Asking for help when workload is too high
“I am struggling to manage everything on my plate right now. Could we talk about what to prioritise?”
Calm and tonen: support for different everyday needs
Calm offers meditation, sleep and relaxation content. tonen helps you find wording for conversations and includes a Calm Kit for moments when you want a pause. A sleep routine and a difficult conversation may call for different tools.
Free to start. No trial needed. iOS only.
Calm vs tonen
Compare the main activities each app supports.
| Calm | tonen | |
|---|---|---|
| Main focus | Sleep, meditation and relaxation | Conversation scripts and support |
| Content | Guided meditations, Sleep Stories, music and breathing tools | Scripts, example conversations, Helpers and Calm exercises |
| During a difficult moment | In-the-moment breathing and calming content | Pause with Calm Kit or refer to prepared words |
| Message support | Explore current content with Calm | Reply Helper drafts wording; Perspective Helper offers possible readings |
| Before subscribing | Check current subscription prices and trial eligibility with Calm | 21 free scripts and optional Premium; current terms in the App Store |
Comparison checked 3 October 2026 against Calm’s official product information and the current tonen app. This compares the advertised focus, not every capability. Prices and availability can change.
Choose support for the task in front of you
When you want sleep or meditation content
Calm has a dedicated library of meditation, sleep and relaxation content. tonen is not a replacement for that library.
When you need words for a conversation
If the next task is a message or a request, use tonen to choose an opening and a clear next step. It does not promise to prevent anxiety.
When you need a pause
tonen includes free Box Breathing and 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding. Body Scan and Safe Place are Premium tools. Choose an exercise that feels comfortable and stop if it does not.
When you want to use both
You can use one tool for a sleep routine and another to prepare a workplace request. There is no requirement to choose a single app for every situation.
Example wording to adapt
Examples written for this page, rather than exact app catalogue entries.
Saying no to an additional request
“I am not going to be able to take this on right now. I want to be upfront rather than over-commit.”
Ending a conversation you find draining
“I need to get back to some things, but it has been good to talk. Let us catch up properly soon.”
Asking what someone meant without seeming difficult
“I want to make sure I understood that — did you mean it would be better if I [X]?”
Download tonen
Start with 21 free scripts, Box Breathing, 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding and one free use each of Reply Helper, Perspective Helper and Debrief. Premium adds the full script library, Phone Call Mode, Body Scan, Safe Place and 50 requests per week shared across the three Helpers.
iOS only.