DREA vs Calm
Which is better, DREA or Calm?
Choose Calm if your family already uses it or you want sleep content for adults and children in one subscription; choose DREA if you want an app made only for children's bedtime stories, with fairy tales and fantasy adventures that adapt to your child. The Educational App Store describes Calm for Kids as story meditations and sleep-friendly music for ages 12 and under, and notes that Calm's 100+ sleep stories are written for adults. DREA offers narrated bedtime stories with gentle narration, child and pet profiles, bedtime reminders, a library for repeat listening and a Home Screen shortcut that starts a story. Calm runs on iPhone and Android and is much larger and more established; DREA is iPhone only and new.
DREA and Calm side by side
| DREA | Calm | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS | iOS, Android |
| Price to download | Free to download | Free to download |
| Store rating | n/a | 4.8 (1,991,884 ratings, 2026-11-02) |
| Who it is for | Children at bedtime, with a parent setting it up | Adults, with a Calm for Kids section for ages 12 and under [source] |
| Kids' content | Narrated bedtime stories, fairy tales and fantasy adventures | Story meditations and sleep-friendly music in Calm for Kids [source] |
| Sleep stories | All stories are bedtime stories for children | 100+ sleep stories written for adults [source] |
| Personalisation | Child and pet profiles let stories adapt to your child | Not covered in our sources |
| Routine tools | Bedtime reminders, repeat-listening library, Home Screen shortcut | See the store page |
| Pricing model | Free download; Premium $4.99 weekly, $9.99 monthly or $59.99 yearly, 3-day free trial on yearly (US App Store, Nov 2026) | Free download with a subscription; see the store page |
Choose DREA if
- You want an app only for your child's bedtime stories, not adult meditation
- You want stories that adapt to your child and their pet
- You want a quick routine: reminder, Home Screen shortcut, favourite story
Choose Calm if
- Your family already pays for Calm and you want to use it for the kids too
- You want meditation and sleep music, not just stories
- You need Android, or want a large, long-established app
Questions
Does Calm have bedtime stories for kids?
Calm for Kids has story meditations and sleep-friendly music for ages 12 and under, according to the Educational App Store. Calm's 100+ sleep stories are written for adults. DREA's stories are all children's bedtime stories.
Is DREA cheaper than Calm?
Both are free to download with subscriptions. DREA Premium is $4.99 weekly, $9.99 monthly or $59.99 yearly with a 3-day free trial on the yearly plan (US App Store, Nov 2026). Check Calm's current plans on its store page.
Can adults use DREA?
DREA is made for children's bedtime, but its fairy tales and fantasy adventures are gentle narrated stories that anyone can listen to.
Sources: educationalappstore.com, apps.apple.com