In This Article
Both Waking Up (created by neuroscientist and philosopher Sam Harris) and Calm are top-tier mindfulness apps, but they serve completely different purposes.
Calm is designed as a digital sanctuary for relaxation, sleep, and quick stress relief. Waking Up is designed as an operating system for the human mind — examining the nature of consciousness, non-duality, Stoicism, and secular philosophy.
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Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Waking Up (Sam Harris) | Calm |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Subscription | $139.99/year | 🏆 $69.99/year |
| Free Trial | 7 days (or 30 days via share link) | 7 to 14 days |
| Financial Hardship Policy | 🏆 100% Free scholarship if unable to pay | ❌ Standard paid subscription only |
| Primary Objective | Deep secular mindfulness & self-inquiry | 🏆 Sleep, stress relief & relaxation |
| Sleep Stories & Ambient Sound | ❌ None | 🏆 250+ Sleep Stories & Soundscapes |
| Philosophy & Theory | 🏆 Deep (Stoicism, Buddhism, Conversations) | Minimal theory, focus on practical calm |
| Daily Session Duration | 10 min or 20 min guided | 10 min (The Daily Calm) |
| Target Audience | Intellectual seekers, serious meditators | Beginners, busy professionals, poor sleepers |
Core Philosophy: Relaxation vs Self-Inquiry
The main contrast between Waking Up and Calm lies in their underlying philosophy:
Calm treats meditation as a wellness tool. Just as going to the gym exercises your body, spending 10 minutes on Calm relaxes your nervous system, lowers cortisol, and prepares you for rest.
Waking Up treats meditation as a vehicle for understanding the mind. Sam Harris emphasizes non-dual mindfulness (derived from Tibetan Dzogchen and Theravada Vipassana traditions). Instead of using meditation simply to feel calm, Waking Up trains you to recognize that the ego or "self" is an illusion — breaking the cycle of reactive thinking at its root.
Meditation Content & Courses
Waking Up includes a famous 28-Day Introductory Course hosted by Sam Harris, followed by daily 10-minute or 20-minute meditations. Beyond Sam, the app features guest series from renowned teachers like Joseph Goldstein, Adyashanti, Henry Shukman, and Diana Winston. It also houses audio lectures on Stoicism, free will, and ethics.
Calm features "The Daily Calm" — a daily 10-minute meditation narrated by Tamara Levitt. Calm offers thematic series on anxiety, gratitude, focus, and relationships, accompanied by ambient soundscapes (rain, ocean waves, forest sounds).
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This is where Calm dominates. Calm revolutionized sleep app audio with its library of over 250 Sleep Stories narrated by celebrities like Matthew McConaughey, Stephen Fry, Idris Elba, and Harry Styles. Calm also provides music tracks curated for sleep, focus, and relaxation.
Waking Up explicitly avoids sleep stories, soundscapes, or soothing background music. Sam Harris believes sleep audio is useful, but categorizes it separately from mindfulness practice.
Pricing & Financial Hardship Policy
At $139.99/year, Waking Up is twice the price of Calm ($69.99/year). However, Waking Up has a unique pricing philosophy:
"Money should never be the reason someone can't practice mindfulness on Waking Up." — Sam Harris
If you cannot afford Waking Up, you can request a 100% free annual scholarship on their website (no financial proof or credit card required). Calm does not offer a free scholarship program.
Who Should Choose Which?
Choose Waking Up if:
- You are interested in non-dual meditation, secular philosophy, and Stoicism.
- You want to understand why the mind acts the way it does rather than just soothing symptoms.
- You appreciate intellectual rigor and in-depth conversations with philosophers and neuroscientists.
- You cannot afford a subscription and need a free scholarship.
Choose Calm if:
- You suffer from insomnia, racing thoughts at night, or difficulty unwinding before bed.
- You want soothing Sleep Stories narrated by recognizable voices.
- You want a simple, beautiful app for 10-minute daily stress relief and ambient sounds.
- You prefer a $69.99/year price point without needing to request financial assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waking Up or Calm better for anxiety?
Calm offers immediate acute anxiety relief tools (breathing exercises, soothing sounds). Waking Up offers long-term cognitive re-framing by helping you untangle your identity from anxious thoughts.
How do I claim the Waking Up free scholarship?
Visit WakingUp.com/scholarship in your web browser. Submit a simple form indicating you cannot afford the subscription, and your account will be granted full free access for 12 months.
Can I use both apps together?
Yes! Many users use Calm at night for Sleep Stories and soundscapes, and Waking Up in the morning for mind training and meditation.
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Sources & References
- [1] Harris, Sam. Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion. Simon & Schuster.
- [2] JMIR Mental Health — Evaluating Mindfulness App Engagement & Stress Reduction