Why not use our smartphones to help our emotional wellbeing? We already use them for almost everything else. There is a mental health app for everyone, including ones that read bedtime tales aloud, identify anxiety triggers, aid in quitting smoking, and relax with the perfect music. What’s best? Since you probably already have a phone with you, using mental health apps is incredibly practical.
We combed through app stores to read reviews, contacted businesses to confirm the features each offers, and tried the majority of the apps on our top-10 list ourselves in order to help you choose the best mental health app for your needs. Additionally, we contacted two clinicians to obtain
Mental health is an important aspect of our overall well-being. Thanks to technology, we can now access mental health resources and support right from our smartphones. Here are some of the best mental health apps that you can use to improve your mental health:
In conclusion, these mental health apps can be helpful tools for improving your mental health and well-being. Whether you are looking to reduce stress, manage anxiety, or improve your mood, there is an app out there to suit your needs. Remember, it’s important to seek professional help if you are struggling with mental health issues. These apps should not replace therapy or other forms of treatment, but can be used in conjunction with them.
1. Headspace
Headspace is a popular app that provides guided meditation and mindfulness exercises. The app was created by Andy Puddicombe, a former monk and mindfulness expert, with the aim of making meditation more accessible to people around the world.
Headspace offers a variety of meditation sessions for different levels of meditation, making it great for both beginners and experienced meditators. The app offers guided meditations for everything from stress and anxiety to sleep and focus. The meditations range from a few minutes to longer sessions, making it easy to fit meditation into your daily routine.
The app also offers a variety of mindfulness exercises, including breathing techniques and body scans, which can help you stay present and focused throughout the day. The exercises are designed to help you reduce stress, improve focus, and increase overall well-being
Talkspace
CREDIT: TALKSPACE | DESIGN: DANIELLE CARSON
PROS
- Texting may enable certain people to open up to a stranger more easily than if they meet in person.
- You’ll likely be paired with a therapist in a few days, instead of the weeks it may take to see a therapist in a traditional setting.
CONS
- Responses don’t typically happen in real-time so you shouldn’t expect immediate help.
- It’s therapy with a real professional so the price reflects that.
- If you move to a new state, you’ll need to make sure your therapist is licensed there.
- If you plan to use your insurance, you’ll need to contact your insurance provider first to make sure Talkspace is in your network first.
| Pricing | Prices vary if you use your medical insurance; unlimited text, video and audio messaging starts at $69/week and unlimited text, video and audio messaging along with a weekly live session starts at $99/week if you pay out of pocket |
|---|---|
| Availability | iOS and Android |
Happify by Twill
CREDIT: HAPPIFY BY TWILL | DESIGN: DANIELLE CARSON
PROS
- There is a wide variety in the activities so you may be less likely to feel bored and more likely to continue engaging with the app.
- You don’t have to stick to your “track” — you are welcome to read articles and do activities in other areas of the app.
- You can monitor your progress over time by completing a “happiness assessment” that appears every two weeks.
CONS
- Only a small amount of content is available in the free version and the app repeatedly prompts you to subscribe to the premium version.
- The app sometimes asks you to engage with an AI-powered chatbot, which can feel a little weird.
- The company uses web trackers and may share certain personal information with other service providers so it’s smart to read the privacy policy if you’re concerned.
| Pricing | Free for limited access and $14.99/month or $449.99/lifetime for premium content |
|---|---|
| Availability | iOS and Android |
Worry Watch
CREDIT: WORRY WATCH | DESIGN: DANIELLE CARSON
PROS
- The app works offline.
- The company confirmed it doesn’t collect any personal data from app users.
- It’s a nice one-stop shop for tracking, evaluating and coping.
- No credit card is required to sign up for the free trial.
CONS
- The design is a little basic.
- A very small amount of content is available in the free version.
- The app was not created by a mental health expert and the website doesn’t provide a ton of background info.
| Pricing | Free for limited access and $11.99/year for premium content |
|---|---|
| Availability | iOS and Android |
Calm
CREDIT: CALM | DESIGN: DANIELLE CARSON
PROS
- You can set daily reminders to use the app.
- Guided and unguided meditations range from 3 minutes to 30 minutes and touch on everything from mindful walks to meditations to help you gear up for meetings.
- Calm has been used in multiple studies about the health benefits of mindfulness.
CONS
- Only a limited amount of content is available during the free trial.
- If you decide not to pay for access, you need to remember to cancel your membership before the 7-day trial ends.
- There is no monthly membership option.
- The company uses web trackers and may share certain personal information with other service providers so it’s smart to read the privacy policy if you’re concerned.
| Pricing | 7-day free trial and then $69.99/year |
|---|---|
| Availability | iOS and Android |
MindShift
- It’s completely free.
- The app contains a lot of different tools to try so if one doesn’t work for you, there are other options.
CONS
- Content is spread out so you may have to spend some time exploring the app to find all the tools that are most relevant to your needs.
- The company uses web trackers and may share certain personal information with other service providers so it’s smart to read the privacy policy if you’re concerned.
| Pricing | Free |
|---|---|
| Availability | iOS and Android |
quitSTART
- It’s completely free.
- With input from smoking cessation experts and ex-smokers, the app was developed by the Tobacco Control Research Branch at the National Cancer Institute in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration so the information it contains is solid.
- It is recommend by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Not only does it track the number of days you’ve gone without smoking, it estimates the amount of money you’ve saved during that time by not buying cigarettes.
CONS
- The way it prompts you to track “slip ups,” the app seems to be based on the idea of quitting cold turkey so keep that in mind if you’re gradually weaning yourself away from cigarettes.
- It doesn’t seem like the app is updated often so don’t expect new features.
- The company uses web trackers and may share certain personal information with other service providers so it’s smart to read the privacy policy if you’re concerned.
| Pricing | Free |
|---|---|
| Availability | iOS and Android |
Mental health is a crucial part of our overall well-being, and the good news is that there are now many mental health apps available to help support our mental health needs. These apps can provide a range of benefits, including helping us manage stress, anxiety, and depression, providing us with tools to improve our mood and mindfulness, and offering access to licensed therapists and support groups.
Here are some of the top mental health apps that you might consider using:
- BetterHelp: BetterHelp is an app that connects users with licensed therapists who can provide professional counseling services. Users can access therapy sessions via video, chat, or phone, making it easy to fit therapy into your schedule.
- Headspace: Headspace is an app that provides guided meditation and mindfulness exercises. The app offers a variety of sessions for different levels of meditation, making it great for both beginners and experienced meditators.
These mental health apps can be a helpful tool in improving your mental health and well-being. However, it is important to remember that they should not replace professional help. If you are experiencing significant mental health issues, it is important to seek professional help from a licensed mental health provider. Nonetheless, these apps can supplement professional help and offer a great way to manage your mental health on a daily basis.