Calm
Supported meditations
Mute scene volume or choose a silent scene for compatible guided meditations. Sound embedded in a Sleep Story is not separately removable.
Supporting sources:
Source checked . Availability can change.
Background sound and mixing · 3-app comparison
Listen with narration only and no background music: Calm vs Headspace vs Insight Timer
Whether the app lets you listen with narration only and no background music.
Compare by topic
Compare custom self-hypnosis creation and editing controls; existing recordings and clinical hypnotherapy are different offerings. Choosing a self-hypnosis app
Compare guided reflection, journaling and personalization tools for exploring how you see yourself. Self-concept journal prompts
Compare creating affirmation audio, cloning your voice, recording narration and replay controls. Own-voice app guide
Compare creating and revising original guided meditations, including scripts, voices, pauses and generation allowances. Create a custom meditation
Compare creating and editing personal tapping audio, rather than access to a library of recorded sessions. Choosing an EFT tapping app
Compare creating guided rehearsal audio around your goals, context and preferred pacing. What is mental rehearsal?
Compare custom yoga guidance, practice preferences and playback. See the guide for instructor-led class libraries. Choosing a yoga app
| Features1 selected | Calm Calm Premium |  Headspace Headspace individual |  Insight Timer MemberPlus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Listen with narration only and no background music |
Listen with narration only and no background music: details
Headspace
No listed support
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 listener-controlled audio mixing or cue option was listed in the reviewed playback documentation. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.
Supporting sources:
Source checked . Availability can change.
Insight Timer
Depends on recording
Teachers can publish dry narration or recordings with background music. There is no listed universal control to remove music baked into an uploaded track.
Supporting sources:
Source checked . Availability can change.
Sources and plan details
Sources for 1 features across Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer. Annual prices show the full yearly charge in USD. “Limited” includes conditions. “No listed support” means the feature was not found in the reviewed official documentation.
Calm 1 researched
- Listen with narration only and no background music: Supported meditations
-
Mute scene volume or choose a silent scene for compatible guided meditations. Sound embedded in a Sleep Story is not separately removable.
Checked . Sources: [1]
Calm sources
- Calm scene audio settings · Checked 2026-10-09
Headspace 1 researched
- Listen with narration only and no background music: No listed support
-
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 listener-controlled audio mixing or cue option was listed in the reviewed playback documentation. This is an assessment of the reviewed published feature scope, not an explicit vendor denial.
Headspace sources
- Headspace meditation library and plans · Checked 2026-10-09
- Using Headspace · Checked 2026-10-09
- Headspace AI scope and guardrails · Checked 2026-10-09
Insight Timer 1 researched
- Listen with narration only and no background music: Depends on recording
-
Teachers can publish dry narration or recordings with background music. There is no listed universal control to remove music baked into an uploaded track.
Checked . Sources: [1]
Insight Timer sources
- Insight Timer teacher audio and image uploads · Checked 2026-10-09