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Calm: What Users Actually Complain About

Calm.com · Health & Fitness · iOS · App Store 4.8★ · 1,989,482 ratings

299 reviews analyzed 64 negative (≤3★) 9 pain clusters updated Oct 18, 2026

Overview

The primary pain points center around subscription costs and content access restrictions, with significant frustration over subscription management difficulties. Technical issues including app performance problems and user interface concerns further contribute to user dissatisfaction, while content quality and customer support experience represent secondary but persistent issues.

Top complaints

1. Subscription Cost Concerns

cluster 1/9
25% of complaints●●●●○ sev 4/513 reviews

Users express frustration with high subscription prices and unexpected renewal costs.

“Why do you have to charge $70? I loved it two years ago when it was cheaper.”
“it was renewed for $84 for a year!!! Who has that kind of money to spend on an app?”

2. Content Access Restrictions

cluster 2/9
21% of complaints●●●●○ sev 4/511 reviews

Users are upset about locked content and limitations on free features.

“90% of the stories were LOCKED. I was so mad because this is unfair to me.”
“This is a really great app and I absolutely love how it greets you and has a daily check in thing. But I wish everything”

3. Subscription Management Difficulties

cluster 3/9
13% of complaints●●●●● sev 5/58 reviews

Users report challenges with canceling subscriptions and managing their accounts.

“To unsubscribe, we must navigate through the app to find a single link that then directs us to the store.”
“I have attempted for HOURS to go into the app to cancel the premium subscription and to also delete my account. The app”

4. App Performance Issues

cluster 4/9
8% of complaints●●●●○ sev 4/55 reviews

Users experience technical problems including battery drain and app instability.

“my app started performing horribly - it started killing my battery, literally to zero, after only playing 1 story.”
“Sometime recently, there was an upgrade, which I never worry about doing, and it seemed to ruin the entire app.”

5. Content Quality Concerns

cluster 5/9
8% of complaints●●●○○ sev 3/55 reviews

Users express dissatisfaction with specific content, voice actors, and story quality.

“I REALLY do not enjoy Tamara's voice and refuse to listen to it which eliminates about 30% of the content on this app.”
“The Dragon Story is an excellent example of missing the mark. As a Counselor, it is not a relaxing story at all.”

6. User Interface Problems

cluster 6/9
8% of complaints●●●○○ sev 3/55 reviews

Users report issues with app navigation, layout changes, and missing functionality.

“The homepage is an endless scroll, t”
“At some point, a year ago? they redesigned the layout and made it stressful to use. It was so simple before, you wanted”

7. Customer Support Experience

cluster 7/9
6% of complaints●●●○○ sev 3/54 reviews

Users are frustrated with AI customer service and lack of human support options.

“There is NOTHING natural or CALMing about talking to a freaking AI! Get rid of it!!”
“I simply wanted to talk to a person about a payment issue on your support page. But after clicking the little chat box,”

8. Feature Functionality Issues

cluster 8/9
6% of complaints●●○○○ sev 2/54 reviews

Users report problems with playlist management, volume controls, and missing features.

“please either let us make playlists or at least elect to have a soundscape start after the story ends”
“Why offer being able to tap heart icon to favorite something if you can't get your list of favorites?!”

9. Payment and Billing Problems

cluster 9/9
5% of complaints●●●●● sev 5/53 reviews

Users encounter issues with payment processing and auto-renewal failures.

“My credit card # was stolen and when it tried to auto renew, it couldn't. Content is locked on both iPads.”
“I am so frustrated with the changes they've made with this app, particularly because it seems designed to encourage inso”

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