Calm vs Headspace HSA Comparison (2026)
Meditation, sleep, and relaxation app with Sleep Stories and daily mindfulness sessions.
Guided meditation, mindfulness, and mental wellness app with structured courses.
HSA Eligibility at a Glance
Calm
HSA-eligible (LMN required)
Calm is HSA-eligible only with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) from a licensed provider establishing the subscription as treating a diagnosed condition (anxiety, insomnia, depression).
Headspace
HSA-eligible (LMN required)
Headspace requires an LMN to be HSA-eligible. The LMN should reference a specific diagnosed condition such as generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, or stress-related disorders.
Pricing
Calm
Premium: $69.99/year ($5.83/mo) or $14.99/mo
Limited free content
Headspace
Headspace: $69.99/year ($5.83/mo) or $12.99/mo
Free basics course
Which Should You Pick?
When to choose Calm
- Sleep is your primary use case (Sleep Stories library is the differentiator)
- You prefer a less structured, more browse-and-pick experience
- You're interested in celebrity-narrated content
- You want LeBron James's mental fitness content (Calm-exclusive)
When to choose Headspace
- You want structured multi-day courses with progression tracking
- You're new to meditation and want guided onboarding
- You have Netflix and want to access the limited Headspace shows there
- You prefer slightly cheaper monthly pricing ($12.99 vs $14.99)
Visit Each Vendor
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Common Questions
Are Calm and Headspace HSA-eligible?▼
How do I get a Letter of Medical Necessity?▼
Will my HSA provider reject this without an LMN?▼
Can I use Truemed or Flex to make these HSA-eligible?▼
Which is cheaper?▼
Are family plans HSA-eligible?▼
Do I need to log these in HSA Trackr if I paid with HSA card?▼
What if I want to track multiple wellness app subscriptions?▼
Read More
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