Calm

User Experience Report

Week of April 7th, 2025

This is sample report built by Anecdote, using AI to analyze feedback from platforms like the App Store and Reddit.

Highlights trends and insights

Helps you understand what matters most

Unlock all insights Sign in

All Insights

TOP INSIGHTS

A weekly roundup of Calm's key feedback

Subscription Pressure

Many users feel overwhelmed by the constant push for subscription, with approximately 15% of users expressing frustration over limited free content and aggressive subscription prompts.

I couldn't use the app because of the constant subscription offers.

Misleading Promotions

Around 10% of users are dissatisfied with misleading promotions, such as being charged despite expecting a free trial, which leads to distrust in the app's marketing practices.

I was charged immediately despite being promised a free trial.

Interface Issues

Approximately 8% of users report dissatisfaction with the app's interface, citing poor design and lack of basic functionalities like playlist management and search features.

The app's design and functionality are shockingly bad for such a popular app.

Content Discrepancies

About 5% of users are frustrated by discrepancies between advertised content and what is available in the app, such as missing music or soundscapes featured in ads.

I can't find the calming music from the ad anywhere in the app.

COMPETITORS ANALYSIS

Stay ahead by benchmarking your performance against competitors and keeping your finger on the market pulse

#1 USERS CHOICE

Insight Timer

Insight Timer is highly praised for its extensive free content and variety of meditation options, making it accessible to users of all levels. Users appreciate the community aspect and the ability to connect with others globally, although some have noted occasional technical issues.

#2 RUNNER UP

Calm

Calm receives mixed feedback; many users find it effective for sleep and relaxation, praising its diverse content and celebrity-narrated sleep stories. However, some users criticize its app functionality and subscription model, expressing frustration with technical glitches and perceived high costs.

#3 Straggler

Headspace

Headspace is appreciated for its structured approach to meditation and high-quality content, which many users find life-changing. However, it faces criticism for its subscription costs and limited free content, with some users experiencing technical issues and difficulties with customer service.

Nuggets

Major Highlights of the Week

Subscription Confusion

Users are misled by promotional offers, expecting a free trial but being charged immediately, leading to dissatisfaction and distrust. This issue highlights a need for clearer communication regarding trial and subscription terms.

I was promised a 7-day free trial but was charged immediately, which felt deceptive.

Interface Limitations

The app's interface lacks basic functionalities such as playlist creation, item reordering, and effective search, frustrating users who expect more from a high-revenue app. Enhancing these features could significantly improve user experience and satisfaction.

The app's design is shockingly poor, lacking basic features like playlist creation and search.

Misleading Advertising

Discrepancies between advertised features and actual app content, such as the quality of 'green noise', lead to user disappointment and perceptions of false advertising. Aligning marketing claims with in-app experiences is crucial to maintain credibility.

The green noise advertised on TV is not the same as what's in the app, which feels misleading.

Content Access Issues

Premium users face difficulties accessing content due to login loops, causing frustration and negating the calming purpose of the app. Resolving these technical issues is essential to retain premium subscribers.

Aggressive Monetization

The app's aggressive push for subscriptions and limited free content create a perception of a 'money grab', deterring potential users. Balancing monetization with user value could enhance user acquisition and retention.

The app feels like a money grab with most content locked behind a paywall.

Content Repetition

Users paying for annual subscriptions expect fresh content but are disappointed by repeated material, particularly in the Daily Calm feature. Regularly updating content could enhance perceived value and justify subscription costs.

Paying new membership fees should mean new content, not repeats from last year.

Nuggets

Major Highlights of the Week

Everything you need to know about user experience

Subscription Confusion

Interface Limitations

Misleading Advertising

Content Access Issues

Aggressive Monetization

Content Repetition

Quotes of the week

Hear from some of the most impactful users to drive changes

I bought the year-long subscription. I love the teachers, the ease and intuitive use of the app, and its diversity. I think a year-long subscription at $69.99 is a bargain.

Cole Force

Week of April 7th, 2025

I’m getting very frustrated with this app and not calming down at all since I upgraded to Premium and can’t seem to access the content. I’m stuck in this eternal loop of them sending a code to my email, I input it into their app login, and then try to access content and it says I have to login again.

Six Dog Ranch

Week of April 7th, 2025

It's almost unbelievable how bad the design, interface, and functionality of this app is for how popular it is. Basic search functionality doesn't even exist. The content is decent, but the app itself literally couldn't be worse.

UICJOE418

Week of April 7th, 2025

Start your 14-day free trial today.

Chat to sales

Get started

The quotes of the week

Hear from some of the most impactful users to drive changes

I bought the year-long subscription. I love the teachers, the ease and intuitive use of the app, and its diversity. I think a year-long subscription at $69.99 is a bargain.

Candice Wu

App Store

Kelly Williams

Google Play

Koray Okumus

Google Play

Discover Anecdote’s all-in-one customer experience platform

Search through all your feedback, instantly

Type in anything, and find what you need in your feedback—complete with relevant tickets, citations, and AI-summaries.

Search for product issues and validate hypotheses.

Receive an AI summary, relevant tickets, sentiment and more.

Explore

Use AI to automate and prioritize your feedback analysis

Analyze your feedback with our market leading LLM, generate clear AI summaries, and prioritize burning issues.

Transform feedback into actionable trends and categories.

Use AI to turn feedback into impactful business actions.

Explore

Send surveys and analyze them with AI

Quickly launch AI-powered surveys right in your product, on WhatsApp, or through email, and get real-time AI insights on the results.

SDK

Reduce time to action with quick, actionable AI insights from your surveys.

Analyze all your customer feedback, including surveys, in one place.

Explore

Segment feedback from your company in charts and summaries

Turn feedback into clear, easy-to-read dashboards that help your team make better decisions, break down silos, and respond faster.

Easily deep-dive into feedback from support, products, branch, and stores.

Share feedback dashboards to your team that update in real-time.

Explore

Benchmark your company's feedback against your competitors

Unify and analyze public competitor feedback to benchmark against their performance.

Learn from competitors' strengths and avoid their mistakes.

Create monthly SWOT comparisons.

Explore

Stay on top of your feedback with alerts

Set up email or Slack alerts for specific customer issues, bugs, VoC reports, or queries like legal mentions and late deliveries. Route these to the right team the same day they're reported.

Improving customer satisfaction with faster response times.

Identify and address emerging risks more swiftly.

Explore

User Experience Report

Calm

Top Insights This Week

Subscription Pressure

Misleading Promotions

Interface Issues

Content Discrepancies

Stay ahead by benchmarking your performance against competitors and keeping your finger on the market pulse

Start your 14-day free trial

Major Highlights of the Week

Major Highlights of the Week

Hear from some of the most impactful users to drive changes

Start your 14-day free trial today

The quotes of the week

Discover Anecdote’s all-in-one customer experience platform

Search through all your feedback, instantly

Use AI to automate and prioritize your feedback analysis

Send surveys and analyze them with AI

Segment feedback from your company in charts and summaries

Benchmark your company's feedback against your competitors

Stay on top of your feedback with alerts