Headspace offers a free trial with access to its whole library. Its help centre says the 7-day trial becomes a monthly subscription and the 14-day trial becomes an annual subscription, and you aren't charged until the trial is over. Headspace's terms allow one free trial per person, whichever way you subscribe.
The detail most people miss is that the two trial lengths aren't just shorter and longer versions of the same thing. Pick the 14-day trial and you're agreeing to an annual plan if you don't cancel. Pick the 7-day trial and you're agreeing to a monthly one. Choose the trial based on the plan you'd keep, not the number of free days.
Headspace's two trial options
| Trial | Converts to | Charged when? |
|---|---|---|
| 7-day free trial | Monthly subscription | When the trial ends, unless cancelled |
| 14-day free trial | Annual subscription | When the trial ends, unless cancelled |
| Guest Pass from a friend | Annual subscription | After 30 days, unless cancelled |
Headspace says the plan each trial turns into is also shown on the app purchase page, so check it on the screen before you confirm.
What's included during the trial
Headspace says that during the trial you have access to all of its content. Its subscription page lists what a subscription covers, and that's what you get to explore:
- The full library of meditations, sleep sounds, yoga and fitness, and focus music.
- A new meditation delivered to your phone every day.
- Daily inspirational videos to start the day.
For busy business owners, I'd focus the trial on two things: the sleep content, because it's easy to test every night, and short focus sessions before deep work. If neither fits into your week during the trial, it won't fit in month three either.
Who can get a Headspace free trial
- One trial per person. Headspace's terms say you're only allowed one free trial regardless of your subscription method, and Headspace decides eligibility.
- Apple and Google add their own rule. Headspace's help centre says they only allow one trial per account.
- Guest Passes only work for people who aren't current subscribers and haven't used a Headspace free trial before.
- Free trials can't be transferred or sold, according to the terms.
- Headspace's products are intended for people aged 18 and over, with limited exceptions for younger users in some countries.
The Guest Pass route to 30 days
If a friend already subscribes, ask them for a Guest Pass. Headspace says subscribers can share it from the bottom of their Profile section in the app, as many times as they like. You create an account, enter payment details, and after 30 days you're billed for an annual subscription. It's the longest trial window Headspace describes, but it rolls into the annual plan, so set a reminder.
How to plan your Headspace trial
- Before you start, decide whether you'd pay monthly or yearly, and pick the 7-day or 14-day trial to match.
- On day one, set a calendar reminder two days before the trial converts.
- Pick a fixed time for a short session, such as before you open your inbox, and keep it every day.
- Try the sleep content for at least three nights in a row.
- Halfway through, try a focus music session during your hardest task of the day.
- Two days before the end, decide. Keep it or cancel where you signed up.
A trial only tells you something if you use it on ordinary working days, not just the quiet weekend you started it.
If cost is the sticking point, Headspace says it offers special pricing beyond the trial, including a Family Plan, a Student Plan and an Educator's Plan, plus options that vary by location. Final pricing can vary by region and may include taxes, so check the subscriptions page in your own country before the trial converts.
How to cancel the Headspace trial
Headspace says the steps depend on where you subscribed.
Bought on headspace.com
- Log in at headspace.com in a desktop or mobile browser, not the app.
- Visit the subscription management page.
- Click or tap the CANCEL MEMBERSHIP link.
- If the link isn't there, email Headspace's help team and they'll help.
Bought through Apple
- Open the Settings app and tap your name.
- Tap Subscriptions and select Headspace.
- Tap Cancel Subscription.
Bought through Google Play
- Open the Google Play Store and tap Menu, then Subscriptions.
- Tap the Headspace subscription.
- Tap Cancel subscription and follow the instructions.
Headspace's terms say you must cancel before the subscription renews to avoid the next charge. For a trial, cancel before the date it converts.
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The refund catch
This is the part to take seriously. Headspace says subscriptions bought on its website are non-refundable, though it will review special circumstances if you email its help team. Purchases through Apple or Google are final and non-refundable from Headspace, and subject to those stores' own policies. If a 14-day trial converts into an annual plan you didn't want, you may not get that payment back, so cancel early.
Free Headspace content after the trial
If you cancel, Headspace points to free resources: its YouTube channel, Radio Headspace and Headspace articles. If you have Netflix, its Guide to Meditation and Guide to Sleep series are there. And if you're deciding between apps, my Calm vs Headspace comparison walks through the differences, while my piece on the benefits of daily meditation covers why a short daily habit matters more than which app you pick.
My verdict
The Headspace free trial gives you the whole library, which makes it a fair test. Choose the trial that matches the plan you'd keep: 7 days if you'd want monthly, 14 days if you'd happily pay for a year. Because Headspace doesn't refund subscriptions as standard, put a reminder in your calendar two days before the trial ends and cancel where you signed up if it hasn't become part of your routine.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Headspace free trial?
Headspace offers a 7-day trial that becomes a monthly subscription and a 14-day trial that becomes an annual subscription.
Do I get everything in the Headspace trial?
Yes. Headspace says you have access to all of its content during the free trial.
Can I get a second Headspace free trial?
No. Headspace's terms allow one free trial regardless of subscription method, and Apple and Google allow one trial per account.
How do I cancel my Headspace free trial?
Cancel where you subscribed: the subscription management page on headspace.com in a browser, Apple Subscriptions in Settings, or Google Play Subscriptions.
Will Headspace refund me if I forget to cancel?
Headspace says website subscriptions are non-refundable but special cases can be reviewed by email. Apple and Google purchases follow those stores' policies.
