Live sessions, wellbeing apps and EAPs compared
The biggest difference between them is how many people actually use them.
| Live weekly sessions | Wellbeing app | EAP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A real, familiar human | On request | ||
| Builds a shared team habit | |||
| Preventive, not only crisis | |||
| Stigma-free for everyone | |||
| Reaches the whole team | |||
| Live accountability to show up | |||
| Works across time zones | |||
| Typical take-up | High, live | Drops fast | 3 to 5% |
Live weekly sessions
- A real, familiar human
- Builds a shared team habit
- Preventive, not only crisis
- Stigma-free for everyone
- Reaches the whole team
- Live accountability to show up
- Works across time zones
- Typical take-upHigh, live
Wellbeing app
- A real, familiar human
- Builds a shared team habit
- Preventive, not only crisis
- Stigma-free for everyone
- Reaches the whole team
- Live accountability to show up
- Works across time zones
- Typical take-upDrops fast
EAP
- A real, familiar humanOn request
- Builds a shared team habit
- Preventive, not only crisis
- Stigma-free for everyone
- Reaches the whole team
- Live accountability to show up
- Works across time zones
- Typical take-up3 to 5%
Take-up figures: EAP 3 to 5% (Personnel Today); app engagement declines within weeks of download.
Live sessions work alongside apps and EAPs
Wellbeing apps
The content is often good, but each person has to start on their own, and most stop after a few weeks. An app works well as something to use between live sessions.
Employee assistance programmes (EAPs)
An EAP is important and worth keeping, but people usually only use it once a problem has already started.
Live sessions
A real teacher at a fixed time each week, which makes people much more likely to join. See how a session runs.
An alternative to Calm for Business, Headspace for Work and EAPs
If you are looking for a Calm for Business alternative or a Headspace for Work alternative, a different app is unlikely to change much. What most apps are missing is a live class that people join together.
An app needs each person to open it. A live session has a teacher leading it at a set time.
Common questions
We already pay for Headspace or Calm. Why add live sessions?
Apps have good content, but they rely on busy people starting on their own, and usage drops within weeks. With a live session, nobody has to start alone. You can keep the app for use between sessions.
Is this a Calm for Business alternative?
Not exactly. It adds what those apps do not have: a real teacher at a set time each week, on Teams, which more people take part in.
We have an EAP. Is this not the same thing?
No. An EAP is mainly used by people who already have a problem, and only 3 to 5 percent of staff use it. A weekly class is for everyone, before problems start, and nobody has to explain why they are joining.
Is this a replacement for our current wellbeing spend?
It does not have to be. You can keep the app and the EAP and add the weekly class alongside them.
What about cost? Apps look cheaper per head.
Per licence, yes. But most app licences go unused, so the cost per person who actually uses it is often higher.
App vs live sessions, which do teams actually use?
More people take part in live sessions. Apps have more content and cost less per licence. The two work well together.
Start with one pilot session
Book a single pilot session and see how many of your team join.