writing. Choose Calm to be guided or to fall asleep, and Steps for a few words in iMessage.
| Compared | Steps | Calm |
|---|---|---|
| Kind of exercise | Micro journaling. You answer a few questions in writing | Guided meditation and sleep audio. You listen Source |
| Where it happens | A message in iMessage on iPhone, iPad or Mac. Nothing to install | iOS, Android and the web, plus Apple TV, Apple Watch, Wear OS and Samsung Health Source |
| Time it asks | As long as your answers take, two to four questions, up to five with your own | Daily sessions of about 10 minutes Source |
| What you do | Reply to a message in your own words | Daily Calm, Daily Jay, Daily Trip and Daily Move, Sleep Stories, music and breathwork Source |
| AI and your entries | Keeps and finds your words. Never scores your mood or gives advice | Check-ins record mood, sleep quality, gratitude and personal reflections Source |
| Streaks | No streak. A skipped question brings back your own note | Daily Streaks count consecutive days, and Mindful Reminders send notifications Source |
| Price (US) | 30 free days, no card. Then $3 to $15 a month, you choose | $14.99 a month or $69.99 a year, per its App Store terms Source |
Details from Calm's own website and US App Store listing, checked on 13 September 2026. Prices change, so check theirs before you choose. Calm is a name that belongs to its owner.
You'd like a few written lines about yesterday and today, started by a message instead of an app you have to remember. Steps asks your questions at the hour you pick, keeps the answers with the day, and never tracks your mood.
