Headspace promises to help its users reduce stress, improve sleep and increase productivity. With guided meditations, sleep-inducing music, a beautiful UI and more, it’s easy to see why their app is so popular. But is Headspace really worth the money? I tested it out for a month to see. Here’s what I found.

Ratings Breakdown

CONTENT: ★★★★★

Headspace is constantly rotating in new and unique content. I found meditations on mindful eating, sleep and even Star Wars (Breathe with Yoda). Whether you're starting a new job or just want to learn some new breathing techniques, Headspace has something for you.

VALUE: ★★★

Headspace is not particularly cheap. At $12.99/mo it's more expensive than some streaming services. However, it's hard to put a dollar value on improving your mental health.

USER INTERFACE: ★★★★

Headspace offers a clean, delightful user experience. With that said, I found the app's layout fairly closed at times and had difficulty navigating to certain content categories.

LONGEVITY: ★★★★

After developing a meditation habit with Headspace, I found sticking to a meditation practice much easier than when I was doing it on my own. Plus, they're always adding new content for beginning and experienced practitioners.

Headspace Pros

If you’re new to meditation or want to learn some deep-breathing techniques, Headspace is a great place to get started. They offer tons of guided meditations, many of which are tailored to unique situations. Stressed at work? Try their Letting Go of Stress lesson. Struggling with your new diet? Check out Mindful Eating. My favorite lesson is Five Mindful Minutes. I listened to it every day during my lunch break and it really made a difference in my afternoon productivity.

Headspace also offers long, ad-free lofi playlists. I made a habit of turning one on in the morning (Cloudy Concerto was my go-to) and letting Headspace's soft music get me in the zone. There are other playlists designed to help you sleep. I personally don’t want to hear ANYTHING when I’m trying to sleep, but appreciate that Headspace has playlists to help you from sunrise to sundown.

One more thing I loved about Headspace was the notifications the app sent me every morning. At first, they were a little annoying, but they really did help me cultivate a consistent meditation practice (my longest streak was 8 days). That was worth a small ping during my morning coffee.

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What Could Be Better

While Headspace is great for beginners,  it doesn’t offer as much content for intermediate or advanced meditation practitioners. There are some pro level courses, but they can be completed in a few weeks.

Headspace also isn't particularly cheap. At $12.99/mo you’re paying nearly as much as you would for some streaming services, and I would argue, getting a little bit less. Headspace did help me start and stick to a meditation practice, so I've definitely gotten real value from my subscription.

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Should You Try Headspace?

So, is Headspace really worth the money? If you’re a beginner looking to establish a regular meditation practice, then yes—the app can be quite helpful in getting you started. If you’re an experienced practitioner looking to add to your routine, then Headspace can provide real value for you, too.