Aura vs Balance vs Calm vs Headspace

Aura documents monthly subscriptions through Apple/Google, but not on its website; the reviewed current official sources do not publish an unambiguous US monthly amount. The $5.83 figure is an annual-plan monthly equivalent and is not used here.

Plan: Aura Premium

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1]

The free mobile version includes one new three-minute session every two hours. Premium unlocks the larger library.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1]

Aura: The consumer app personalizes recommendations from coach-created recordings. Its broad library includes meditation, hypnosis, prayer and breathwork, but recommendation personalization is not custom script generation. No matching personal recording or AI narration-production tool was listed. Selecting a recorded teacher is a different capability. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Aura: The consumer app personalizes recommendations from coach-created recordings. Its broad library includes meditation, hypnosis, prayer and breathwork, but recommendation personalization is not custom script generation. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Aura: The consumer app personalizes recommendations from coach-created recordings. Its broad library includes meditation, hypnosis, prayer and breathwork, but recommendation personalization is not custom script generation. No user script-writing, editing or narration-production control matching this criterion was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Aura: The consumer app personalizes recommendations from coach-created recordings. Its broad library includes meditation, hypnosis, prayer and breathwork, but recommendation personalization is not custom script generation. No matching conversational AI capability was listed. Content recommendations alone do not establish an assistant that creates or edits recordings. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Aura: The consumer app personalizes recommendations from coach-created recordings. Its broad library includes meditation, hypnosis, prayer and breathwork, but recommendation personalization is not custom script generation. No matching conversational AI capability was listed. Content recommendations alone do not establish an assistant that creates or edits recordings. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Aura: The consumer app personalizes recommendations from coach-created recordings. Its broad library includes meditation, hypnosis, prayer and breathwork, but recommendation personalization is not custom script generation. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Aura: The consumer app personalizes recommendations from coach-created recordings. Its broad library includes meditation, hypnosis, prayer and breathwork, but recommendation personalization is not custom script generation. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Aura: The consumer app personalizes recommendations from coach-created recordings. Its broad library includes meditation, hypnosis, prayer and breathwork, but recommendation personalization is not custom script generation. No matching personal practice cover-generation or cover-version control was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Download tracks in advance and access them under Downloaded Tracks without a connection.

Plan: Aura Premium

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1]

Aura: The consumer app personalizes recommendations from coach-created recordings. Its broad library includes meditation, hypnosis, prayer and breathwork, but recommendation personalization is not custom script generation. No matching control for AI memories, saved creation preferences or a personal technique recipe was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [2], [3]

Balance Premium: USD 11.99 billed monthly, published for the US Apple App Store. Promotions, taxes and other regions or purchase channels may differ.

Plan: Balance Premium · Region: United States

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1]

Balance's support guide explicitly states that it does not currently offer a free app version. Trial access is separate.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2]

Balance: Personalized Plans assemble prerecorded audio in response to goals, experience and obstacles; Singles, sleep audio and interactive breathing are also available. No matching personal recording or AI narration-production tool was listed. Selecting a recorded teacher is a different capability. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [3], [4], [1]

Balance combines prerecorded instruction in personalized meditation Plans, using answers and preferences. Its listed techniques include breath focus and body scan and its catalogue includes sleep guidance. This is not free-form generation of a new personal script.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [3], [1]

Balance: Personalized Plans assemble prerecorded audio in response to goals, experience and obstacles; Singles, sleep audio and interactive breathing are also available. No user script-writing, editing or narration-production control matching this criterion was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [3], [4], [1]

Balance: Personalized Plans assemble prerecorded audio in response to goals, experience and obstacles; Singles, sleep audio and interactive breathing are also available. No matching conversational AI capability was listed. Content recommendations alone do not establish an assistant that creates or edits recordings. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [3], [4], [1]

Balance: Personalized Plans assemble prerecorded audio in response to goals, experience and obstacles; Singles, sleep audio and interactive breathing are also available. No matching conversational AI capability was listed. Content recommendations alone do not establish an assistant that creates or edits recordings. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [3], [4], [1]

Balance: Personalized Plans assemble prerecorded audio in response to goals, experience and obstacles; Singles, sleep audio and interactive breathing are also available. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [3], [4], [1]

Balance: Personalized Plans assemble prerecorded audio in response to goals, experience and obstacles; Singles, sleep audio and interactive breathing are also available. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [3], [4], [1]

Balance: Personalized Plans assemble prerecorded audio in response to goals, experience and obstacles; Singles, sleep audio and interactive breathing are also available. No matching personal practice cover-generation or cover-version control was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [3], [4], [1]

There is no general download mode. Starting a meditation online can cache it for later offline playback, and some Singles work offline.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [5]

Balance: Personalized Plans assemble prerecorded audio in response to goals, experience and obstacles; Singles, sleep audio and interactive breathing are also available. No matching control for AI memories, saved creation preferences or a personal technique recipe was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [3], [4], [1]

Monthly subscriptions exist, but the reviewed official pricing guide sends users to localized checkout and does not state a current US monthly amount. The previously checked US web offer is annual; an ambiguous App Store purchase amount is not treated as a monthly quote.

Plan: Calm Premium

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [2]

A selection of sleep stories, music and other content is free; Premium unlocks the full catalogue.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2]

Calm: The consumer app offers recorded meditations, stories, music, timers and check-ins; this comparison excludes the separate Calm Health and Calm Sleep apps. No matching personal recording or AI narration-production tool was listed. Selecting a recorded teacher is a different capability. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2], [3]

Calm: The consumer app offers recorded meditations, stories, music, timers and check-ins; this comparison excludes the separate Calm Health and Calm Sleep apps. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2], [3]

Calm: The consumer app offers recorded meditations, stories, music, timers and check-ins; this comparison excludes the separate Calm Health and Calm Sleep apps. No user script-writing, editing or narration-production control matching this criterion was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2], [3]

Calm: The consumer app offers recorded meditations, stories, music, timers and check-ins; this comparison excludes the separate Calm Health and Calm Sleep apps. No matching conversational AI capability was listed. Content recommendations alone do not establish an assistant that creates or edits recordings. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2], [3]

Calm: The consumer app offers recorded meditations, stories, music, timers and check-ins; this comparison excludes the separate Calm Health and Calm Sleep apps. No matching conversational AI capability was listed. Content recommendations alone do not establish an assistant that creates or edits recordings. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2], [3]

Calm: The consumer app offers recorded meditations, stories, music, timers and check-ins; this comparison excludes the separate Calm Health and Calm Sleep apps. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2], [3]

Calm: The consumer app offers recorded meditations, stories, music, timers and check-ins; this comparison excludes the separate Calm Health and Calm Sleep apps. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2], [3]

Calm: The consumer app offers recorded meditations, stories, music, timers and check-ins; this comparison excludes the separate Calm Health and Calm Sleep apps. No matching personal practice cover-generation or cover-version control was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2], [3]

Download eligible recordings in advance for offline playback within the mobile app.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [4]

Calm: The consumer app offers recorded meditations, stories, music, timers and check-ins; this comparison excludes the separate Calm Health and Calm Sleep apps. No matching control for AI memories, saved creation preferences or a personal technique recipe was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2], [3]

Headspace individual: USD 12.99 billed monthly, published for the US Headspace website. Promotions, taxes and other regions or purchase channels may differ.

Plan: Headspace individual · Region: United States

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1]

Public Headspace pages provide sample audio and exercises without a subscription. Full in-app access is subscription/trial based; this is not a full ongoing free app tier.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [2]

Headspace: The individual app combines an expert-recorded practice library with Ebb's reflective conversation and content recommendations. Separate clinical care subscriptions are excluded. No matching personal recording or AI narration-production tool was listed. Selecting a recorded teacher is a different capability. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [3], [4]

Headspace: The individual app combines an expert-recorded practice library with Ebb's reflective conversation and content recommendations. Separate clinical care subscriptions are excluded. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [3], [4]

Headspace: The individual app combines an expert-recorded practice library with Ebb's reflective conversation and content recommendations. Separate clinical care subscriptions are excluded. No user script-writing, editing or narration-production control matching this criterion was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [3], [4]

Ebb supports two-way text conversation for eligible adults using the English app in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Access through employers and health plans can vary.

Plan: Eligible Headspace membership · Region: US / UK / Canada / Australia

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [5]

Headspace: The individual app combines an expert-recorded practice library with Ebb's reflective conversation and content recommendations. Separate clinical care subscriptions are excluded. No matching conversational AI capability was listed. Content recommendations alone do not establish an assistant that creates or edits recordings. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [3], [4]

Headspace: The individual app combines an expert-recorded practice library with Ebb's reflective conversation and content recommendations. Separate clinical care subscriptions are excluded. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [3], [4]

Headspace: The individual app combines an expert-recorded practice library with Ebb's reflective conversation and content recommendations. Separate clinical care subscriptions are excluded. No tool for making a new personalized script and guided recording in this format was listed. Existing library recordings, recommendations and timers do not meet that creation definition. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [3], [4]

Headspace: The individual app combines an expert-recorded practice library with Ebb's reflective conversation and content recommendations. Separate clinical care subscriptions are excluded. No matching personal practice cover-generation or cover-version control was listed. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [1], [3], [4]

Mobile downloads support offline listening, excluding Everyday/Today's Headspace, The Wake Up and Sleepcasts in the current official guide.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [6]

Ebb remembers previous conversations to tailor later support.

Checked 2026-10-09. Sources: [5]