A friendly, honest comparison
Rise Again vs Calm vs Headspace
We love both of them. They taught the world to meditate. But there are seven things they can't do — and Rise Again can. 🪷
Rise Again
oursLived experience. British voice.
£99 lifetime
or £9.99/mo · 7-day free trial
Calm
Sleep stories by celebrities
£39.99/year
or £14.99/mo · 7-day trial
Headspace
Animated meditation basics
£49.99/year
or £9.99/mo · 14-day trial
Authenticity
| Feature | Rise Again | Calm | Headspace |
|---|---|---|---|
Lived experience teacher Kezia survived caring for a son with cerebral palsy, betrayal, chronic pain — and built this app from that | |||
British voice & sensibility Founders left UK in childhood/teens — accents are American | |||
Authentic Indian heritage Sutras, Mantras, Ayurveda — lived since childhood, not borrowed | partial | ||
Owned by the creator (not VCs) No investor pressure to maximise revenue at your expense |
Who it serves
| Feature | Rise Again | Calm | Headspace |
|---|---|---|---|
For women | |||
For men Most apps speak to women by default | partial | partial | |
For teenagers & young adults Built with the suicide rate in mind | partial | partial | |
For special needs carers 7-million carers in the UK alone — almost entirely ignored | |||
For midlife (35–65+) Most apps skew under 35 | partial | partial | |
For people in chronic pain Every practice has a chronic-pain modification |
Content depth
| Feature | Rise Again | Calm | Headspace |
|---|---|---|---|
Guided meditations | |||
Sleep stories Coming in Kezia's voice | soon | ||
21-Day structured journey Kezia's "Journey to Happiness" | partial | ||
Personalised Wellness Blueprint 30-question assessment + Mind/Body/Soul scores | |||
Yoga Sutras (daily Sanskrit wisdom) 2,000-year-old psychology your therapist hasn't met yet | |||
Pranayama breathwork library 8 sacred breaths, each a different superpower | partial | partial | |
Ayurvedic dosha quiz Vata · Pitta · Kapha — 5,000-year-old personality science | |||
Daily mantra library 8 sacred Sanskrit mantras with Kezia's voice | |||
Mind & Movement (Pilates, Tai Chi) | |||
Nourishment & nutrition hub Green Boost Juice, herbal teas, supplements | |||
Loneliness check-in 3-tap support without journaling | |||
52 Golden Nuggets (weekly wisdom) Distilled from Kezia's lifetime |
Pricing & freedom
| Feature | Rise Again | Calm | Headspace |
|---|---|---|---|
7-day free trial · no card Most apps demand a card before you can try | |||
Lifetime access option £99 once · never billed again · only first 100 Brave Hearts | |||
Cancel anytime, one click | partial | partial | |
No 30% Apple tax You pay £99, Kezia receives £97. They take 30% via App Store. | |||
Vote on future features Founding Brave Hearts get a say |
What it costs over time
Pay £99 once with Rise Again, never again. Or pay Calm/Headspace forever.
| If you stay… | Rise Again Founding | Calm | Headspace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | £99 | £39.99 | £49.99 |
| 5 years | £99 | £199.95 | £249.95 |
| 10 years | £99 | £399.90 | £499.90 |
| 20 years | £99 | £799.80 | £999.80 |
| Lifetime | £99 | ∞ | ∞ |
* Prices accurate as of June 2026. Calm and Headspace adjust pricing periodically.
The 7 things only Rise Again does
What Calm and Headspace can't copy
A real British voice
Calm and Headspace narrators sound American. You're in the UK — your wellness app should sound like home.
Lived Indian heritage
Sutras, Mantras, Ayurveda — lived since childhood, not borrowed in a sound studio.
For special needs carers
The 7 million unpaid carers in the UK are almost entirely ignored by Calm and Headspace. Not here.
Post-betrayal healing
Specific programs for narcissistic abuse recovery, divorce, identity loss. Calm doesn't go there.
For men AND teenagers
Most "soft" wellness apps are female-coded. Rise Again is built for everyone navigating something hard.
Lifetime option
£99 once. Forever access. Limited to the first 100 Brave Hearts. Calm/Headspace force annual renewals.
Owned by the creator
No VCs. No 30% Apple tax. No pressure to maximise revenue at your expense.
A note from Kezia
I'm not anti-Calm
Calm and Headspace are wonderful apps that taught the world to meditate. I'm not here to take anyone down. I'm here for the women, men and young adults who tried those apps and felt something was missing.
If you need an American voice telling you to "sit tall and breathe" — they're brilliant. If you need a British soul who has survived what you're surviving — welcome home. 🪷
— Kezia Kaur