Calm Terms of Service

Item: Calm
Rating: 52
Author: Terms.Law Editorial Team

Last updated: January 2025 | Reviewed: February 2026

Leading meditation and sleep app with generally better terms than competitors, though auto-renewal and content licensing remain concerns.

Grade C

Bottom Line: Calm's terms are better than many mental health apps but still include aggressive auto-renewal policies and broad content licensing. The platform focuses primarily on meditation and sleep content rather than therapy, which reduces some privacy concerns but the data collected about sleep patterns and mental states remains sensitive.

Category Scores

Subscription & Billing 45/100

Content Licensing 50/100

Account Termination 62/100

Dispute Resolution 48/100

Service Limitations 55/100

Key Findings

⚠ Automatic Renewal with Limited Notice

Calm subscriptions auto-renew and the cancellation process requires multiple steps. Many users report difficulty canceling, especially for annual subscriptions.

"Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each subscription period unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the current period."

⚠ Broad User Content License

If you submit any content (reviews, feedback, journal entries), Calm receives a broad license to use this content for any purpose including marketing and product development.

"You grant Calm a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute any content you submit through the service."

⚠ Mandatory Arbitration

Disputes must be resolved through binding arbitration rather than court. There is a class action waiver, meaning you cannot join with other users in a lawsuit.

"Any dispute arising from these Terms shall be resolved through binding arbitration. You waive your right to participate in class action lawsuits."

✓ Not a Medical Service Disclaimer

Calm clearly states it is not a replacement for professional mental health care. While this limits liability, it also sets appropriate expectations for users.

"Calm is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider."

Comparison: Mental Health Apps

Feature	Calm	Headspace	Cerebral
Auto-Renewal	Yes, 24hr notice	Yes, 24hr notice	Yes, limited notice
Free Cancellation	Yes	Yes	Fees may apply
Data Portability	Limited	Limited	Restricted
Arbitration Required	Yes	Yes	Yes
Medical Disclaimer	Clear	Clear	Complex

Recommendation

For Users: Calm is one of the better options in the mental health app space from a terms perspective. However, set a calendar reminder to cancel before renewal if you want to avoid charges.

Key Action: Be cautious about submitting personal content through journal features or feedback forms, as this grants Calm broad usage rights.