The 11 Best Mental Health Apps to Help Anxiety, Depression and More

These evidence-based apps, which target all kinds of mental health concerns, are beneficial resources to add to your self-care toolkit.

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Editor's Note: This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Dakari Quimby, a licensed clinical psychologist. Quimby specializes in treating mental health concerns including trauma, relationship issues, anxiety, depression and family conflict. He operates the private practice Develop Mental Psychological Services in Los Angeles. 

Your phone can be a source of plenty of things that aren’t great for your mental health, like doomscrolling on social media or barrages of negative news headlines. However, there are ways you can promote your mental well-being through your phone: mental health and mindfulness apps. The best mental health and therapy apps are there to support you when you’re struggling with difficult emotions, working through mental health issues, having trouble relaxing or sleeping or just feeling particularly moody.

But, with all of the options on the app stores, how do you know which one to pick? “First, determine what your goals are, then see what apps are aligned in working toward them,” says Samantha Kane, LMSW, a New York City-based psychotherapist. “If you want to work on self-acceptance, you may want an app that features guided meditations that touch on this topic, or one that offers reminders to help you to be more gentle with yourself. If you’re looking to cope with anxiety, stress or persistent negative thoughts, you may turn to meditation apps that are rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps you reframe and challenge negative thoughts.”

What’s more, you want to find a resource with an intuitive interface. “One of the most important things is finding a mental health app that’s easy to use and has a good user experience,” says Katerina Stratigis, Psy.D, a clinical psychologist at Thrive Psychology. “If it’s not easily accessible, you're not going to go out of your way to use it.”

Ahead, we’ve broken down the best mental health apps. You’ll find therapy apps, options for improving sleep or managing anxiety and others that offer community resources. (If you need general health apps, these are our favorites.) These mental health apps exist to help you on your self-care journey, whether that’s through new breathing techniques, video sessions, mood tracking and more. Many have free trials too, so you can see which one works for your unique concerns.

Mental health apps are not a substitute for a licensed professional. If you’re in crisis or having suicidal thoughts, text or call the Suicide and Crisis Help Line at 988.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with a professional care provider before starting any new wellness regimen.

Our Picks for the Best Mental Health Apps:

• Best Online Therapy: BetterHelp
• Best for Teens: Talkspace
• Best Journal: Noom Mood
• Best for Meditation: Headspace
• Best for Habit Tracker: Yours
• Best Free: Mindshift
• Best Video Therapy: BrightSide Health
• Best for Improved Mood: Happify
• Best for Mindfulness: The Mindfulness App
• Best for Sleep: Calm
• Best for Stress: Moodkit

Best Online Therapy: BetterHelp

BetterHelp

Key Features:

• Rating: 4.8/5 on App Store
• Free trial: No
• Features: Text, live chat, video or call with licensed therapists, therapists matched to users’ requests
• Plans and pricing: $60 or $90 per week (depending on your plan) billed monthly

BetterHelp was founded in 2013 with a mission to “remove the traditional barriers to therapy and make mental health care more accessible to everyone,” according to the company website. The online therapy service has more than 30,000 licensed therapists to choose from and is available globally. BetterHelp offers individual therapy in a range of communication forms: video, call, live chat, and text. Users can also join group therapy sessions that focus on topics like addiction and anxiety.

All BetterHelp therapists are fully licensed. They are required to have at least three years of experience and 1,000 clinical hours, and BetterHelp has a rigorous vetting and validation process for all its therapists. One thing to note is that BetterHelp therapy is not covered by insurance—users have to pay out-of-pocket for all costs. And its therapists cannot offer official diagnoses or prescribe any medications. 

Our reviewer Scott Richardson is a longtime BetterHelp user and shared some thoughts on his experience. "I feel like I got really lucky with my therapist. He was the first one I matched with and I’ve been meeting with him weekly for almost three years. BetterHelp makes it easy to contact him through their online portal or their mobile app. There is also the option of recording a video message for your therapist. You also get reminder texts the day before and the morning of your appointment so you don’t miss it," he says. Downsides he noted included a glitchy website portal and an inability to text your therapist, but overall he'd recommend the app. "It’s changed my life drastically for the better," he says.

If you're interested in BetterHelp, check out our in-depth BetterHelp review for more information. 

Best for Teens: Talkspace

Talkspace

Key Features:

• Rating: 4.8/5 on App Store
• Free trial: No
• Features: Video sessions with therapists or psychiatrists, texting, audio messaging, live workshops with licensed therapists
• Plans and pricing: Therapy: $99/week (video and text messaging), $69/week (text only), $109/week (video, text messaging and workshops) Psychiatry: $299 for initial session, $175 for follow-up sessions

Talkspace is another online therapy service that connects users to licensed therapists and psychiatrists. Its psychiatrists can prescribe medications, except those that are controlled substances. Talkspace users can choose between three types of care: video and texting, just texting or video, texting and online workshops that are led by the company’s licensed clinicians.

Talkspace offers four services: individual therapy, couples therapy, teen therapy and psychiatry. Users will want to note that pricing for psychiatry is per session, rather than per week like the other services. Gail Saltz, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill-Cornell School of Medicine told our reviewer, Emma Witman, that she believes Talkspace is a good option for teens seeking therapy. “I think Talkspace is particularly appealing, frankly, to a younger population who’s really comfortable with texting as a form of communication,” she says.

Witman tested Talkspace and had a few insights on the process of being matched with a therapist. “I was a little surprised that being ‘matched’ with a provider was more akin to being ‘assigned’ a provider, since I was charged and then introduced to my designated therapist upon authenticating my email.” However, Witman tried switching providers, and noted that it was very easy. "Being able to have flexibility in the matching process is huge," says Quimby. "Finding a therapist can be like dating, so you shouldn't have to feel stuck with the first person you meet."

Additionally, Talkspace is ranked as one of the best therapy apps on the App Store.

Pros:

• Can choose from text or video therapy
• Psychiatrists can prescribe medication
• Live workshops with licensed therapists

Cons:

• Not intended for diagnoses
• Doesn’t accept Medicare or Medicaid 

Best Journal Mental Health App: Noom Mood

Noom

Key Features:

• Rating: 4.7/5* on App Store
• Free trial: 1-week trial costs between $0.50 to $17.27 (users select their own price)
• Features: 16-week program aimed at managing stress and anxiety, 1:1 coaching, journal, weekly stress management activities
• Plans and pricing: $149 for a 4-month period

*you’ll need the most recent version of your device’s operating system

Noom Mood was released in 2021 as a mental health iteration of Noom. Originally launched as a weight loss app, Noom was founded with a psychology-based approach to weight management that focuses on creating healthy habits. Similar to its predecessor, Noom Mood aims to improve users’ habits through psychology. To help people make those changes, the app uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a type of therapy that draws awareness to negative thinking patterns in an effort to alter them.

Noom Mood provides a personalized experience through a questionnaire that asks for users’ age, gender, stress levels and more. From there the app creates a program that is designed to be used daily. Each day, the app has a lesson in CBT and exercises for stress relief, like meditation and guided breathing. Noom also encourages users to log their moods daily. And there’s an option to speak with a coach, who will periodically check in and can be reached through messaging within 24 hours.

Witman tried Noom Mood and had an overall positive experience. “As someone prone to shame-spiraling, I loved the positive, friendly tone of the app. There’s no ‘throw the book at you’ tone or tough love to be found in this app whatsoever; only compassion,” she says. She also appreciated how easy the app is to use: “The lessons are even shorter and more digestible than Noom’s weight loss program, so opening the app never feels remotely daunting.”

Pros:

• Easy to use, step-by-step guide to CBT
• Helpful aftercare for patients leaving a more intensive program
• Offers stress-management tools like meditation and guided breathing

Cons:

• Somewhat expensive
• Lesson plan format might not appeal to some users

Best for Meditation: Headspace

Headspace

Key Features:

• Rating: 4.8/5 on App Store
• Free trial: Yes, 7 and 14 days
• Features: Guided meditations, “SOS sessions,” instructor-led movement, sleep stories and soundscapes
• Plans and Pricing: $12.99/month, $69.99/year

Headspace is another of the most popular meditation and mindfulness apps, aiming to help you cultivate a sense of calm and improve your mental well-being. It has an easy-to-use interface and a vast library of guided meditation sessions tailored to different needs and goals, like stress reduction, reframing negative thinking, and increased focus. The platform has even partnered with airlines to provide resources for anyone with flight anxiety.

It also offers additional features like themed meditation programs, “SOS sessions” for unexpected moments of intense anxiety or stress, and wind-down exercises to aid relaxation before it’s time for sleep. Headspace recently acquired The Shine App—a popular mental health app for people of color—in an effort to reach marginalized identities.

Headspace customers are overall pleased with the app. "The best mindfulness app. User-friendly, and the meditation teachers come from all different walks of life and you can tell that they truly love what they do," writes on reviewer on the App Store. "I have many clients who utilize this app and really appreciate the diversity of teachers, as well as the digestible way that the meditation skills are presented," says Quimby.

Some reviewers were unhappy with the price of the app or its auto-pay structure, but it seems those who didn't face those issues were by and large happy with Headspace.

Pros:

• Many guided meditations (plus kid-friendly options) to choose from
• User-friendly and aesthetically pleasing interface
• Student and family plans available

Cons:

• Not ideal for advanced meditators

Best Habit Tracker: Yours

Yours

Key Features:

• Rating: 3.6/5 on App Store
• Free trial: Yes, 7 days
• Features: Sleep stories, breath work, yoga classes, meditation, soundscapes
• Plans and Pricing: $6.99/month, $59.99/year

Yours, a new meditation and mindfulness app, has a beautiful interface fit for the Instagram and TikTok generations. Its AI program delivers sleep soundscapes, meditations, breath work, and more, tailored to what you’re going through. The sleep stories have themes ranging from fairytales to LGBTQ+ love stories to narratives specifically for pregnant people. For yoga lovers, this app includes hundreds of classes from certified instructors for beginners and intermediate yogis alike.

Yours lets you choose from an array of soundscapes and ASMR recordings, which can be helpful to listen to while studying, working, or (attempting to) relax. All audio is led by psychologists, engineers and certified meditation leaders.

Yours users were mostly happy about their experience on the app. "I'm pretty much constantly stressed because I work in the medical field. I now find it difficult to browse all the available applications, but this one offers so much in one place that I can just keep things simple. Now, I use it almost daily," writes one user on the App Store. However, like other subscription-based apps, there were complaints about auto-renewals. If you want to cancel your subscription, make sure you do so in the app (deleting an app from your phone will not automatically cancel a subscription).

Pros:

• Includes a tracker component to see your progress over time
• Great if you do a lot of yoga and want to combine meditation and yoga
• Affordable monthly price

Cons:

• Complaints about user interface and payment plans
• No free option

Best Free: Mindshift

Mindshift

Key Features:

• Rating: 4.3/5 on App Store
• Free trial: Yes, free app
• Features: Coping cards, relaxation techniques, customized plans for specific types of anxiety
  
• Plans and Pricing: Free

Mindshift is an app designed to help users manage anxiety and build resilience through CBT-based activities like relaxation exercises, deep breathing techniques, progressive muscle relaxation, and visualization. The app provides users with educational resources and practical tools to identify and challenge anxious thoughts with the hope of promoting healthier thinking patterns and reducing anxiety levels. It offers a tailored approach, including a customizable toolkit to create your own personalized reminders and strategies. You also have the option to use the journaling and coping card features, unplug with some soundscapes from “The Chill Zone,” or chat with other Mindshift users in the moderated community forum.

"I often recommend this app to clients as it is free, research-based and provides a great intro into the foundational skills that I might teach someone I work with in therapy," says Quimby. "This app is made by Anxiety Canada, which offers a comprehensive and engaging set of mental health resources." 

The app also provides step-by-step guidance for exposure therapy, so people can gradually confront their fears in a controlled manner, but experts suggest doing this with the guidance of a licensed mental health practitioner.

Mindshift users were mostly positive about their experience on the app. "This app pretty much has all the tools a therapist would suggest for anxiety and depression, including exposure therapy, positive self-talk, building healthy habits and much more," writes one App Store reviewer. A few users noted issues with the app crashing, but most were very pleased with the fact that this app is completely free.

Pros:

• Uses psychotherapy (CBT) techniques
• Very interactive compared to other apps
• Good for anxiety

Cons:

• Geared toward young adults, so not ideal for children or older adults
• Some users say the journaling feature needs more flexibility 

Best Video Therapy: BrightSide Health

Brightside Health

Key Features:

• Rating: 4.5/5 on App Store
• Free trial: No, but app offers free self-care lessons
• Features: Video sessions with therapists or psychiatrists (who can prescribe medication), unlimited messaging, free self-care videos, mood tracking
• Plans and pricing: $349/month (psychiatry & therapy), $299/month (therapy), $95/month (psychiatry). 

Like BetterHelp, BrightSide Health is an online therapy provider that connects clinicians with patients through an app. BrightSide Health was founded in 2017 with a mission to “provide easy access to high-quality anxiety and depression care from the comfort of home,” according to the company website. BrightSide Health also shares an impressive claim on its site: over 85 percent of members’ symptoms are significantly improved after 12 weeks.

BrightSide Health offers patients video sessions with licensed therapists and psychiatrists, and its psychiatrists can prescribe medication. All patients have access to unlimited messaging with their provider. Like BetterHelp, BrightSide Health providers use CBT, as it is one of the most studied and effective therapy treatments. BrightSide Health specializes in depression and anxiety but can be used to treat other conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar II. BrightSide Health shares that it is not a good fit for people with schizophrenia, bipolar I, severe substance abuse problems and more.

BrightSide Health accepts a range of insurance plans, though coverage varies by state. Reviewers on BrightSide Health’s website have given the service 4.4/5 stars. Most were pleased with their care. “BrightSide [Health] has helped me out significantly from the space I was in. The app is easy to use and helpful with keeping track of your own progress, scheduling visits and getting more resources aside from talk therapy,” writes reviewer Valeria F. Some customers reported issues getting their medication, but most were very happy with the talk therapy they received.

Pros:

• Psychiatrists can prescribe medications
• Clinicians treat a range of mental health disorders and concerns
• Unlimited messaging with provider
  
  

Cons

• Some users reported issues getting their medications

Best for Improved Mood: Happify

Happify

Key Features:

• Rating: 4.5/5 on the App Store
• Free trial: Free version with limited features
• Features: Quizzes, games, meditations
• Plans and Pricing: $14.99/month, $139.99/year, $449.99 for “lifetime” access

Happify is a neuroscience- and psychology-based app rooted in CBT, but takes a different approach than some others on this list. Instead of providing you with more passive meditations and mindfulness activities, it offers a more active approach through quizzes and games, making it great for people with difficulty concentrating on meditation. It has a library of meditations, but the app’s interactive activities, like Resilience Training (which helps build coping skills) and Savor the Moment (engineered to help you soak up joyful moments) are its bread and butter.

Happify also gives you a mood tracker and gratitude journal to see your progress over time, gain insights into thought patterns, and receive personalized recommendations for next steps. The app also provides an option to engage with the online community of Happify users. And it comes in both free and premium versions, which have access to its whole range of features.

Users are, unsurprisingly, happy with Happify. "As a therapist, I'm always looking for new techniques and this app is almost perfect! It really does shift your mindset and help you be more positive. I just wish it was cheaper for the full version," writes an App Store reviewer. Other reviewers praised how user-friendly Happify is, and many enjoyed the reflection activities. 

Pros:

• Developed by doctors and licensed therapists
• Thorough intro questionnaire gives customized mental health plans
• Based in science

Cons:

• App-imposed trackers and “deadlines” can feel stressful to some users

The Mindfulness App

The Mindfulness App

Key Features:

• Rating: 4.8/5 on the App Store
• Free trial: Yes, 7 days
• Features: Silent and guided meditations, sleep stories, user statistics, daily notifications
• Plans and Pricing: $9.99/month, $59.99/year

The Mindfulness app is known for its simple, easy-to-use mindfulness, meditation, and sleep content. It’s an ideal option if you’re new to mindfulness techniques and want a free (or very cheap) app to get started (though advanced meditators will find it useful too). There are more than 450 meditations to pick from, all from mindfulness experts around the globe. The meditations range from three to 99 minutes long, so they work for a range of schedules. Popular meditations include the three-minute “Self-Appreciation” meditation and the 14-minute “Presence with Everyday Fears.” You can also opt to listen to longer courses on things like the foundations of mindfulness or common sleep issues.

The meditations are divided into topics like self-healing, acceptance, forgiveness, mindful eating, love and more, so you can choose whatever you need each day. Moreover, the sessions are customizable, so you can add background sounds, a guided introduction and more. You’ll also find soothing sleep stories and soundscapes. On your profile, you can see your progress over time, too. The free version of the app offers limited recordings to listen to, but you have the option to upgrade to an affordable paid version, which has more content, plus it’s updated more frequently.

The Mindfulness App has one of the highest average user review scores on our list. "I deal with General Anxiety Disorder and it has taken a huge toll on me mentally and physically. This app helps me to relax my mind and body and reminds me what is important," writes one reviewer. Critical reviews mention issues with subscription charges, so make sure you cancel the app before the end of the free trial if you don't want to pay for a year of use. 

Pros:

• Paid version is affordable compared to other mental health apps
• You can personalize your meditation
• More than 20 meditation topics to choose from

Cons:

• Limited features

Calm

Calm

Key Features:

• Rating: 4.8/5 on App Store
• Free trial: Yes, 7 days
• Features: Celebrity–read bedtime stories, guided meditations, breath work
• Plans and Pricing: $14.99/month, $69.99/year, $399.99 for lifetime access

Chances are, if you know of any mental health apps, Calm is probably the first to come to mind. The popular platform is known for its celebrity content, like sleep stories read by Bob Ross and Harry Styles, sleep soundscapes from Sam Smith, and positive psychology training from Lebron James. But that’s not the only reason millions love it. The app is great for relaxation, meditation, sleep and mindfulness. Whether you want to listen to guided meditations, breathing exercises or relaxing stories, there’s something for folks of all levels.

Calm also comes recommended by Kane. “I practice meditation and enjoy using the Calm app—I love Tamara Levitt’s guided meditations,” she says. “However, while it works well for me, I encourage others to find an app that works best for them based on their needs, preferences and goals.” If signing up for programs helps you stay motivated and accountable, Calm offers seven-day and 21-day mindfulness boot camps, plus daily tracking and check-ins. Another interesting thing about Calm is that it provides movement and exercise videos too, so if you enjoy stretching and yoga, this app will give you more bang for your buck than having multiple subscriptions. The app offers student, family and company plans too, which might be a more affordable option.

Pros:

• Offers an array of features, from bedtime soundscapes to guided breathwork
• Student and family plans available
• Can track your statistics and mood

Cons:

• Pricing varies by country
• Complaints of poor customer service

Moodkit

Moodkit

Key Features:

• Rating: 4.3/5 on App Store
• Free trial: No
• Features: Journal, thought checker, mood improvement activities, mood checker
• Plans and Pricing: One-time payment of $4.99

Moodkit is an app designed to support individuals in managing and improving their mood through evidence-based CBT techniques. One of Moodkit's standout features is its Mood Tracker, which allows you to monitor and analyze your mood patterns over time. By recording emotions, thoughts and activities, you can gain insight into potential triggers and identify helpful strategies for managing your mood effectively. The "Thought Checker" helps you challenge and reframe negative thoughts, and "Active Schedule" is basically your personal assistant for all things fun, helping you structure and plan activities to brighten your spirits.

Moodkit also offers a Journal feature for self-reflection and emotional processing, plus 200 activities rooted in positive psychology to help you boost your mood. All of these activities promote self-awareness, helping you identify negative thoughts and reframe them. The app has a simple interface, but it’s not as visually engaging as some other apps. And though it’s not free, it costs $4.99 one time, and you get access to everything.

App Store reviewers found this app helpful. "Whenever I am struggling I come back to this app to journal and sort out my thoughts. It has so many helpful tips and actions to take if you are stuck in rumination," writes one reviewer. Some reviewers reported that the app kept crashing on their phones, and others were unimpressed with the simple interface. However, the majority of users found it to be a useful tool.

Pros:

• Low, one-time cost
• Created by clinical psychologists
• More than 200 CBT-based activities available

Cons:

• Not available on Android devices
• Less visually appealing than other apps

Why Use a Mental Health App?

Mental health apps can address a wide range of concerns and offer various content to choose from. “If your personal goals align with the goals a mental health app is offering, you may want to explore it and see if it’s a good fit,” Kane says.

• Price: Mental health apps are an affordable way to tackle your issues, and the services they offer, like meditation or breathwork, would otherwise have to be learned in potentially expensive classes. Additionally, online therapy tends to be cheaper than in-person sessions. And by doing therapy from home, you save on travel costs. One thing to note is that some online therapy apps, like BetterHelp, do not take insurance.
• Convenience: Apps can be used anytime, anywhere. You can use them from the comfort of your own home, or in a public place if you need a mental health check-in.
• Communication: Therapy apps connect you with a therapist in a way that works for you, from video to texts and calls. And many mental health apps offer online forums where users can connect with a community of others facing similar challenges.
• Features: These apps offer various content to choose from, like guided meditations, sleep stories, affirmations, exercises to challenge and reframe persistent negative thoughts, movement practices, and more. According to Kane, this content can help with stress relief, self-acceptance, complicated feelings and emotions (like grief) and sleep.

Benefits of Mental Health Apps

Mental health apps offer a number of features that can improve your overall well-being.

• Meditation/Mindfulness: "Meditation and mindfulness apps can offer all the benefits of meditation, which can help individuals better cope with stress and anxiety, reduce negative feelings, facilitate greater presence, self-awareness, and acceptance, and improve sleep,” says Kane.
• Therapy: These apps offer easy access to licensed therapists who are thoroughly vetted. The therapy style is typically CBT. “Apps that are rooted in CBT can help individuals challenge and reframe persistent negative thoughts, and increase self-awareness and the ability to cope with anxiety and stress,” says Kane. For those managing mental illnesses like depression, one 2017 meta-analysis published in World Psychiatry found promising evidence that smartphone-based mental health platforms can reduce symptoms. These apps are also ideal if you already see a therapist. “It's unrealistic to think that going to therapy once a week for 50 minutes is going to change your mindset or change your life—unless you're putting the work outside of the therapy room,” Stratigis says. “You can't expect yourself to be an expert at a mental health skill you just learned. The more you practice via apps or other ways, the more that skill becomes second nature.”
• Privacy: Another benefit of telehealth therapy via mobile app is that you don't have to leave home. "For some, the process of disclosing to a stranger can feel daunting, particularly if you have to leave your safe place to do it," says Quimby. "Doing therapy from the comfort of your home may help reduce some of the barriers to being vulnerable."
• Journaling: A number of mental health apps have a journaling feature, which can be a helpful way to track your progress and keep an eye on your goals. "There is a lot of research that shows the simple act of putting our feelings into words (emotional labeling) helps regulate our emotions, cope with challenges and feel more in control of stressors," says Quimby. According to Rochester Medical, journaling can help manage stress and improve the symptoms of anxiety and depression. It says it does this by "helping you prioritize problems, fears, and concerns; tracking any symptoms day-to-day so that you can recognize triggers and learn ways to better control them and providing an opportunity for positive self-talk and identifying negative thoughts and behaviors."
• Stress Relief: Stress is a common reason people seek mental health care. An American Psychological Association survey found that 76% of respondents reported health impacts due to stress in the prior month. Mental health apps can help reduce stress through a variety of tools, including meditation, breathwork, therapy, journaling and more.
• Sleep: Some apps, like Calm, Headspace, Yours and The Mindfulness App, offer sleep soundscapes and exercises to help improve sleep. This can be hugely helpful for those who suffer from conditions like insomnia. A recent study found that mental health apps helped improve participants' insomnia symptoms.

When to See a Mental Health Professional

If you're in a mental health crisis, the best course of action is to seek emergency medical care by calling 911 or 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). If you're not in an emergency situation but want immediate care, you can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It's free, confidential and available 24/7, 365 days a year. Reach its hotline by dialing 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

“I believe everyone can benefit from seeing a mental health professional,” says Stragitis. “Many times, people wait until they are suffering to seek help.” And while I agree, sometimes, that’s not financially accessible, and it might not be a priority if you’re not managing a mental illness. Kane says that if you have consistent anxiety, sadness, or emotions that disrupt your sleep, eating patterns, career, and relationships, or a general disinterest in things you once enjoyed, those are all signs it’s time to seek mental health services.

Mental Health App FAQs

Can mental health apps replace in-person therapy?

Both experts I spoke to say that these apps are excellent supplements to talk therapy sessions. Kane encourages people to think of mental health apps like exercise, which are ideal for your overall well-being. However, if you have a medical condition, it’s still critical to see a doctor to manage your mental health treatment. “Similarly, mental health apps can be a great practice to incorporate into your routine, and they may provide benefits to your well-being, but if you have a mental health condition, these apps are not a substitute for [mental health care] with a licensed therapist,” she says.

Are mental health apps effective?

If you find one you enjoy using regularly, yes, a mental health app can absolutely be effective. “I encourage my clients to utilize the apps, YouTube, books and more to help practice some of the skills that we talk about in sessions,” says Stratigis. “Connecting your app experience with the things you are working on in therapy allows your mental health provider to further process and encode between sessions.” Additionally, one 2022 study from the Journal of Personal Medicine found that mental health apps can potentially find a way around barriers of traditional mental healthcare to provide timely, financially accessible support that improves your overall mental well-being.

Are mental health apps sharing your data?

I have the answer you probably don’t want to hear: It depends on the app, and you’ll have to dive into the Privacy Policy to find out. Most therapy apps are encrypted to keep your data safe, but for these general mental health apps, more information might be shared. Under the Health Breach Notification Rule and other regulations, the Federal Trade Commission dictates how service providers can (and cannot) use personal health records. The federal regulations apply to health apps and other entities associated with personal health records.

Final Thoughts

The best mental health apps are recommended as resources to add to your burgeoning mental health toolkit, but they can’t replace good ol’ therapy sessions. “While mental health apps are incredible, they aren’t replacements for in-person or online therapy,” says Stratigis. “You're not getting that real-life, real-time feedback that you would get with a mental health professional. With apps, you need to know what you are looking for, and a therapist can guide you there.” Many of these mobile apps have free versions, free trials or are entirely free to use, making them accessible to the masses, and most rely on science-backed CBT techniques. They can provide additional activities, meditations, games and more to help solidify what you and your mental health professional are already working on.

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