StillMind and Headspace, compared
Headspace is a well-known name in learn-to-meditate courses. StillMind takes a different shape: sessions generated for the moment you are actually in, with journaling built in.
If you are weighing up StillMind and Headspace, you are probably deciding between two genuinely different ideas of what a meditation app should be.
One gives you a produced library and a structured path through it. The other builds each practice around what you bring to it that day.
StillMind and Headspace, side by side
Objective factors that shape day-to-day practice. Each app is strong at something different.
| Feature | StillMind | Headspace |
|---|---|---|
| Personalisation | Each session generated with AI for your situation that day | Curated library and structured courses everyone shares |
| Journaling | Built in, private and encrypted, written or voice | Focused on guided audio content |
| Session length | Flexible and short-friendly, works well for ADHD and busy days | Range of lengths across a produced catalogue |
| Content style | Generated fresh for the moment you are in | Structured courses with a warm voice and friendly animations |
| Learning to meditate | Guidance adapts as you go | Structured beginner courses, a widely loved on-ramp |
| Consistency | Momentum and gentle streaks, without pressure | Streaks and reminders |
StillMind and Headspace questions
Is StillMind a good alternative to Headspace?
StillMind is a strong alternative if you want meditations personalised to your situation rather than chosen from a fixed library, and if built-in journaling matters to you. Headspace remains a great fit for people who prefer structured, professionally produced courses with a consistent guiding voice. The right choice depends on whether you value a curated path or sessions generated for your specific moment.
What is the difference between StillMind and Headspace?
The main difference is personalisation versus curation. Headspace offers a produced library and structured courses that everyone works through, with a recognisable house style. StillMind generates each guided meditation around what you share that day and includes private, encrypted journaling in written or voice form. Headspace centres on curated audio content, while StillMind centres on sessions built for your moment.
Is StillMind cheaper than Headspace?
StillMind is free to begin and does not require a subscription to start practising, so you can meditate before deciding on any paid plan. Headspace uses a subscription model. Exact pricing changes over time and by region, so check each app's current plans directly. The clearest difference is the starting point: StillMind lets you begin without a subscription.
Which is better for beginners, StillMind or Headspace?
Both work well for beginners in different ways. Headspace offers structured foundation courses that teach the basics step by step, which many new meditators find reassuring. StillMind guides you through personalised sessions and adapts as you go, so the instruction fits your pace and situation. If you like a fixed learning path, Headspace suits that. If you prefer guidance shaped around you, StillMind does.
Does StillMind have courses like Headspace?
StillMind approaches learning differently. Rather than fixed courses everyone follows in the same order, it generates guided practices grounded in established meditation theory and adapts them to you over time. Headspace offers structured, produced courses with a set progression. If a defined curriculum is what you want, Headspace provides that, while StillMind offers guidance that shapes itself around your practice.
More meditation app comparisons
Meditation made for your moment
Start with a session built around what is actually on your mind today, journaling included. StillMind is free to begin, no subscription needed to start.